Posted on May 12, 2014 in Uncategorized

A new study conducted by doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has concluded that women who take antidepressants during their second and third trimesters may have an increased risk of preterm birth.

A preterm birth is one that occurs at least three weeks before a baby’s due date. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the earlier a baby is born, the more severe health problems can be. Some of the more serious health problems of babies who are born prematurely include cerebral palsy, breathing or respiratory issues, feeding and digestive issues, intellectual disabilities, visual and hearing loss.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 09, 2014 in Uncategorized

The Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a national report on nursing homes. According to the report, almost one third of nursing home patients are injured by treatments they received in nursing homes. The majority of those injuries are avoidable.

The study found that the majority of problems could be contributed to deficiencies in the day-to-day care that the facilities provided. Not providing enough attention to details of the care patients need as well as monitoring the patients’ needs – what one inspector referred to as “substantial medical care.”

The agency looked at the medical records of 653 Medicare patients who had been admitted into a nursing home for additional care after having been in the hospital. The average stay at the nursing home facility was 35 days or less.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 03, 2014 in Uncategorized

As the warm weather approaches, many people take to enjoying spending time outdoors. Many homeowners have decks built on their homes where they often entertain friends and family. And many restaurants and nightclubs also have outdoor decks built where their customers can sit.

But how safe are these decks? According to statistics gathered by home inspectors, out of the two million decks that are built nationwide each year, only 40 percent are actually safe.

There are multiple incidents of people being injured because of decks collapsing. Many of these injuries were critical ones and there have sadly also been fatalities in some of these incidents. But many of these accidents could have been prevented if the deck was built properly.

One of the most common reasons for a deck collapsing is that the attachment of the deck to the house or building has been done incorrectly. Many of these decks are attached using bolts with smooth heads instead of “thru” bolts. Thru bolts are galvanized and are installed so they go from the exterior wall of the building/house directly into the supports of the deck. Owners of decks also need to consistently inspect the deck to make sure that everything is intact, especially after a long winter. Look under the deck to make sure that all nuts and bolts are in place. Signs of the wood rotting, such as mold or dampness, are an indicator that the wood is weakening and needs to be replaced. Other problems to look for are any splits and cracks around nails. And don’t forget to check railings of the deck to make sure they’re bolted down securely. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, contact a New Braunfels personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for any pain and loss you have suffered.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 29, 2014 in Uncategorized

The Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse is currently one of the most popular toys available. Fisher-Price markets the toy as the perfect companion to help babies sleep. When the stuffed animal is hugged, its belly glows and it begins playing lullabies. The company recommends the product for children between the ages of six months to four years old.

However, despite reports of the stuffed animal smoking and even one report of the toy actually catching on fire, Fisher-Price refuses to issue a recall. There are currently over two dozen complaints on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) SaferProducts website. In addition to the formal complaints to the CPSC, many online websites that sell the product have hundreds of negative reviews written by parents who purchased the toy and had similar experiences to those who have filed complaints. Parents have complained about the battery chamber heating up and smoke coming out of the coils. This appears to be a frequent occurrence when the batteries are changed, although many incidents occurred randomly, without a change of batteries.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 25, 2014 in Uncategorized

According to statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vehicle crashes were the number one cause of accidental deaths for children 14 years and younger in 2012, with 1,100 lives lost. Another 176,000 children were injured. Sadly, despite increase use and awareness, many of those young victims were not restrained in child seats properly.

The CDC numbers show that infant car seats reduce the risk of death in car crashes by 71 percent for infants. The risk for toddlers, ages 1 to 4 years old, is reduced by 54 percent when properly restrained in child safety seats. For children ages 4 to 8, booster seats can reduce their risk by 45 percent.

The CDC also recommends that children under the age of 12 always sit in the back of the vehicle. Airbags that go off can kill a young child. It’s also critical that a rear-facing infant car seat never be placed in the front seat or in front of an airbag. The safest place for the child to be buckled in is the middle back seat.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 22, 2014 in Uncategorized

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), there were 460 fatalities of people riding motorcycles or scooters in accidents on Texas roads in 2012. That was done from the 488 fatalities in 2011. But that is still too many losses.

Texas has implemented the ‘Share the Road’ campaign as a way to remind all drivers to be aware of motorcyclists and urges everyone to ‘Look Twice’ while on the road. TxDOT urges drivers to keep checking your mirrors for motorcycles and always use turn signals. And if you are driving near a motorcycle, remember to give them enough space, allowing them enough time to react if traffic situations should arise.

The TxDOT also offers safety tips for motorcyclist. The agency urges all riders to wear a helmet and other protective gear. They recommend driving with your headlights on at all times and at safe speeds. Also try to avoid the center of a lane as this is where oil and debris build up, which could be dangerous. Whether you are a brand new rider or an experienced one, take a motorcycle riding course to help reinforce safety rules and techniques.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 19, 2014 in Uncategorized

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a warning that some at home, over-the-counter (OTC) wart removers may be flammable.

The products remove the warts cryogenically – meaning the warts are ‘frozen’ off. But several of these products have caught fire, causing injuries to the consumers using the product and also causing damage to property. The FDA says that since 2009, it has received 14 complaints of the wart remover catching fire. These products contain propane and dimethyl ether gases, both highly flammable gases. The products’ labels warn consumers not to use the products near an open flame or cigarettes. And although three of the complaints the FDA received did have a candle in the vicinity of the remover, the other 11 complaints of fire were unable to identify what the source of ignition was. However, a spokesperson for the FDA says that many people do not realize that household items such as curling irons and hair straighteners, can actually throw off enough heat to cause a fire. Ten people who filed complaints reported injuries of blisters, skin burns, and redness and singed hair. The brand names this product is sold under are Compound W, Dr. Scholl’s and Wartner. It is also marketed under many generic store brands. Instructions for use include taking the nozzle of the pressurized dispenser and pressing it, releasing the product onto an applicator.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 15, 2014 in Uncategorized

There’s no doubt that being involved in an airplane accident can be one of the most harrowing experiences of your life. While many victims feel a big sense of relief from surviving a crash or other in-flight incident, some victims may continue to suffer from chronic pain long after the accident is over. Following are some of the most common types of accidents and incidents that can impact a passenger.

Minor accidents involving turbulence or the opening of the overhead baggage area can have big repercussions. Nearly 4,500 accidents happen every year involving overhead baggage compartments, which can fly open during flight. According to a NATO report, the heavier the items in the overhead compartment, the more serious injuries may be. With baggage fees going up at many airlines, more passengers are cramming their carry-ons full of items, making it all the more dangerous for passengers sitting underneath the heavy luggage.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 10, 2014 in Uncategorized

A new study titled “Measuring Sprawl 2014” finds that those living in highly populated areas reap many benefits including longevity, better health status, and more economic mobility. The study scored urban sprawl throughout 221 metropolitan locations and found that among other indicators, city dwellers were less likely to die in car accidents.

Using scores developed out of factors like proximity to business and people, the size of local street networks, the land use mix, and development density, researchers compared that data with quality of life measures like chronic disease, safety, obesity, and the cost of living.

Living in the city showed promising results for helping people succeed in life: every 10 percent increase in density was connected to a 4.1 percent increase in the chance that children born in the lowest part of the nationwide income distribution would move up the ranks to the top 20 percent by age 30.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 07, 2014 in Uncategorized

The National Safety Council (NSC) has just released its 2014 edition of Injury Facts®. According to the NSC, Injury Facts provides “the most current occupational, motor vehicle, home, community, state and international injury statistics on deaths and nonfatal injuries and their costs.

The NSC has been publishing the guide annually for over 90 years as a resource for government, employers, businesses, public safety officials and public health officials to identify the leading causes of injuries in an effort to help reduce those numbers.

This year’s edition reveals that accidental poisoning, especially from prescription painkillers, was the leading cause of death in almost 20 states and Washington D.C. This is in direct correlation to the increase in drug fatalities. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) statistics show that 100 people a day die from drug overdoses.

Continue Reading ››