Monday 26 May 2008

Death by right-handed implement

I read something over the weekend that said 2,500 left handers die each year using products designed for right handers.

That led me to thinking: what were these people doing? Stabbing themselves due to out-of-control scissors? Getting into a life-threatening situation with a tin opener? Suffering a coronary from a right-handed computer keyboard?

As a southpaw, I know how much easier everyday tasks are when you use left-handed implements but I find it hard to believe 2,500 people put their lives at risk each year by using products that were designed for right handers.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I read the exact same thing. I do not believe it either. I cannot find any reputable or peer reviewed evidence that supports this claim.

scottschlott said...

...power tools. Lefties either use their "weak" hand and are not as stable, or they use their left with most of the safety features pointing the opposite way. Think circular saws.

Anonymous said...

I have hurt myself many, many times using right handed implements -- and I consider myself fortunate to not need or use power tools for this reason. I totally believe it. But then again, perhaps being a clutz is a bigger challenge than being left handed?

Anonymous said...

We recall cars after one person dies because of some possible malfunction.....we recall toys because one child chewed a piece off...... yet 2500 Left-Handed people die each year using wrong-handed tools and we do nothing......

That just seems wrong!

Anonymous said...

Omg i'm left handed :O Luckily, I don't use power tools. ;) but i've met some right handed people that hurt themselves with stuff and you don't hear '____ right handed people died of using _____ this year' so... What makes this so special?

Anonymous said...

IM LEFT HANDED! SUCK IT!

Anonymous said...

Just read the same article, and found it hilarious (:

Anonymous said...

Could someone please name the article. I'd like to know that there really is one, and that this "fact" is based on more than the fictional Dr. Grissoms statement in the end of CSI S07E03 (Season 7, Episode 3).

Anonymous said...

I am a right hander but have a older brother and younger sister that are left handed. that's just history, to show I'm on your side, but I don't think we recall anything after one incident, that's just ridiculous!
Where have you seen one car catch fire and they recall all 10's of thousands. I think your either exaggerating or you have no clue what you are talking about. I understand the frustration, but red Erick wont help one bit, Stats will! Lets get some real #'s together!!!

Also, Lets post somewhere we can really complain and maybe make a difference. Anybody know where that might be?

Anonymous said...

This article is intersting, proving the theory wrong that we die at a disproportional rate:

http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2013/09/sinister-statistics-do-left-handed-people-die-young.html

Anonymous said...

well, I guess I shouldn't have said the above article proves it's wrong, but it disputes it.

Another article that talks about increased risks for lefties but it's from 2000: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/876012.stm

I finally found the article with the actual '2500 death' quote. It's OLD though:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/scientists-calculate-odd-ways-die-282884

Anonymous said...

I have been a carpenter for just over 40 years. Being left handed, circular saws dump saw dust in my tool bags, I have to run a router opposite to right handers. These are minor though. The problem is stationary dedicated tools (Jointers, table saws, chop saws...) these are difficult for a true lefty to operate resulting in injuries. I cannot say for certain people die, but injuries do happen, and not solely out of negligence.