If you play Pokémon Go, have fun, explore, but don’t try to capture that Rattata if it’s in the street.
The Pokémon franchise has a new smartphone game app that uses geocaching to tie digital creatures to locations for players to find and capture. The fictional “pocket monsters” appear on the phone’s camera screen superimposed on the real world. This has the potential to cause injuries when players distracted by the game walk into objects or into dangerous situations.
Argonne Protective Force Training and Development Specialist Matthew Schreiner (FMS) said that players should use the same safety principles as they would with any mobile device. He recommends that employees using this application should always be aware of their surroundings, especially in areas where traffic is present. Don’t walk around the site staring at your screen — locate the Pokémon first, then lower the phone and walk toward it.
And of course, never use your phone while driving. It’s prohibited by both Argonne policy and Illinois law.
Since the game’s release on July 6, 2016, Argonne security has had to turn away several members of the public searching for Pokémon. “The Protective Force has had people come up to the posts with a phone in hand and say ‘I’m just here to catch Pokémon,’” Schreiner said. “Without official business at the laboratory, the Protective Force will advise the individuals that they are not authorized to access the laboratory and will direct the individuals to turn around and exit from Argonne property.”
Unfortunately when it comes to government property, sometimes you can’t catch’em all.
Kate Thackrey, CEP