VOA 学习笔记1. Health Risks in a Crowd: Not What You May Think

Picture a huge public gathering -- a sea of people like the hajj to Mecca or an appearance by the pope. Think of the World Cup, the Olympics, a political event, a rock concert or a train station in Asia before the Lunar New Year.

When thousands or even millions of people get together, what do you suppose is the biggest health concern?

Traditionally, doctors and public health officials were most concerned about the spread of infectious diseases, like influenza. Robert Steffen, a researcher in Switzerland, says infectious diseases are still a concern. But he says injuries are a bigger threat at so-called mass gatherings.

ROBERT STEFFEN: "The risk has actually been dominated by sprains or lacerations, or the mortality risk due to stampedes and heat exhaustion in periods of extreme heat."

Mr. Steffen is a professor of travel medicine at the University of Zurich. He is the lead author of one of several new papers about health problems at mass gatherings in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Professor Steffen says children and older people have the highest risk of injury or other health problems at these events. He says children are more at risk of getting crushed in stampedes, while older people are at higher risk from extreme heat.

ROBERT STEFFEN: "At the hajj, it’s particularly senior adults who attend, and so they have great risk of suffering of heat stroke and of dying."

Stampedes and crushing at mass gatherings have caused an estimated seven thousand deaths over the past thirty years.

The design of an area can play a part. There may be narrow passages or other choke points that too many people try to use at once. Professor Steffen says the mood of a crowd can also play a part.

ROBERT STEFFEN: "If suddenly they get agitated, for instance, firework is being launched within a football stadium, then they get very much afraid and try to escape."

He says organizers of large gatherings need to avoid creating conditions that might lead to panic, stampedes and heat stroke. And he says they must be ready to give medical care.

So what advice does he have for people attending a large gathering? First, get any needed vaccinations before traveling. Then, stay away from any large mass of people as much as possible. Also, be careful with alcohol and drugs, which can increase the risk of injuries.

And that’s the VOA Special English Health Report, available online at voaspecialenglish.com with texts, MP3s, podcasts and captioned videos. Have you ever been in a huge crowd and worried about your safety? Or did you feel fine? Tell us about your experience. Post a comment at voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Christopher Cruise.

学习笔记

Stampede [stæm'pi:d]  n 人群拥挤， causing a stampede.  导致人群拥挤。

Injure, v 重音在前   injured  受伤的， 受损害的；

Injury  ['indʒəri]  n. 伤害，损害 可数名词

 

 

Causing a stampede. One person was killed and at least 20 injured.

 

Lunar ，阴历的，农历的， Lunar new year. 农历新年，中国新年 ，我在听新闻的时候，经常听到外国领导人给中国拜年时总说 Lunar new year. 一直听不懂，今天看到VOA 上面说的Lunar new year 后字典一下，才知道 lunar 是阴历的，农历的，月亮相关的，才知道 Lunar new year 特指农历新年，阴历新年，中国新年。

 

A sea of  大量的，茫茫一片的。  A sea of people

Mecca n 麦加，沙特的一个宗教城市

Hajj [hædʒ] 麦加朝圣.

A sea of people like the hajj to Mecca

 

Pope 罗马教皇

An appearance by pope.  罗马教皇出现

 

When thousands or even millions of people get together, what do you suppose is the biggest health concern?

 

Traditionally, 通常来说

 

Concern n. 关心，忧虑， v. 涉及，影响，关心。  常用 be concerned about  关心。。。

These problems concern all you us. 这些问题影响到我们每一个人。

 

infectious [in'fekʃəs]  adj. 传染的；传染性的；易传染的

Infectious diseases, like influenza.

influenza [,influ'enzə]

n. [内科] 流行性感冒（简写flu）；家畜流行性感冒

 

Dominate  控制，支配

Sprain  n v 扭伤

Laceration  n 撕裂

Mortality

mortality [mɔ:'tæləti]  . 死亡数，死亡率；必死性，必死的命运   mortality rate 死亡率

Heat exhaustion 中暑 = heat stroke， exhaustion 筋疲力尽  

stroke 中风

 

Extreme heat  酷热天气

 

Journal  杂志

Lancet 外科，柳叶刀

 

Crush n v 挤压  get crushed  被踩踏

 

Passage 走廊， 一段文章

 

Choke n v 窒息  choke point 瓶颈

 

agitate ['ædʒiteit]

vt. 摇动；骚动；使…激动

vi. 煽动

 

Get agitated   收到刺激，感到不安

He was agitated about his wife's health.

 

What advice does he have for people attending a large gathering?

 

vaccination [,væksi'neiʃən]

n. 接种疫苗；种痘

 

Get any vaccination before traveling.

 

Stay away from any large mess of people as much as possible. 尽量远离人群。

 

Stadium 体育场  football stadium 

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