TMCnet News
Summer death revives fan death mythJul 04, 2011 (The Korea Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ANN) -- A South Korean man reportedly died on Monday morning after sleeping with an electric fan running. The 59 years-old victim, only known by his surname Min, was found dead with the fan fixed directly at him. The police revealed that although Min used to suffer from relatively high blood pressure, it was not serious enough to require medication. They are still investigating the cause of death. Meanwhile, deaths near electric fans happen occasionally during summer, which leads people to propagate myths about danger of sleeping with them on. Every summer, as well as seasonal typhoons attention is drawn to fan death. One of Korea's best-known urban legends, the fan death myth is based on the idea that turning on electric fans in a closed room can cause people to die. The theories which believers support include that fans "distract air respiration," "cause hypothermia," or "convert oxygen into carbon dioxide." Scientists point out that fans can never cause hypothermia or lack of oxygen. Some, however, have postulated other theories, including that dehydration of skin may cause hearth attack. Although there is no evidence that fans kill people, most Koreans still try to open doors or windows when turning on fans. To see more of the Asia News Network, go to http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/ Copyright (c) 2011, The Korea Herald, Seoul / Asia News Network Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. |