Spring Break
Live Strong bracelets becoming a weak fad
Column: Reading this will make you smarter
Leah King, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/14/05 Section: Lifestyles
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"Living Strong" could kill you in Tampa.
In what I consider an ironic twist of fate, a Tampa area hospital has begun putting medical tape over patients' Live Strong bracelets, fearing the yellow wristbands might be mistaken for a "Do Not Resuscitate" bracelet, which is the exact same color yellow.
"Do Not Resuscitate" bracelets are placed on patients who do not wish to be revived should something go wrong during surgery.
Though there have been no fatal mix-ups yet, some doctors fear that the fast-paced hospital environment could lead to a deadly mistake, according to an ABC news station in Tampa.
Some of you might be thinking, "Wow! That's horrible! These people merely want to show their support for cancer research, and now they could end up dead ... just because they donated money to the Lance Armstrong Foundation!"
If you're thinking that, you're wrong.
It is true that their wristbands could be mistaken for "Do Not Resuscitate" bands, and it is true that these people have given their money to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
However, I would venture to say that many people wearing Live Strong bracelets have not given cancer research a fleeting thought.
Why are these people wearing Live Strong bracelets? To be cool.
Live Strong bracelets have become nothing more than a fad. Giving money to cancer research is commendable, and people should give money to causes they believe in. But most philanthropists do not boast about their donations. They might wear their hearts on their sleeves, but they do not wear their organizations on their wrists merely because it is "the in thing to do."
Live Strong bracelets have become the WWJD fad of the 21st century. Everyone should remember the embroidered WWJD bracelets. If not, here is a quick refresher: they were intended to make the wearer ask the question, "What would Jesus do?" before every decision.
Soon enough, though, WWJD bracelets became a fad. People wore them just because everyone else did, and many people did not care what Jesus would have done. Usually, the people who care what Jesus would have done don't need to wear reminders on their wrists.
In what I consider an ironic twist of fate, a Tampa area hospital has begun putting medical tape over patients' Live Strong bracelets, fearing the yellow wristbands might be mistaken for a "Do Not Resuscitate" bracelet, which is the exact same color yellow.
"Do Not Resuscitate" bracelets are placed on patients who do not wish to be revived should something go wrong during surgery.
Though there have been no fatal mix-ups yet, some doctors fear that the fast-paced hospital environment could lead to a deadly mistake, according to an ABC news station in Tampa.
Some of you might be thinking, "Wow! That's horrible! These people merely want to show their support for cancer research, and now they could end up dead ... just because they donated money to the Lance Armstrong Foundation!"
If you're thinking that, you're wrong.
It is true that their wristbands could be mistaken for "Do Not Resuscitate" bands, and it is true that these people have given their money to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
However, I would venture to say that many people wearing Live Strong bracelets have not given cancer research a fleeting thought.
Why are these people wearing Live Strong bracelets? To be cool.
Live Strong bracelets have become nothing more than a fad. Giving money to cancer research is commendable, and people should give money to causes they believe in. But most philanthropists do not boast about their donations. They might wear their hearts on their sleeves, but they do not wear their organizations on their wrists merely because it is "the in thing to do."
Live Strong bracelets have become the WWJD fad of the 21st century. Everyone should remember the embroidered WWJD bracelets. If not, here is a quick refresher: they were intended to make the wearer ask the question, "What would Jesus do?" before every decision.
Soon enough, though, WWJD bracelets became a fad. People wore them just because everyone else did, and many people did not care what Jesus would have done. Usually, the people who care what Jesus would have done don't need to wear reminders on their wrists.
