Potter Ping!
Posted on 12/30/2005 4:23:55 AM PST by ShadowDancer
'Harry Potter' Books May Protect Kids From Injuries
POSTED: 1:09 pm EST December 29, 2005
Not only does "Harry Potter" entertain and inspire millions of children, but he may also protect them from injury.
A study published in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal suggests that, unlike other child-related crazes -- such as inline skating and micro-scooters -- the "Harry Potter" craze seems to have kept kids safe.
Researchers at John Radcliffe Hospital in Great Britain reviewed data on all children ages 7 to 15 who attended their emergency department with musculoskeletal injuries over the summer weekends of 2003 and 2005.
The release dates of the two most recent "Harry Potter" books -- "The Order of the Phoenix" and "The Half-Blood Prince" -- were Saturday, June 21, 2003, and Saturday, July 16, 2005. The researchers compared the numbers of ER admissions for these weekends with those for summer weekends in previous years.
The average attendance rate for weekends in previous years was 67, and for the two "Harry Potter" release weekends, the attendance rates were 36 and 37. At no other point during the three-year period was attendance that low.
But although "Harry Potter" might lead to fewer childhood injuries, the books would potentially cause an "unpredictable increase" in childhood obesity and lack of fitness.
Frankly, given their thickness, they're dangerous if thrown or dropped. Particularly in hardcover.
Oh never mind... this article is so insane
Amazing news....
...that there are researchers who are paid and have the time to research this.
Maybe their bullet-proof??
Somebody should tell Madame Pomfrey.
>>>>A study published in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal suggests that...
A study? Someone PAID for a study for this? Was a grant issued too? (England has grants, right?
>>>unlike other child-related crazes -- such as inline skating and micro-scooters -- the "Harry Potter" craze seems to have kept kids safe.
Don't I remember an article last year about a kid who fell off a counter trying to fly on a broom? (That is something I might have tried in younger days) :))
The researchers compared the numbers of ER admissions for these weekends with those for summer weekends in previous years.
This took all of what, five minutes to research?
Shoot, this time the article beat me to it. I was going to top their stupid point about safety by launching a rant that sitting and reading makes kids fat, but the authors already covered that. I'm sure it's all there in their next grant proposal.
Probably kids would be safer if we locked them in a room with a TV.
I guess the kids haven't started making their own magical potions yet with household chemicals. Give it time.
Somebody has waaaaayyyyy too much time on their hands and waaaaaayyyyyyyy too much money!!
How exactly does one jump off of a ceiling?
Bookworms break fewer arms, but get less exercise. Perhaps books will be lumped in with TV and videogames as a leading cause of obseity.
Potter Ping!
I have to find a way to get people to pay me to study things like this.
I like the Harry Potter books, however this is kind of a silly thing to research. Sure hope they didn't spend tax dollars to do this. >:(
If you're a wizard you can do it. I figured the kids had fewer injuries because they could learn all the counter-spells.
Simply amazing how many inane articles are considered news worthy.
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