Christmas lights may induce photosensitive epilepsy
Flashing Christmas lights can cause photosensitive epilepsy, the Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association has warned.
The association said that local councils, establishments, shops and the public should be senstive to the effects of flashing fairy lights on persons with photosensitive epilepsy.
"Various types of seizures may be triggered by flashing or flickering lights, or lights opening and closing in some shapes or patterns.
"While both natural and artificial light may provoke seizures, control may be exercised over the flickering of artificial lights by persons who put up decorative lights," it said.
The association said that most people with photosensitive epilepsy were sensitive to lights that flashed 16-25 times per second. Some people could be sensitive to rates as low as three flashes per second and as high as 60.
While some people were aware of the possibility of inducing photosensitive epilepsy through flash photography, certain computer games and television programmes, few realised that flashing Christmas lights in public places could also cause photosensitive epilepsy.
The association referred to the recent report published by the EU Commission which stated that random sampling had revealed that 30 percent of tested lights presented health hazards, and said that the main risks highlighted were from electric shocks and fire outbreaks.
It pointed out that inducing photosensitive epilepsy was also a health and safety issue, and that Christmas lights should not flicker at a rate which could trigger seizures in the vast majority of people with photosensitive epilepsy.
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beppe galea
Dec 12th 2009, 08:51
Prosit MR Zammit for your Comment i Perfectly Aree with you, Dawn qed Jghdu Hekk ghax wisq probabli Ma ghadhom lil hadd Bil Kundizjoni, U Deffinitivament ma jafux xigifiri
U perfettament Kif qed Tghid inthi Meta xi hadd Jiprova jeduka lil poplu Sfortunatament isib min jiprova jiredikola
Il caratis hekk qed tiprova taghmel teduka !!
K.Zammit
Dec 11th 2009, 22:47
@ Ghidt hafna u m;ghidt xejn. Kieku ghandek lil xi hadd ibghati b'din il-kundizzjoni tahsibha mod iehor. Hadd m'hu se jhassarlek festi. U hadd ma prova jhammarlek wiccek ghax tmur il-quddies. Malli xi hadd jazzarda jghid xi haga biex jghallem lil poplu, kulhadd ikun pront jaqa' fuq id-difensiva. li konna nghixu fi zmien iehor kontu thaggruhom! X'poplu tal-biki!
Anna Callus
Dec 11th 2009, 19:29
I do apologise for my misuse of the word disease it was not meant to seem insensitive to persons with epilepsy, and ignorance was actually meant to read stupidity.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 11th 2009, 17:44
@ Mr Frans Said. In your infinite wisdom, how would a child, unable to look after him/herelf, ensure to stay away from such lights? unless their parents and carers are informed of such possibilities. The occurrence is much more common than you think. I know 3 people at least who suffer from epilepsy. Then again, I don't live in a 'bozza', but I happen to live in a real world. So go and worry about your W/E bills , and make sure you're seen at midnight Mass, and let the rest of us worry about epilepsy sufferers.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 11th 2009, 17:32
@ Ray Buhagiar. A person suffering from a seizure would rarely need hospitalisation as he/she would usually (and hopefully) recover unaided within minutes. Although not all cases are the same it may be important that one is laid down to rest on his/her side to hasten recovery. I imagine that the ariticle was intended for people who look after epilepsy sufferers, to keep a lookout and prevent such occurences. @ Alfio Schembri. You obviously have nothing to worry about, but someday, God forbid, you may. Studies have also shwon that persons with this condition may suffer a seizure when driving through long avenues (not likely in Malta) where the sun's rays shine intermittently into the car through the spaces in the trees that line the road. The more we know, the better placed we are to prevent.
Ray Buhagiar
Dec 11th 2009, 16:26
From a scientific point of view, the research question would, During Christmas Season, would flashing lights increase the likelihood of epilepsy? The likely method would be how many epileptic admissions we had at materdei during christmas season!
J Farrugia
Dec 11th 2009, 15:45
@ K Zammit - jekk tahseb li ghax tghajjarna li mmorru l-quddies ser thammrilna wiccna sejjer zball. Iva jiena kbburi limmur il-quddies u ma niddejjaqx nghida. Taf x'ma naghmilx? Ma nhassar il-festi ta' hadd. Live and let live mhux bhal Caritas li minn din is-sena daqshekk hadet ghajnuna minghandhi. Jekk xi hadd jahseb li ghax ahna kattolici xi hadd ser ihammrilna wiccna ghax narmaw ghall-festi zbieh u qaddisa tal-Milied, qieghed jizgarra bl-ikrah. F'180 sena hadd qatt ma tkellem dwar dan, issa gejtu titkellmu? Meta hawn min hu karfa li jrid itajjrilna s-salib imqaddes, li wkoll jaghmel parti mill-hajja tal-Kattolici. Iva ahna nsara u nisimghu il-quddies u ma nhassru l-festa ta' Hadd u daqtant iehor mhu ser inhalli lill-ebda agnostiku jew xort ohra jtellifna l-gost il-ferh u l-paci tal-Milied.
Anthony Mizzi
Dec 11th 2009, 14:40
Yes and W & E 2010 surcharged bills could also cause , high blood pressure, depressive moods, heart palpitations and could also trigger seizures .
Alan Vella
Dec 11th 2009, 13:41
Yes. Caritas must be on a mission to ruin our Christmas. They are obviously athesits bent on destroying our Christian heritage and culture. Makes perfect sense of course.
Funny how no one has managed to link this article to the illegal immigrants somehow ...
K.Zammit
Dec 11th 2009, 13:30
@J.CAMILLERI - I am sure that Ms Anna Callus did not intend to offend anyone's feelings be using the term 'desease'. In fact she used the term 'condition' in her first sentence. After all, we DO take medication to minimise the effects of epilepsy, so if I were you, I wouldn't take the terminology used in her comments in an offensive way. She was only trying to make a point in favour of the reports made by Caritas and not offend epileptics. Merry Christmas :)
E Gatt
Dec 11th 2009, 13:25
I'm no expert but I thing that the danger is remote - we're becoming far too obsessed!
The present electric bulbs used in street decorations at Christmas and feast days are the old energy inefficient type. These bulbs are gradually being phased out of production, and an alternative needs to be found. LED lights?
Once we’re on the subject, why don’t we get rid of those ‘slogan’ lights on government buildings and city gate, example ‘VIVA JUM il...’ ? Flashing or not, these lights are really ugly and give a 3rd world impression in my opinion.
J.CAMILLERI
Dec 11th 2009, 12:47
Miss Anna Callus First of all MAY i INFORM YOU THAT EPILEPSY IS NOT A DISEASE but it is a CONDITIONn!!!
Mainly that it can CAuse a Seazure with a person with PHOTO sensitive epilepsy is BY STROBE LIGHTS and this kind of light should not be used in public ?
I am sorry to say that most of you do not have any idea what it is living with epilepsy.
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/photosensitivity/gerba.cfm
Albert Farrugia
Dec 11th 2009, 12:17
Well, really, the use of flashing lights is actually considered "passe" and old-fashioned in Europe. Look at the light in all European cities. The enphasis now is on simple, one or maximum two colours of soft lights, non-flashing. That is the trend today. We are always the laggards with those hundred colours of flashing, lights, jumping Santas. So kitsch, unelegant and frankly ugly.
Merry Christmas
A. Schembri
Dec 11th 2009, 11:35
Lets not become a nation like the UK. Obsessed by everything.
Can Caritas Malta Epilepsy Association tell us how many cases like this have happened thanks to flashing Christmas Lights? Why are they speaking now and silent before?
I can recall christmas lights flashing all my life and never has anyopne spoken. Next it will be blow out all candles as if someone looks at them for a long time the flickering can get you hipnotised!!
Halluna kwieti tridu
A Azzopardi
Dec 11th 2009, 11:30
For those promptly writing comments, asking caritas to get a life, calling them Maltese gemgem, etc, I kindly ask you to inform yourselves before passing any further comments. What Caritas are saying is a known scientific fact, and you're just a Google or Wiki click away if you really want to increase your knowledge.
Michael Vella
Dec 11th 2009, 11:28
Christmas lights in streets and homes have been set up probably since the advent of electricity. Can Caritas inform us how many people have been diagnosed with epilepsy in all these years by looking at these lights? I would assume that prior to issuing such a stern warning it would have carried out some sort of serious scientific statistical research. Or no?
Anna Callus
Dec 11th 2009, 11:26
It saddens me to read the comments below... Christmas is about love and tolerance... the messages below to not reflect that feeling.
Epilepsy is a condition many people have to live with, you do not see to be aware of how many challenges have to be overcome in everyday life.
Lights are beautiful, why not just adapt them so that everyone can enjoy them?!
Epilepsy can be a cruel disease, but ignorance is even worse.
joss Galea
Dec 11th 2009, 11:23
@U. D'Amico
Don't orget taht the "bozza" has to be switched off too!! hehe. I am sensing that nowadays everything is considered a health hazard!!!! This is unbelievable!!!
K. Zammit
Dec 11th 2009, 11:23
@ all - Intom kollha nsara li tmorru l-quddies? Daqshekk ghandkom rispett lejn hutkom? Caritas qed tghid biss li dawn id-dwal m'ghandhomx iteptpu iktar minn tlett darbiet fis-seconda. Daqshekk impossibli li taghmlu sagrificcju ghal min huwa inqas ixxurtjat? Ghar-rigali u ghall-kummerc biss gej il-Milied li tant tridu ticcelebraw? Jew ghad-dwal iteptpu? Ara vera ma nfiqux f'dan il-pajjiz! Kulhadd bl-attitudni ta l-ewwel jien u wara jien.
Joseph E Briffa
Dec 11th 2009, 11:21
The article speaks of flickering lights. Please bloggers can't one be a bit more sensitive and give a thought to people who are sensitive to such lights?
Sandro Agius
Dec 11th 2009, 11:20
Kull ma qeghda tghid il-Caritas mhuwiex li m'ghandux jintrama d-dawl fit-toroq imma li jarmawh b'mod li ma jdejjaqx l-ghajnejn....pjazza t-teptep tixghel u titfi jew triq bil-fustuni jteptpu rajt u nghid is-sewwa kieku ghax ma nsuqx bil-galbu ihabbtuni. Haz-Zebbug fis-snin l-imghoddija meta ramaw hekk kien ikrah u ma ntghogobx....
Il-Caritas mhux qed tghid ma nixeghlux it-toroq fil-Milied imma biss li jintramaw b'sens. Fl-ahhar nghid prosit ghall-armar li rajt fit-toroq. Keep it up...cheer up its Christmas...for believers obviously.
Chris Mifsud
Dec 11th 2009, 11:18
They never caused any harm before.
We have to stop this new attidtude of "this can hurt somebody", "this is not safe", "this may offend" etc.. etc...
We are NOT in the U.K
Frans Said
Dec 11th 2009, 11:17
This is using a sledge hammer to kill a mosquito. If people (the one in a million) is sensitive, they should stay away from such lights. But first of all they should avoid computers and games. What is the point of killing Cjhristmas and then spend all day in front of a computer.
Caritas is falling in the trap of those who want to eliminate Christmas as certain religions do not like how this is celebrated. Over eating by certain religions does not cause any damage.
K. Zammit
Dec 11th 2009, 11:15
@Ramon Casha - I don't know what the chances of getting an epileptic seizure with the cause being flickering lights is, since I'm not a doctor. Nevertheless, as a person who has suffered a seizure once more than ten years ago, I can assure anyone who has not, that even knowing that such lights can cause such damage makes people with this condition very uncomfortable, not to say nervous. Knowing that you have no control on what is going to happen is a very unpleasant feeling. Society should be more aware and considerate when it comes to epileptics, just like it has become with people with disabilities and other conditions. I would like to take this opportunity to mention also concerts where strob lighting is used. It is very frustrating to pay money to go to a concert and not knowing whether you can actually stay till the end or whether you'll be forced to leave within 5 minutes because you cannot stand the flickering lights. It's good that this kind of awareness is being promoted.
J.Tonna
Dec 11th 2009, 11:14
They should have said that any "flashing lights can cause photosensitive epilepsy" . Shouldn't they have mentioned also the flashing lights in discos?
U. D'Amico
Dec 11th 2009, 11:11
with 25 times a second you can almost see the AC current working... or see a film literally in pictures (films are made of 25 frames per second) ...
what public christmass lights work at 16-25 flashes a second? if this is problematic for epileptic persons, its a greater problem for people who dont have this problem, because they will not see them flashing!
U. D'Amico
Dec 11th 2009, 11:07
yes lets take them all off the streets!
why dont we get a simple article that states that everyone wants to stay in a "bozza" with no one doing anything !
carmel callus
Dec 11th 2009, 11:05
F'dal pajjiż tal-Maltese gemgem ħadd ma jelisha! Issa anki d-dwal tal-Milied.
J Farrugia
Dec 11th 2009, 10:55
Get a life. What next from caritas? Find another flimsy excuse for ruining our christmases.
Ramon Casha
Dec 11th 2009, 10:48
What is the likelihood of this occurring? Is it a one in a million chance, or one in a hundred?