According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, distracted walking puts an increasing number of Americans at risk for injury.
Here are five takeaways:
1. An academy survey conducted recently of thousands of people nationwide found that nearly 40 percent said they have seen a distracted walking incident, and a little more than one-quarter said they had been in an incident themselves.
2. Women 55 and older are most likely to suffer serious injuries because of distracted walking.
3. Those ages 18 to 34 are less likely to be injured, even though they reported higher rates of distracted walking incidents.
4. Overall, 78 percent of respondents said distracted walking is a serious issue.
5. According to a 2013 study published in the journal Accident, Analysis & Prevention, between 2004 and 2010, emergency department visits for injuries involving distracted pedestrians using cell phones nearly doubled.