Declining paintball injuries
There was recently a report that a paintball caused a British woman’s breast implant to explode. That is the bad news. The good news is that paintball injuries have actually decreased in the United States. Hospital emergency visits due to air and paintball guns fell 20% from 2006 to 2008. Most such injuries occur in males and more than 25% were in 10 to 14 year-olds. Low-income children and adults are more likely than higher-income people to be treated for these injuries. The decline is attributed to “more awareness about injury prevention”. Comment: I hope so. Those implants are expensive!
http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-paintball-injuries-20110906,0,6581366.story
South Africa to ban alcohol adverts
On a more serious note, South Africa plans to ban alcohol advertising in a bid to rein in violent crime fuelled by excessive drinking. The health minister said, “We’re not going to pull back about the issue of alcohol control, including the banning on advertising of alcohol. It’s not an issue of whether, it’s an issue of when”. He added, “If saving our people earns us a title of being a nanny (state), I very much welcome that title.” South Africa ranks 52nd among the world’s heaviest drinkers, according to the WHO, and is one of the world’s most violent societies with 46 murders per day and high levels of rape. Etienne Krug said the consequences of violence went beyond death and injury and lead to problems like disabilities, mental health issues and sexual infections. “Violence is one of the biggest public health problems in the world (but) it did not get “even one percent” of the attention given to other major challenges. “HIV kills 1.7 million people a year. Violence kills 1.5 million.”
Comment: Refreshing to hear this from WHO. And, take note of the minister’s defiance of the nanny-staters!