Grand Canyon, 1958. We crouched on a ledge over the edge, while a friend took a picture of my hands and face, "bravely" hanging on. If that was today, we would have taken a selfie.
Tourists and vacationers. Aren't we special?
Except, some die in the process. Right there in
Grand Canyon, a man tripped during his selfie,
falling down a 1,000-foot rim.
A 2018 report counts 259 people who died in
137 incidents between 2011 and 2017. Yes, numerous deaths are classified as group incidents.
India, 2016. A man taking a selfie slipped and fell into the current of the Ganges River. All six friends were swept away attempting a rescue.
Carnegie Mellon University did a study called, "Me, Myself and My Killfie."
Dangers include height, water, trains, animals, electrocution and weapons. About 75 percent of deaths were men age 24 or younger, as we were in 1958.
The National Park Service advises:
* Be aware of your surroundings
* Understand the hazards
* Stay focused on the surroundings
* Follow any posted rules and respect barriers
* Stay on the beaten path
* Wild animals close enough for your selfie are too close
* Stay at least 100 yards from wolves, bears and such
* Keep both hands on the wheel. Vehicle accidents cause most park fatalities.
Yellowstone, 2015. Bison gored five people in a three-month period. We're not yet in the millennium, when "the lion will lie down with the lamb."
Jimmy
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