Aug 1, 2008 9:52 am US/Pacific
'Texting Trauma' On The Rise
MIAMI (CBS) ―
The days of using a cell phone to simply talk on have come and passed. Today, it's about smartphones and text messaging. More than 360 billion text messages were sent last year, but now there's a growing trend of injuries incurred while texting, a phenomenon called "Texting Trauma."
"Even when I'm riding my bike on Lincoln Road, I'm holding the handle, and I'm texting on one side," said Manni Maharaj.
Some people text message while driving, which is incredibly dangerous enough, but now ER physicians say texters on bicycles, roller blades, and even on their own two feet are keeping ER's busy, CBS station WFOR-TV in Miami reports.
Most of the texting injuries have been simple. People are distracted and they walk into trees or light posts. Or twist their ankle by stepping off a curb. But, occasionally they step into situations that are much more dangerous.
And doctor's think texters should not think this is "NBD," or no big deal.
"There were multiple injuries sprained ankles, head injuries from texting without paying attention," said Dr. Michael Brazda.
One woman in San Francisco was killed when she stepped into traffic. But, many believe they have simply figured out how to do two things at once, despite the evidence proving most people can't.
"Yeah, I've almost bumped into things, I've learned my lesson and I put my phone away," said Cassandra Gabriel.
And doctors believe that lesson of simply putting the phone away is the best lesson users can possibly learn.
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