Washington, D.C. is unique as one of the few U.S. cities built according to a preconceived plan. Its grid-based pattern of roads is relatively easy to comprehend, but maneuvering across it in a car can be a challenge. Following are some metro area traffic laws that aren't necessarily common to other U.S. cities. Knowing these can help make you a safer driver, and make your time in DC more enjoyable:
Continue Reading...Ankle braces are highly effective in preventing volleyball sprains, at least among female collegiate players. The finding is the result of research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Continue Reading...A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) demonstrates that high levels of formaldehyde have been found in some travel trailers provided to disaster victims by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). There is some reason to believe that long-term exposure to formaldehyde could lead to serious health problems such as cancer. Unfortunately, travel trailers are not the only places where formaldehyde exposure could be a danger. To contribute to public understanding regarding the industrial uses of formaldehyde and its risks, the National Cancer Institute has issued the following fact sheet with questions and answers related to formaldehyde exposure:
Continue Reading...According to a recent article in the Washington Post, a Prince George's County adolescent was attempting to stop his Crown Victoria last Saturday morning at 3:00 a.m., as he struck a crowd of spectators gathered for an illegal street race on a desolate country road. Apparently, the driver was not a participant in the race, and reportedly did not see the crowd of onlookers until it was too late. Eight people died in the collision, another six were injured.
Continue Reading...At least 82 youths between the ages of 6 and 19 have been identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as probable victims of "The Choking Game," according to recent research published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The game, popular primarily among adolescents and also known as "The Black Out Game," "The Scarf Game," and "Space Monkey" among other titles, consists of self-strangulation or strangulation by another person to achieve a brief high caused by cerebral hypoxia.
Continue Reading...Snow-covered, icy, or cluttered stairways are a nuisance, but more importantly, they're dangerous. According to the Home Safety Council (HSC), falls account for approximately one-third of all home injury deaths annually, and falls involving stairs or steps are the second leading cause of fall-related death. Stairs are particularly dangerous this time of year, when the heights and depths of steps are often obscured by snow, and staircases may be wet or covered in ice. You can help to safeguard your health and the health of those around you by familiarizing yourself with the following stairways safety tips, courtesy of HSC:
Continue Reading...Winter weather in the DC Metro Area and elsewhere can take a toll on aging streets and roadways. Potholes caused by freezing water can quickly turn well-traveled streets into dangerous obstacle courses. Road crews repair many of these holes in late winter or early spring, creating a temporary hazard of an entirely different sort. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds motorists to watch for road workers this season and to drive carefully through areas where service crews are making repairs. The organization offers the following tips for motorists to ensure the safety of road workers and drivers, alike:
Continue Reading...While the topics of water safety and drowning prevention typically receive some public attention during summer months, there are many people who prefer to use hot tubs, whirlpools and spas throughout the winter, when the weather is at its coldest. Although winter can be one of the most enjoyable seasons for hot tub use, it is equally dangerous. To help prevent personal injuries related to hot tubs, whirlpools and spas, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers the following historical data and recommendations for children and adults alike:
Continue Reading...When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often accompany a winter storm, so you may have to cope with power failures and icy roads. Although staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards, such as communication, heating and food complications. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds everyone to be safe throughout the rest of this winter season, and to check the following supply lists to prepare in advance of particularly nasty winter weather:
Continue Reading...The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has issued a new guideline urging its members to screen patients and determine their risk of falling. The practice parameter and supporting research appear this month in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology.
Continue Reading...Setting up a blog is an easy way to establish a presence on the Internet and host public discussions. While organizations or businesses might start blogs to interact with customers or provide a public service, many personal blogs hosted by teens are simply exercises in public journaling. Unfortunately, these personal blogs can attract an unwanted -- or even dangerous -- audience. One Internet safety organization, ConnectSafely.Org, offers the following general tips for teens to promote safe blogging and to help guard against Internet predators:
Continue Reading...Social networking sites such as MySpace, which offer unlimited opportunities for self-expression and self-promotion are particularly attractive to teenagers. Recently, public attention surrounding these sites has focused on the dangers of sexual solicitation or harassment of adolescents. Until recently, little verifiable data has existed to determine the scope of youth solicitation and harassment on-line. New research published in the journal Pediatrics demonstrates that while the incidence of solicitation and harassment is actually lower than has been suggested in the popular media, certain threats do exist, and greater safety risks actually may lie elsewhere on the net.
Continue Reading...February 3rd - 9th is National Burn Awareness Week -- a period of time designated to raise public awareness of burn injuries and how to prevent them. This year's primary theme is gasoline burn prevention. The Manassas Journal Messenger recently published an extensive compilation of gasoline safety tips to help prevent burn injuries and other burn-related accidents.
In Virginia alone, more than 1,500 burn-related hospitalizations occurred between 2001 and 2005. Worse, the hospitalization rate for children younger than age 4 was 5 times higher than the rate for all other ages combined. Regan Zambri & Long encourages readers to familiarize themselves with theses safety tips and share them with others to help prevent personal injuries related to gasoline:
Continue Reading...Foreign-born children living in the U.S. are 5 times more likely to have elevated blood levels of lead than U.S.-born children living in New York city, according to new research published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Continue Reading...Keeping your family safe and getting your life back to normal following a natural disaster depends on advance planning and time and energy devoted to preparation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP) -- four comprehensive steps to prepare your family for disasters, prevent personal injuries and promote safety readiness. Taking time as a family to prepare for the unexpected not only helps to ensure everyone's safety, but models responsibility. Use the following tips in your own preparation, courtesy of the AAP:
Continue Reading...Among kids and teens today, a cell phone is a virtual a social necessity. While the devices can facilitate easier communication with parents or family members and offer protection in some emergencies, they can also invite danger. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children warns that wireless devices can link children with criminals if used inappropriately, or without adequate adult supervision. To help prevent child expolitation, the organization offers the following cell phone and wireless device safety tips for parents and teens:
Continue Reading...Most people understand that extended exposure to the sun's rays can be damaging to the skin and eyes, and that safety precautions are in order during summer months. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize that the sun can be equally dangerous in the winter months, particularly when the ground is covered with a reflective layer of bright snow or ice. This winter, whether you're heading south in search of warmer weather, or just spending time outdoors in the cold, keep the following sun safety tips in mind, courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
Continue Reading...Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s most popular and most entertaining national sporting events, but it's also one of the most dangerous days on the nation's roadways, due in part to the thousands of fans who drive under the influence of alcohol each year. If you plan on consuming alcohol while supporting your favorite team this Super Bowl Sunday, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hopes you'll be smart and pass your keys to a sober, designated driver before you ever start drinking.
Continue Reading...Enter keywords:
