Tug-of-War Not Only Is a Game, But Is a Disaster
A mass playful contest may be a game, but also may become a disaster. We present a disaster about the tug-of-war contest causing injuries to 54 victims. On 25 October 1997, The Taipei City Government organized the tug-of-war, entitled, "Rocking the Mountain and River-Wrestling of Ten Thousand People" in Taipei. A modified tug-of-war rope system was used according to the ancient Chinese history that involved approximately 1,600 participants simultaneously in one single competition. A total of 54 people were injured after the rope snapped during an otherwise playful massive tug-of-war. There were only two physicians and two nurses on duty on the spot. Five victims were seriously injured including two traumatic amputations of their left arm, one liver laceration with internal bleeding, one traumatic amputation of the left thumb, and one with open fracture of the first metacarpal bone and the second proximal phalanx. The injured were rushed to
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