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> US child pedestrian deaths 1975: 1632. US child pedestrian deaths 2019: 138. The graph in the article explains this. Kids just don't go outside anymore.

sandworm101 3y ago
Maybe then the outside is just dangerous. There are lots of outdoor activities so dangerous that staying inside might be a better alternative in terms of preventable injuries (football, surfing, motorsports, anything involving horses). If the goal is to keep kids out of the ER, playing around on roads may be one of those things we should just not encourage. I learned to chop wood and use a chainsaw as a child, partially during Boy Scouts activities. OMG that is a risky thing for a kid. Never would I suggest that be taught to kids today.
- HumblyTossed 3y ago
  > Never would I suggest that be taught to kids today. Why not?! Understanding how to handle dangerous situations in a safe manner is a huge learning opportunity for a young person. If you have a chainsaw at home ( and lots of us do ) young people absolutely need to have a healthy appreciation for the danger of that machine.
  - sandworm101 3y ago
    Only where the dangerous situation can be made safe. Rock climbing is dangerous, but with a little training and equipment becomes safer than playing soccer. A chainsaw cannot be made properly safe, not for use by children, for the same reasons we have minimum ages for driving cars.
    - bombcar 3y ago
      I'd argue the other way around - supervised usage as a child (adjust age as desired) is much better than "restricted until you're on your own". A ten-year old being taught how to handle tools could likely be safer than a 25 year old who has never seen or used one before, but just bought one.
    - b112 3y ago
      Maybe a smaller electric chainsaw? With far less power and therefore reduced bucking/etc? 100% get what you're saying. Chainsaws are risky use items for skilled adults.
      - sandworm101 3y ago
        It also isn't just the chainsaw but the implications of using one. Chainsaws are not used indoors. They are used on uneven terrain to cut things (trees/logs) that are irregular in shape/weight and subject to unseen internal forces. It's a setup for random movements an unanticipated results. Even for adults, felling a tree with a chainsaw is a very dangerous thing.
- rufus_foreman 3y ago
  Would you rather have kids learn about chainsaws while supervised in the Scouts, or learn about them on the streets due to peer pressure and possibly while high on drugs?

sandworm101 3y ago

Maybe then the outside is just dangerous. There are lots of outdoor activities so dangerous that staying inside might be a better alternative in terms of preventable injuries (football, surfing, motorsports, anything involving horses). If the goal is to keep kids out of the ER, playing around on roads may be one of those things we should just not encourage. I learned to chop wood and use a chainsaw as a child, partially during Boy Scouts activities. OMG that is a risky thing for a kid. Never would I suggest that be taught to kids today.

HumblyTossed 3y ago
> Never would I suggest that be taught to kids today. Why not?! Understanding how to handle dangerous situations in a safe manner is a huge learning opportunity for a young person. If you have a chainsaw at home ( and lots of us do ) young people absolutely need to have a healthy appreciation for the danger of that machine.
- sandworm101 3y ago
  Only where the dangerous situation can be made safe. Rock climbing is dangerous, but with a little training and equipment becomes safer than playing soccer. A chainsaw cannot be made properly safe, not for use by children, for the same reasons we have minimum ages for driving cars.
  - bombcar 3y ago
    I'd argue the other way around - supervised usage as a child (adjust age as desired) is much better than "restricted until you're on your own". A ten-year old being taught how to handle tools could likely be safer than a 25 year old who has never seen or used one before, but just bought one.
  - b112 3y ago
    Maybe a smaller electric chainsaw? With far less power and therefore reduced bucking/etc? 100% get what you're saying. Chainsaws are risky use items for skilled adults.
    - sandworm101 3y ago
      It also isn't just the chainsaw but the implications of using one. Chainsaws are not used indoors. They are used on uneven terrain to cut things (trees/logs) that are irregular in shape/weight and subject to unseen internal forces. It's a setup for random movements an unanticipated results. Even for adults, felling a tree with a chainsaw is a very dangerous thing.
rufus_foreman 3y ago
Would you rather have kids learn about chainsaws while supervised in the Scouts, or learn about them on the streets due to peer pressure and possibly while high on drugs?