This year, the theme of Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12, 2013) is “Prevent Kitchen Fires.” More fires start in the kitchen than in any other part of the home, accounting for 40% of all home fires. Among the safety tips that firefighters and safety advocates will be emphasizing this week are: Stay in the kitchen […]
Fire Prevention Week Read More »
Women who have been harmed by transvaginal surgical mesh are finally seeing justice in the form of positive lawsuit verdicts in the millions of dollars. Some of the verdicts that have come in this year include: A South Dakota woman was awarded $3.35 million because the mesh manufacturer—Johnson & Johnson—failed to adequately warn her doctor
Millions of Dollars Awarded in Transvaginal Mesh Cases Read More »
Texting while driving is illegal in North Carolina and in 40 other states. Even if you live in a state where it isn’t totally banned, most people understand that texting while driving is dangerous. If you get into an accident while texting, chances are you will be held liable for injuries caused by your inattention.
Dangers of Texting a Driver Read More »
A tragedy was narrowly prevented on Monday when Usher Raymond V, age 5 and son of the singer Usher, nearly drowned in his backyard pool. According to news accounts, the child was playing in the pool when he dove down to the bottom to retrieve an object. His arm got caught in the powerful suction
Pool Drain Covers Back in the News Read More »
As the saying goes, “time lost is brain lost” when it comes to brain injury. The longer it takes to diagnose and treat a brain bleed, the greater the risk of permanent brain damage. That’s why this new device is so exciting. InfraScan Inc. has developed a portable device that uses near-infrared technology to identify
New Device for Brain Injury Assessment Read More »
Okay, this makes sense, but I never thought of it before, and now my obsessive/compulsive mind won’t be able to let it go. The FDA has just released a warning about using certain sprays near an open flame, such as a burning grill, campfire, bonfire, candle, lighter, or even a cigarette. Many sprays contain flammable
Fire Hazard from Insect Repellant and Sunscreen Sprays Read More »
I wanted to post this well before lunch because it is likely to make you lose your appetite. WRAL reporter Monica Laliberte followed a health inspector into nail salons and was grossed out by what she saw. Apparently grossness–and health problems–are nothing new. According to Connie Wilder, chief of enforcement with the North Carolina Board of
Health Risks at Nail Salons Read More »
When you’re driving, which is worse in terms of distraction: talking while holding a cellphone, or talking on a hand-free device? It turns out that they are about equally bad. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the results of a study, which showed that the main problem is the amount of cognitive burden, or–in
Distracted Driving, Hands-Free Read More »
On June 19, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified Governor McCrory’s revamp of state transportation planning and funding. The new law is officially called “An Act to Strengthen the Economy through Strategic Transportation Investments,” or “Strategic Transportation Investments” for short. It is a response to an anticipated $1.7 billion funding shortfall for North Carolina’s roadways—and
Law Affects Many Transportation Projects Read More »
When I was in the worst of a serious illness, one of the most confusing questions I had to answer on a daily basis was “How are you?” It was an innocuous question. Some who asked it knew me well, others were just parroting a generic greeting. “How are you?” Think how often you say
A Book Everyone Should Read Read More »