Videos of people using virtual reality headsets and accidentally injuring themselves or others are all over the internet.
They’re usually played for laughs, but the number of people nationwide who have reported VR-related injuries at the emergency room has dramatically increased since 2017.
This is likely due in part to the increasing popularity of VR headsets. They’ve become more affordable in recent years, and are coupled with an expanding library of apps and games.
There were 125 VR-related injuries in 2017, according to data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.
But by 2021, that number jumped to more than 1,300 people who sought medical attention.
Dr. Charles Hu with Dignity Health’s Chandler Trauma Center said injuries occur across all age ranges and all parts of the body, but tend to be most prominent on the hands, arms and face.
”You have fractures, lacerations, contusions of those areas,” he said, “and on rare occasions, some devastating injuries are reported — like neck injuries.”
Hu’s advice to those planning to spend time in VR environments is simple: stay aware of your surroundings, and clear the area before playing any physically-intensive games.
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