Following on from the recent banning of Selfie Sticks in most museums in New York, Disney have announced an immediate ban on Selfie Sticks across all of its parks worldwide.
The gadgets were already prohibited on rides at all Disney venues, but now visitors will be asked not to bring them to the parks at all.
A spokeswoman told the BBC: "Handheld extension poles have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast."
What are Selfie Sticks?
The long arm of a selfie stick helps users take a better self-portrait by extending the distance their mobile phone or other photographic device is away from them, but injuries have been caused by passers-by being accidentally struck with one during a photo opportunity.
The gadget also poses a safety risk on rides as its long arm can extend far outside the carriages and could come into contact with a ride's mechanism or hit someone standing by a ride.
Visitors to Disney will now be asked to leave their selfie sticks in lockers at the parks' entrances to collect later.
Selfie Sticks have been the cause of occasional major incidents as well as myriad minor ones, leading to a wide range of venues and organisations banning them. A number of football clubs, the National Gallery, and the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club in Wimbledon have already banned the sticks over concerns they could cause injury or be a nuisance to other visitors, while most museums in New York have also barred them. Apple banned the device from audiences attending its annual WWDC developers conference, held in the US earlier this month.
A spokesperson for St John Ambulance said the first aid charity had not noticed a surge in selfie stick-related injuries but did offer advice for anybody hurt. "If you get hit in the head with a selfie stick, sit down and hold a cold compress against the injury," said training officer Clive James. "Advise the casualty to seek medical help if they develop signs of a worsening head injury - like dizziness or nausea, confusion and loss of memory of events preceding the injury."
Handsam Ltd recommends you ensure your students know which museums and parks ban the use of Selfie Sticks so that they don't risk having them confiscated or causing an incident. Equally, even for those venues which allow them it is worth developing a Selfie code of conduct for your school as part of your trip policies. If you would like any assistance with this or ay other aspect of trip policies please do not hesitate to contact us on info@handsam.co.uk or on 03332 070737.
