ER docs: Don't text and walk, skate or cook

By LINDSEY TANNER , AP Medical Writer, Medicine & Health / Health

Yvette M. uses her cell phone to text message friends while walking in downtown street, Tuesday, July, 29, 2008, in Chicago. In an alert issued this week, the American College of Emergency Physicians says based on reports from emergency-room doctors around the country, the number of text-messaging pedestrians, bicyclists, roller-bladers and even motorists who aren't so fortunate is rising. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

(AP) -- The warning came too late for Barack Obama's adviser: Don't walk and text at the same time. Obama aide Valerie Jarrett fell off a Chicago curb several weeks ago while her thumbs were flying on her Blackberry.

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Posted by DoctorKnowledge 07/30/08 19:23

Rank: 1/5 after 1 vote

Giancarlo Yerkes's comment says most of it: It's just another item on his list of things he isn't "supposed" to do. His comment is probably more important than the doctors'. I.e., our society continually adds to the list of things we should not do -- without giving us real options. The problem is our society. My first evil impulse, hearing about the woman killed in San Francisco while crossing the street texting was: "Selection of the fittest in action". But then I realized that wasn't even close to fair: she was probably a modestly intelligent person who had no concept of the risks she was running.