Bell ringers' bruises and broken bones: capers and crises in campanology

Abstract

Objective: To determine the incidence, aeriology, and outcome of injuries due to bell ringing.

Design: Retrospective review of the last six years' issues of Ringing World, advertisement in Ringing World, and a postal questionnaire sent to 20 active ringing towers.

Subjects: Regular bell ringers.

Results: Seventy nine injuries were identified both from review and by advertisement in Ringing World. The incidence of injury among 221 ringers identified by postal questionnaire was 1.8% a year.

Conclusion: Although sonerous, bell ringing can be dangerous and occasionally even fatal. Doctors should be aware of the dangers to which campanologists expose themselves.