For those of you that don't know, I live in Florida. Specifically, I live near Tampa - so right now life is getting a lot more difficult.
That's because the Steelers and Cardinals are in town for the Super Bowl.
And, amidst all this chaos, amusingly, I open my Google Reader this morning to see headlines like this: "Football Players Are Not The Only Ones Who Get Hurt On Super Bowl Sunday". The claim? The players are hardly the most at-risk on Sunday. The Fans are really the ones who are getting hurt - literally.
Apparently, hospitals in the area are having to brace themselves for all kinds of Super injuries.
Obviously, the most pressing concern for police and medical crews are all the damned drunks. Studies like this one have found that average number of fatalites involving alcohol are up to 41% higher on Super Sunday, and it's worse in the losing team's home city. That's a bigger increase in deaths than New Year's Eve. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that during 2007, around 32% of all traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. However on Super Bowl Sunday XLII, the number of traffic fatals where the driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of .08 or higher jumped to 48%.
Other studies have linked big sporting events to increases in heart attacks and medical emergencies. Apparently, some people are just REALLY excited their team's playing. People also get brought in for a whole myriad of random, freak injuries like choking in chicken wings and broken fingers from high-fiving.
But hey, there's a positive note to all this: apparently, if your team makes the playoffs or the championships, suicide rates in your area drop.
Personally, I think I might have a heart attack just trying to find cheap seats so my dearest Barry, a HUGE fan, can see his dearest win their 6th ring.
Well, anyways, have a good weekend everyone. And, just for Barry...
HERE WE GO, STEELERS!
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