Heart disease health centre

The dangers of spending too much time on your video console

A father whose son died after spending hours playing video games wants the gaming industry to raise awareness of the risks.

David Staniforth has set up a website spelling out the dangers of spending too much time gaming without a break.

Christopher Staniforth was 20 when he died in May 2011 of a pulmonary embolism. This is where a clot (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) forms in the leg and then travels to the lungs. He would play his Xbox for up to 12 hours at a time.

DVT dangers

David Staniforth from Sheffield says: "The night before he died, Chris was playing till five in the morning linking up with online friends in the US and Canada."

He collapsed and died the following day of a pulmonary embolism caused by a DVT. David believes the condition may have been triggered by long gaming sessions.

DVT can form during long periods of immobility and can kill if the clots travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Every year, one in 1,000 people in the UK is affected by DVT.

The dangers of DVT and long haul air travel are common knowledge now. Passengers are encouraged to stretch their legs and move their feet to help combat DVT and David wants gamers to have the same awareness.

Take time out

The Take Time Out website offers tips for gamers on how they might manage their time more safely.

David Staniforth wants to push the campaign further. He wants the gaming industry to take action.

The Association of UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) recommends that gamers take regular breaks of at least five minutes every 45-60 minutes.

Safety messages on games

That’s not enough for Staniforth. He wants to see the industry introduce a brief safety warning at the start of a game and then after 90 minutes or so a pop-up message reminding players to take a break.

"Really when you turn a game on, that's where the information should be not hidden on industry websites," he says.

The Deputy Prime Minister has met with David to discuss the matter. Nick Clegg has given assurances he will talk to the Chief Medical Officer and Health Secretary about the issue.

Worldwide issue

David Staniforth appreciates gaming. The motto of his website is "Love Games-Love Life". This isn’t an industry-bashing exercise. Since Chris’s death, Staniforth has been playing the games his son loved and says they are gripping, high quality and are set to get much better.

He says: "There are rank and status levels to achieve and maintain, together with missions and competitive team games. This adds up to the games being very compelling especially when played online in different time zones. Sessions can literally go on for hours."

This isn’t just a UK issue it’s global. There’s been interest from the US and Russian media.

Staniforth says he’s campaigning so that no one has to go through what he has.

"You always want to do something for your children. I’m doing this for Chris. He was a good boy and he gives me the strength."