There is a time and place for taking a self-portrait. Unfortunately, it appears that some people have not quite figured that out.A 2018 study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care revealed 259 selfie-related deaths between October 2011 and November 2017. (A selfie-related death was defined as any accidental death that occurred while doing self-photography or clicking selfies.) The average age of those killed was about 22, and males were three times as likely as females to die in selfie-related accidents. Researchers noted an exponential increase in the number of selfie deaths from 2014-2015 to 2016ñ2017 largely due to increased use of mobile phones and their improved selfie features.So why are people dying to get those social media-worthy self-portraits? Experts say that people are paying more attention to the camera than what is going on around them. They are so focused on getting the perfect shot that they are oblivious to where they are placing their feet.Aside from serving as a memorial, what good is a ìperfectî selfie if a person dies while trying to get it? Practice safe selfies by using common sense.
- Pay attention to surroundings at all times.
- Respect ìno selfie zonesî established for safety in public places.
- Do not take selfies while driving or engaging in activities requiring full attention.
