Just a few weeks ago if anyone had mentioned the words: Pokemon Go, people would have looked at you as if you were crazy yet it appears as though anyone who hasn’t played the game is crazy at this point. Nintendo released a smartphone game that has surpassed all other games, adding an additional 26 million users in just one day. According to Vox, this game has been downloaded by at least 31.4 million people worldwide and $11 billion dollars has been added to Nintendo’s total value.  With a game of this magnitude, it’s understandable that there have been some accidents, like the two kids in San Diego who recently fell off a cliff while playing the game. Luckily, the kids survived the catastrophe but today we present a health and safety guide for parents whose kids are loving this very popular game. As healthcare professionals, it’s important to us that your kids are healthy and safe while playing the most popular game of this generation.

Beware of Artificial Lures

It’s easy for games to become manipulated by hackers and lately there have been an influx of artificial lures which are used to target kids who are then vulnerable to robberies. If the Pokemon isn’t in a highly visible area then your child may be at an increased risk. Players have reportedly been getting duped by artificial lures and if it doesn’t appear to be safe, please accompany your child or avoid chasing that particular Pokemon altogether.

Alert Your Children About Battery Life

We all know that smartphone batteries tend to have a reduced lifespan while using some of the high-profile apps such as Snapchat and Pokemon Go which is why you should speak to your kids about regularly charging the smartphone. The Pokemon Go app is a battery drainer and the last thing they should be doing is chasing Pokemon without enough battery power in case of an emergency. Please reinforce the idea that the phone needs to be charged regularly to avoid any dangers.

Be Aware of Their Surroundings

Earlier in this blog post, we mentioned the predicament that two teens in San Diego found themselves in after they fell off a cliff in San Diego. Luckily, the kids survived, however, this story could have had an unhappy ending. When playing Pokemon Go, it’s important that your kids are aware of their surroundings at all times so that they are safe and away from any dangers like traffic or unstable terrain.

Safety First

Seeing as that this is a GPS-based game, many kids are finding Pokemon in their backyards at strange hours and it’s always good to have safety in mind when catching Pokemon. Your child should not be entering dark spaces at any hour to find Pokemon or walking for long distances without supervision. It’s important that you instill the idea in your child that safety comes before Pikachu.

Be Prepared

According to the BBC, your child would have to walk approximately 10KMs in one day to catch some of the most popular Pokemon. While this smartphone-based game may seem like a regular game, it requires physical activity, therefore, your child should always be hydrated and kept out of the sun during heat waves. To avoid any dangerous situations, make sure your child is fed and hydrated before they go finding these magical creatures that have taken over the world.

To find out more tips about how your child could be safe while playing Pokemon Go, please visit a HealthMax Physiotherapy Clinic near you or call (416) 431-4000. Please be sure to watch this Pokemon Go Problems video on how you should stay alerted while playing the game.

The post Pokemon Go: The Parents Health and Safety Guide appeared first on HealthMax Physiotherapy.