Headphones can kill you?
By agmamayo
@agmamayo (804)
Philippines
January 17, 2012 3:53am CST
Music has been around us for centuries now and has been a part of everyone's life activities. You switch on your favorite music when you take a nap, driving your car, eating your dinner, taking a bath, jogging and almost all human activities that music can be used. However, recently a news in the US has stated some alarming statistics regarding the increase of death among teenagers under 30 years old due to headphones. Most of the victims were males, these pedestrian deaths were associated to the use of headphones,. Some were either struck by a car but the killers were trains. Researchers have stated that this occurrences were attributed to the use of headphones wherein a so called "inattentional blindness" exist. This is a kind of distraction that lowers the resources wherein the brain devotes to external stimuli. according to US safety officials, electronic devices like the Ipod, mp3 players and other musical devices were the culprits. So whenever your going for a morning jogging, and love to hear your favorite music using a headphone, better think twice before it kills you.
3 people like this
24 responses
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
17 Jan 12
That's why they say you should never cycle or drive with headphones. The same goes for cell phones, too: people have them snatched out of their hand while they're talking because they're not paying attention.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
17 Jan 12
This is a very interesting post and although we know that it is true, i would be worthwhile to read more about it and pass it on to the younsters we know and love. As for me, I will do a copy-paste of part of your post and send it immediatly to my 2 eldest grandsons. They are always "plugged" as I say
. Thanks for reminding us of yet another health hazard.
. Thanks for reminding us of yet another health hazard.@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
21 Jan 12
Well thank you Ms. Marguicha, it is so flattering for you to share this to everyone you know especially to your beloved grandsons. Based on the news, mostly teenagers were victims of such incidents that's because they are the one's more inclined to enjoy music while strolling outside with their friends. Headphones are now part of the youngsters fashion trend, it is now a must use accessory for teenagers, however they didn't have any idea that using headphones while on the street can increase their risk to accidents fatal or non-fatal. I hope this serves as an eye opener to all of us, I myself has no idea that this simple electronic device can give you a greater risk of accidents.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
3 Feb 12
Likewise, i shared this to my cousins and friends who loves to use headphones when they are outside their own homes. Most of them told me they didn't realize the great risk of using headphones anywhere especially while on the street. All the while they thought only mobile phones to be risky especially when driving. It is an eye opener for all of them and likewise for me. We all should be responsible enough for our own safety and the safety of others and the community.
@marguicha (223107)
• Chile
21 Jan 12
I already told my grandson about this when we went to see the chinese ballet. We talked about this with my daughter and him while waiting to go in. Although it is evident, people usually don´t realise the risks. Thanks again.
@voracious (624)
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
This is very true because when you wear your headphones while walking in public places especially when you are crossing the street, it decreases your alertness level so you won't notice what is happening around you and it can kill you at any times.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
26 Jan 12
In everything we do, we should be more careful and be vigilant in order to avoid accidents not only to ourselves but also to other people. Try to minimize the use of electronic devices which can hinder our sense of sight and hearing when we are driving, walking, jogging, and biking to ensure safety and prevent accidents. These studies are not conducted purely to limit or ban the use of these entertainment devices but they are done to serve as a reminder for us to be more cautious in using such devices when we are outside our home. As a rule prevention is better than a pound of cure, let us be responsible enough when using headphones and ensure ourselves a reduced risk for accidents.
@smurfysmurf (651)
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Yes I agree.
We are too focus with what we are listening that we couldn't walk around anymore with our surroundings. We couldn't hear the beep of the public vehicles trying to warn us..or other things that could bring back to our senses because we are focus of the music we are into.
We should definitely be careful..And hopefully even though it's the trend now, still people are aware of the dangers of it.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
17 Jan 12
Teenagers under 30 years old? It's the first time I hear you are a teenager when you are under 30 years. A teenager is someone about 16 years old. Not 29. But this news is not new to me. Most people listen way too loud to music. I don't think it's the headphone that kills. Especially men do. They are the ones who also love the very loud music in their cars and at home. With all the extra's. Interesting is also the fact that men are not able to hear all these different tones/tunes. Their hearing is way worser as it is with women. I always wonder why they are the ones who need all the extra's. Perhaps women are already tired of all the sounds they already hear everywhere around them?
@luckygrey67 (765)
• Indonesia
18 Jan 12
Maybe what he meant under 20 not 30. It was called teenager, or maybe he was changing.
By the way, back to the topic....Yeah, I totally agree...."Headphone will kill you" although it sound like exaggerate, not directly kill...lol
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
19 Jan 12
The teenager thing is an honest mistake, a typo-error, it should be "teenagers and those under 30 years old". Anyway, thanks for the correction, as you have said it already most of the victims according to US safety officials are males. Truly males have less hearing capabilities as compared to women, men get distracted more often, that's why they prefer louder sensory stimuli. That explains why men love to hear their music so loud with all those extra noisy backgrounds. With the new music trend of fashionable headphones that are so large, they usually like to hear their music with high volumes, they take it with them anywhere, even while walking in the streets, thus reducing their alertness and awareness of their surroundings, which in turn could result to accidents. The "headphones can kill you" title is just a catch phrase like in the news, though typically exaggerated but can draw interest. Thanks for the comment.
@Ol_jouhney (26)
• Indonesia
18 Jan 12
If we see from another perspective, the user was the one to blame, especially if they plugged them on the wrong time. Unless the headphone were already strapped with an exploding device, that's a totally different story.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
5 Apr 12
That is true, because headphones can divert your attention and awareness to your surroundings and your alertness is greatly reduce thereby increasing your risk to accidents especially if you are using headphones outside your home while walking, jogging, biking, or simply running errands.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
17 Jan 12
I have seen a couple of people nearly getting hit by cars because they had their headphones on, sometimes I go walking with my headphones on but I don't have them at a point I can't hear other things, I like to know if someone could be coming up behind me...
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
20 Jan 12
Headphones perse cannot kill you but it can increase the risk of you being involved in an accident. Wearing a headphone while walking down the street with the volume set so loud that you can't hear what's going on around you can increase the risk. I think we need to be more responsible enough to the things we do and use. Risk is all around us but it is up to us to reduce that risk to a minimum in order for us not to be affected. As the researchers have said that headphones can cause you to have "inattentional blindness" especially if your using it while walking along a busy road or a train track. Simple things that we can correct will help us minimize the risk that can affect us.
@Dominique25 (9464)
• United States
17 Jan 12
That is interesting. Thanks for sharing this. I never use headphones. Not because of this reason, it's just I don't have any. But now that you have shared this I guess it isn't such a bad thing that I don't use them. There are a lot of people who use them and it's good for us to be informed.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
6 Feb 12
Thank you too for appreciating this post, I myself has never had thoughts about the risks of using headphones especially when you are outside your home. There are times I do use them, maybe a day or two but with this information I was really more aware of the risks involved that is why I haven't used my headphones when I go for a walk, jogging, biking or even driving around town. the research has mentioned "inattentional blindness" an that is true, our alertness is greatly reduced when our sense of hearing is distracted thus making our safety compromised.
@bhonti (1246)
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
I have a friend who I know have recently experienced being nearly crashed by a car because he was too much engrossed with the music on his earphones. He likes to play music out loud that is why he did not hear the car's horn. Fortunately, the driver already seen him passing and hit the break in time.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
20 Jan 12
Headphones reduces our sense of alertness especially if we are using it on the streets or even while driving or biking. Teenagers, specifically males were foun d to be the most fatality in the US alone. None of us didn't think that there is a risk when using headphones, and we can't even think that it can lead to the end of life too. This news is a good wake up call to everybody, exagerrated we must say that headphones can kill you, but it is us, humans that should be responsible enough to our own safety. There are so many risks around us and we are exposed everyday to them, but an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. I hope this will serve as an open call to all, to not use headphones while on the street walking, jogging, driving a car or riding a bike, and avoid loud music.
@kadamakash (66)
• India
17 Jan 12
Really , it is dangerous to use headphone while driving , i have just seen a accident and it is due to only use of headphone in traffic .
@koopharper (7601)
• Canada
17 Jan 12
I'm an avid cyclist. I commute back and forth to work. I never wear headphones on the bike. I need to have all my wits about me. I need to be able to see and hear everything around me. I can maybe understand if you are riding in a familiar place where there is absolutely no traffic of any kind. Where would you find such a place though? If you want to listen to music listen to music but it you want to ride don't try to do both at the same time.
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
21 Jan 12
That is very true, there is a place for everything. Accidents happen and we cannot predict when it may occur but it is ourselves who should start to prevent such events to occur. We should be responsible enough to know the risks of using headphones when riding a bike, walking along a busy road, jogging or driving a car. We should always keep in mind that it is not only us who can be affected by our actions but others too. We must bear in mind that safety is our priority when we go anywhere and do anything.
@smurfysmurf (651)
• Philippines
17 Jan 12
Really?? It's my first time to hear about it.
And I could really observe the things that happening. It is indeed possible and most people would really use headphones or even earphones while riding a jeepney or any public transportation or even while walking around. And most of the time, it's walking through the pedestrian or side street would really make them risk for injury or harm.
We should definitely take care of ourselves..and should really be cautious most especially while we are on the streets.
I do use earphones for my Ipod but I am very cautious about it and would even turn it into a low volume while I am on the street so that I can hear the surroundings like the beeps and others.
Anyways, I hope this incident will be lower as people will be aware about it.
Have a wonderful day!
@agmamayo (804)
• Philippines
3 Feb 12
Everyone of us have their own favorite kind of music, music that can help us relax a bit, stimulate us to be amped the whole day, and relieve stress. That is why sometimes when we are outside our homes we bring with us the music we love, like when we go for a walk, shopping, trekking, biking, jogging, running an errand and the like. We have so many music devices now that let us hear music anywhere we go. Now it is trendy to use big headphones outside, because there are so many designs to choose from, very colorful and fashionable especially to teenagers. Accidents do happen with these music devices, and unknowingly teenagers don't mind these. So it is for us parents to advice them what the risk headphones can give to them when it is worn outside. Not only teens but us adults too, we cannot deny the fact that we too love to hear music while doing errands or doing something out of our homes. We should be responsible enough for our safety and the safety of all members of our family. This news article may serve as an eye opener to all of us.
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
7 Feb 12
This is the sad reality of the world we live in today. People are so wrapped up in what is going on with their high-tech gadgets that they pay little or no attention to what is going on around them. As much as technology does to make our lives better, and sometimes even a lot more interesting, things often come with drawbacks as well.
@luxlyangels (1286)
•
29 Apr 12
It just might kill you especially when driving and its very loud, it can distract you like seriously , you won't hear anything and that can cause a huge calamity.
@catamari (127)
• Romania
19 Jan 12
Hello agmamayo! I believe headpones can't kill anybody. If you use a knife to cut bread it is not a weapon and it can't kill you. You can kill with it. So, for sure headphones can't kill anybody. There is just a bad habit who can kill you. So, if you jogging or drive a car with headphones you must know that can make your attention to be very small. I think if you want be healthy is better to listen to real environment sounds, not headphones. Finaly, headphones are only a little plastic thing. It can't kill anybody. It is our choise. I strongly believe that education must works better and to teach people what is good or bad. Hope to hear you soon! Cata
@myzhian (584)
• Philippines
19 Jan 12
I have also read information regarding to the harmful effects cause by gadgets usage! The chemical reactions and radiation coming from this technology units affects the brain neurons making them deteriorate causing brain damage, brain cancers, lower down your memories and others! this may includes cell phones, headphones,ect.... It is really alarming that this cases have been proved by medical experts!
@ShinDarkfox (152)
• United States
20 Jan 12
Being a major music lover I have found myself in such situations, I recognized the problem though early due to bumping into things and not being able to split focus. Sitting down and listening with earphones to music seems to work fine, but when I get up and move, I find myself not so balanced and wander. So, I have some firsthand experience with this.
So, I can say for a fact such a thing exists and can lead to any number of accidents. You can't just hear things around you, you have a harder time focusing as well. You can lower the volume and it won't be as bad, but best to just turn it off in traffic and such.
