Laser Safety

[allybrown]

Hello,

I am aware that people who suffer from epilepsy can have issues watching a laser show. However at a reccent demo, a woman approched us and said it cause her pain in her pacemaker. Is this another demographic that can be affected that I should be aware of? Where there is proof that laser projectors affect people with pacemakers? or was this a one time incident? Let me know.

Thanks Again,

Ally

[mixedgas]

NO, the person most likely had a anxiety attack. Anxiety attack triggers are a little known area of health, reseach is still being done. Even being happy for the first time in months (results of a viewing a laser show while depressed, can cause issues) This Happens all the time in show facilities, amusement parks etc. There is no issue with pacemakers, and most epileptics would be aware that 10-20 hz content in a laser show can in RARE circumstances cause a issue.

You would need a huge electromagnetic or RF field to trip a pacemaker, and that is unlikley to occur in even a science museum venue.

I once had the responsibilty at a major university to help determine what a pacemaker equiped member of our staff could, and could not do.

This is not legal advice, I'm not a lawyer, nor am I am PE (Licensed Professional Engineer) in Canada or Ohio. However I have two decades of experience dealing with health safety issues in educational, entertainment, and lab environments.

I do reccomend a small warning sign for people with Epileptic issues at the door, maybe 4x6" inches, as a "CYA" warning. I've been in a few planetarium venues that have such signs.

Welcome to PL. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Steve

[Jem]

Hi Ally

... and welcome to Photonlexicon.

I would think it highly unlikely that the actual lasershow had anything to do with disruption to the Lady's pacemaker. However, I will qualify this staement by saying that I am in no way medically qualified and that the lady concerned should seek an opinion from a suitably qualified medical practitioner .

The only way I would have though disruption could be caused to a pacemaker was if it took a direct hit from a static beam on a multi watt laser

Or, I guess she could just have got over excited at seeing those lovely coherent photons