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Video Games, Hurricanes, and Generators -- a Toxic Trifecta

by Peter Mychalcewycz on June 2, 2009 at 10:14 AM


In light of their alleged emotional ramifications on children, certain video games are often labeled as "dangerous." But it turns out a number of children almost literally lost their lives last year by playing their favorite games, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Last autumn, families in areas of Texas affected by Hurricane Ike were forced indoors due to the brutal storm and its messy aftermath. In the wake of the storm, some parents turned to the one thing they knew would distract and appease their restless children: video games. The problem wasn't that the children were playing the games, though. The problem was that there was no electricity, so the gaming systems were being run by gasoline-powered generators. In case you didn't know, the improper use of generators can lead to carbon-monoxide poisoning and, ultimately, death.

A study performed by researchers at the University of Texas found that 75-percent of the children treated for carbon-monoxide poisoning had been playing video games. The good news behind this frightening statistic is that there were only nine total cases of generator-related carbon-monoxide poisoning (and that no one died). The bad news is that some people still don't understand the proper way to use a gas-powered generator. (Hint: put it outside, dude.) [From: Live Science]

Tags: carbon monoxide, CarbonMonoxide, generator, health, kids, top, video games, VideoGames, violence in video games, ViolenceInVideoGames

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