Putting on earphones or headphones is a common phenomenon in society today, especially in big cities. In Yaounde, it is commonplace to find people, especially youths, moving around with headphones and earphones on. Putting on these gadgets has thus become the pride of youths. People put on headphones in public places like shops, bars, stadiums, markets, churches, classrooms, and even when driving. Some vehicle owners love driving with their headphones on, apparently oblivious of the inherent danger. Yet, the risk of walking while wearing headphones can be deadly.
This was the case of Emmanuel T. Fomekong, 21, a student in a private college in Yaounde who was crushed by an oncoming train recently in the Obobogo neighbourhood of Yaounde.
Reports say the late Emmanuel Fomekong was listening to music on his earphones while crossing the railway. As a result, he neither heard the horn of the train nor the shouts of his sister. He was crushed within seconds. Such a situation is likely to happen to many people if care is not taken.
A study in the U.S. shows that in the last six years, serious injuries and deaths have tripled among pedestrians struck by cars or trains while wearing headphones connected to an iPod or other handheld device. Between 2004 and 2011, 116 injuries among pedestrians wearing headphones were reported in the U.S., including 81 deaths. The majority of cases were among young people in urban areas. In 2004-2005, the number of injuries reported was 16, and by 2010-2011, the number had risen to 47. According to research findings, there are two likely explanations for the link between headphone use and pedestrian injury. There are sources of distraction and environmental isolation. Distraction caused by the use of electronic devices is known as “in-attentional blindness.” It involves the distraction of interpreting sound as well as the distraction needed to operate the device. The second factor, environmental, isolation may pose even bigger risks among pedestrians.
It is well known that long-term exposure to loud noise can damage hearing, sometimes so severely that it can induce deafness. A recent study by scientists looking at emerging health risks in Europe concluded that using earphones and playing loud music everyday for five years could cause permanent and irreversible hearing problems.
