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'Harry Potter' Books May Protect Kids From Injuries
ClickonDetroit ^ | December 29, 2005

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: harrypotter
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To: Gumlegs

St Harry, the patron saint of geeky kids.


21 posted on 12/30/2005 7:13:01 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: AppyPappy
St Harry, the patron saint of geeky kids.

My own son included! Also my wife, for reasons that remain obscure.

Do you happen to know if we still have "Harry Potter Is The Work Of Satan" posters here at FR?

22 posted on 12/30/2005 7:19:58 AM PST by Gumlegs
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To: Gumlegs

Santa, not Satan. Of course, they are interchangable.


23 posted on 12/30/2005 7:22:50 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: ShadowDancer

I think you may have found a candidate for the Bottom Story of 2005 Award.


24 posted on 12/30/2005 7:23:22 AM PST by RebelBanker (If you can't do something smart, do something right.)
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To: AppyPappy
Santa, not Satan. Of course, they are interchangable.

Hmmm ... now that you mention it ... Same letters, same fondness for red suits ...

25 posted on 12/30/2005 7:33:38 AM PST by Gumlegs
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To: GeronL

I think trying to get on the ceiling would also hurt the child. ;) Of course, we could blame Lionel Ritchie for that. He wanted us to dance on it for crying out loud.


26 posted on 12/30/2005 7:38:24 AM PST by WV Mountain Mama (Honestly, did anyone really get a Lexus for Christmas?)
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To: Gumlegs
Do you happen to know if we still have "Harry Potter Is The Work Of Satan" posters here at FR?

SHHHHHHHH, The Threadementors will hear you!

27 posted on 12/30/2005 11:33:06 AM PST by Old Sarge (In a Hole in the Ground, there Lived a Fobbit...)
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To: retrokitten
Researchers at John Radcliffe Hospital in Great Britain...

Radcliffe? I smell a rat.


28 posted on 12/30/2005 12:30:16 PM PST by Serb5150 (God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart -Izaak Walton)
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To: Serb5150

LMAO!! It's a planted story!!


29 posted on 12/30/2005 1:01:30 PM PST by retrokitten (If ya wanna little zing in your zang zang come along....)
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To: GR Freeper
It's magic.... haven't you read the books?? =o)

OK.. I meant roof... *sulks*

30 posted on 12/31/2005 12:23:16 AM PST by GeronL (http://flogerloon.blogspot.com)
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To: WV Mountain Mama
I blame the House Slave Dobby.

Ok... I meant roof...

31 posted on 12/31/2005 12:24:39 AM PST by GeronL (http://flogerloon.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL

I know... ;)

When I was young, there was nothing that could have made me pick up a book on my summer vacation. Now, I think Rowling could have gotten me to do it. I love these books!


32 posted on 12/31/2005 5:29:20 AM PST by WV Mountain Mama (Honestly, did anyone really get a Lexus for Christmas?)
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To: ShadowDancer

Sure, but they don't tell you about the boy from Bulgaria who got hurt when he jumped off his roof on his broomstick! Poor kid was nearly burnt to a crisp flying by a dragon after he got whacked in the head by a bludger.


33 posted on 12/31/2005 7:40:52 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: Appalled but Not Surprised

Guess my penchant for Harry Potter books/movies
is the key to my survival! I've read them all
at least twice, have everything I was born with
except one molar extracted when I was 14, never
had a surgery for anything, never had a broken
limb, never been hospitalized, and have been
married to the same partner for 58 years. Now,
either Harry's working his magic on me, or I'm
too senile to realize when to lie down! <>g<>


34 posted on 12/31/2005 9:39:07 AM PST by Grendel9 (u)
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