The media and "copy-cat" burn injuries: 21st century impediments to burn prevention

Introduction: The effects of media on the health of children and its implications for public health policy, particularly particularly their implications for burn prevention, are a matter of grave concern. There is a significant body of research that details some of the health effects of various forms of media on children. These include effects on violence, risky sexual behaviors, body concept and disordered eating, drug use and obesity. Despite warnings such as "do not try this at home," children continue to make the choice to reenact the stunts described on the internet or seen on popular TV shows such as Jackass on MTV. There is unfortunately little in the scientific literature describing or discussing the influence that the media has on burn injuries in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients admitted to our burn unit between the years 2000 and 2003. Pediatric patients between the ages of 5 and 19 were evaluated. We defined "copy-cat" injuries as those resulting from the patient closely imitating something they had either seen, heard or read about in the media (television, radio, and the internet). Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for this study. Results: There were 139 pediatric patients admitted during the study period. Five patients had potential copy-cat type mechanisms leading to their injuries, including one patient who had made a home-made bomb. Three patients were excluded because it was not clear where they obtained the information used to make the device/mechanisms that led to their injuries. Two patients who sustained injuries from imitating stunts stated they learned about the stunts from the media. Patient 1 was a 14 year-old male from rural Minnesota who sustained 8% body surface area, partial thickness burns of face, neck and hands. He was imitating a trick he had seen on television. Patient 2 was a 19 year-old college student who was making a video of a stunt he had read about on the internet. He sustained 40% body surface area, partial and full thickness burns to his torso and upper extremities. Conclusion: These two cases illustrate the potential dangers that "reality-based" TV shows and certain internet sites and suggest another area of focus for burn prevention education. The paucity of data in the scientific literature about the effects of media on burn injuries points to the need for further study particularly with a view to shape public policy. The current interest in decency on television should give new impetus to examine other potential health effects that various forms of media may have on children, especially in a world saturated with the mass media.