Soldier, get that dang Ipod outta your ears!
Posted on 05/19/2008 11:22:59 AM PDT by buccaneer81
Concerns of wearing headphones raised after helicopter death of B.C. student
TORONTO - The death of a 23-year-old student who was killed when a helicopter crash-landed on him in the middle of the street is raising questions about how aware people are of their surroundings when outside listening to portable audio devices - such as Ipods and MP3 players.
Isaiah Otieno, from Kenya, was crossing a street in a quiet Cranbrook, B.C. neighbourhood last week when a helicopter struggling to stay airborne suddenly dropped on top of him.
At the time, there were reports that Otiena was wearing ear or headphones and may not have heard the downward spiralling chopper.
While there is no evidence to back up that theory, the speculation is hard to avoid considering the millions of people each day who walk, run, cycle and in-line skate with the ubiquitous ear buds.
When Kevin Guest, a staff sergeant with the Toronto Police, gives streetproofing tips to students, he reminds them to stay alert while wearing earphones.
"If you are going to wear an IPod or headphones or something like that, you keep the level low enough so you can still hear ambient noise," Guest said.
It's a warning Stephne FitzGerald heeds. The 38-year-old works in the music industry and, two years ago, traded in his daily newspaper to listen to tunes on his IPod during his half-hour commute to work in Toronto.
But he says his surroundings are always on his radar.
"If I am walking outside, I don't have it that loud -- you know traffic," he said. "I'm not that comfortable not hearing any outside noises."
The helicopter accident in British Columbia is the latest tragedy to illustrate how people wearing ear or headphones outdoors can put themselves at increased risk.
In 2007, a student in Grimsby, Ont. was killed while walking along train tracks. He failed to respond to the train's repeated whistles and was wearing his MP3 player earphones.
Also last year, a student in-line skating while wearing headphones in Windsor, Ont. slid under a tractor-trailer he failed to notice until the last minute.
In Australia, police have placed ads that show a teen lying on the ground - MP3 player splayed beside him - with a chalk outline around his body. The ads followed a campaign by a woman whose 16-year-old daughter was struck by a tram in 2004. The teen was wearing headphones.
Last year, New York Senator Carl Kruger's bill to ban the use of IPods, cellphones or other electronic devices while crossing the street was defeated. It was motivated by the death of a 21-year-old Brooklyn man who was listening to an IPod when he stepped in front of a bus.
While there are no laws in Canada dealing with the use of headphones while walking, it's illegal to wear them while riding a bicycle in both British Columbia and Quebec.
Soldier, get that dang Ipod outta your ears!
Now you’ve done it! I got to 543. Now I’ll be here all day!
With the turbines running, yes. If he was auto rotating (similar to gliding in fixed wing aircraft) a lot less so. The article said he was having trouble maintaining altitude.
Go see if that dumass has Wagner in his playlist...
Given the number of black people in Cranbrook BC, and taking into account the number of people on the ground killed by falling helicopters over the past 10 years. The evidence is overwhelming that this was a hate crime.
Except for the occasional bass boat dropping out of the sky on you.
“”This kind of thing never happens to country western listeners.””
“Except for the occasional bass boat dropping out of the sky on you.”
Or parts from a wrecked Nascar.
I’m not surprised this happened. Most of today’s music is very similar to the sound of a crashing helicopter.
Them lyrics is shore purdy!
Making the video will be a challenge though.
/rimshot
LOL!!
It took my 20 seconds, but I got that.
Which Burt Reynolds movie was that?...
I'm not sure is it was before or after the tunnel was complete that it was found "necessary" to install a campus security station in the tunnel.
If anything, I'm sure the vehicle traffic appreciated fewer swarms of students.
I remember "The Doktor" being dumped on for reminding/pointing out to new BU students to "look both ways" when crossing Comm Ave, both road vehicles and the subway trains.
I think banning iPods over a helicopter falling on a person will only generate contempt among the hoi polloi for laws in general.
BU?
...and what do the ones wearing earphones do? '-}
Back in the 70s I made deliveries on the University of Texas campus, and I could be stopped at a stop sign and a student would walk into the side of my truck. They were usually reading or something while walking across campus. You know the old saying, “Vehicle accidents are increasing: College sophomores suspected.”
Already available: Police and drivers get ready for Rumblers
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