The Dangers of On-Campus Winterims Volume IV: Off-Campus Injuries Prove More Dangerous

As the off-campus winterims have begun to return, my on-going injury report has received a number of stories from various winterims. I was overwhelmed with the degree to which the off-campus winterims out-injured the on-campus Winterims. In Arizona, the biking group disclosed their scary experiences. They reported a number of crashes; Mr. Smith said that he took "a header" his first time on a tough trail. I didn't take their crash stories to heart until I saw Meghan's large road rash [see below]; she had crashed on the same trail as Mr. Smith. The Going Green in the French Alps group reported blisters, sunburn, and digestive problems (from too much cheese). I think that Meghan's injury and the Going Green in the French Alps group are evidence that off-campus injuries are on a whole other level then those of the on-campus winterims. Although quilting, stained glass, and RUaDigital Nativ proved to be dangerous in their own right, the off-campus winterims overwhelmingly prove to be more dangerous then the on-campus.

The Dangers of On-Campus Winterims Volume III: RUaDGTALNATIV?

The past two weeks have taken a- publicly unknown- toll on the bloggers who created your friendly Lawrence Academy Winterim blog. On the average work day, we spend about four hours on the computer (not to mention the times we use our computers for personal purposes after Winterim). My fellow bloggers have reported headaches, hand cramps, and sore butts from sitting and working on the computer for long lengths of time. Ms. Poulin cried out in pain today, "O my hands and wrists" as she wrung her hands furiously. Although quilting and stained glass proved to be dangerous in their own right, I believe blogging takes the cake! Research warns that computer screens lead to significant eye strain without 10 to 15 minute breaks every hour. With such a heavy stream of news, it is safe to say that the bloggers have not been able to take the appropriate amount of breaks during this Winterim which has led to several headaches. Likewise, the warning labels for keyboards state that extensive use of a keyboard for many hours without breaks could lead to severe wrist and hand injuries like arthritis and carpal tunnel. Most bloggers at the LA Winterim Blog have reported tight and sore hands in the past two weeks. According to the European Respiratory Journal, sitting too long- like on planes or in front of the computer- can cause blood clots which can cause severe disability or death. Luckily, the LA bloggers have thwarted the worst of these injuries; yet, we have suffered our fair share of strained eyes, headaches, and wrist pains. Who ever knew it was such a "pain" to blog about Winterim!?

Dangerous On-Campus Winterims (Volume 2): Artists Encounter Scary Shards in Stained Glass

On my way back from quilting, I decided to step into the stained glass winterim to try to continue our running string of articles about the possible injuries at on campus winterims. The stained glass artists are pretty far along with their projects, so the pieces of glass are looking quite beautiful and harmlessly arranged nicely in their designated patterns [see below].However, from speaking with group members, I quickly learned not to let the graceful product of stained glass fool me- the art of stained glass can give quilting a run for its money as the most dangerous on campus winterim! When I spoke with the artists themselves, I felt my pulse begin to race and my eyes begin to search for safety glasses, a bullet proof vest, and thick gloves that would cover from my hands to my elbows.



Chase told me the injuries range from cuts to burns, and they could occur no matter how carefully you cut the glass. Jackie and Vail went further into detail and even described several incidents that had occurred during during the first week. Jackie was the victim of a burn to her stomach [see picture below] and Vail's fingers were littered with burns and cuts [see picture below].

Although many injuries are possible in stained glass, Mrs. B (the stained glass leader) informed me that injuries can be avoided by correct protection and attention. The artists' descriptions of their accidents made the quilting winterim across the hall look like a walk in the park (and we're not talking Central Park here folks), but the final products are definitely worth the pain!

Sewing: Peaceful Past-Time or Cruel Craft?

Imagine your grandmother sitting in her rocking chair by the fire, sewing you a set of sheets for your bed. What could be more harmless? Emily, a sophomore at Lawrence Academy agreed to tell the tale of her violent encounter with sewing materials. "I was cutting my fabric, and my tip was over the edge, and I cut the tip of my finger off. I have my tetanus shot though so it's alright!" As you can see, the art of sewing is one with dangers similar to crocodile wrestling. Ms. O'Connor, the Winterim leader quotes, "Yes, there are many ways to be injured in sewing...you definitely have to pay attention." Although no statistics can be easily attained, a quick search on Google reports that there are plenty of scissor related deaths every year, many of them involving moving from one sewing station to another while holding scissors and falling on top of them.


So if any lessons can be learned here, next time you see your grandmother, give her a big hug and thank her for putting her life on the line in order to provide you bedding and warmth.

Dear viewers, have you had any traumatizing experiences in your Winterims? Let us know in the comments!