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.
-
On Day 1 of President Donald Trump’s second term, he signed an executive order stating that the federal government would only recognize two genders: male and female. -
AHCCCS has received federal approval to give incarcerated people a much-needed boost while they transition back into their communities by offering a so-called reentry benefits package. -
Rural communities in Arizona would face some of the biggest consequences if Congress moves ahead with proposed cuts to state Medicaid programs, according to a new study. -
A new study found that roughly 4 in 10 people over the age of 55 are likely to develop dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association says it’s one of the most expensive medical conditions. -
The attorneys general filed a motion to intervene in a case over whether immigrants brought to the U.S. as children — also known as Dreamers — should be able to purchase health care through the Affordable Care Act.
