Author: Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
New guidelines allow kids with mild concussions to get active after just two days
If you’ve had a child with a concussion, you know that the main treatment is rest — both physical and mental. For nearly a decade, concussions among children have required enforced rest in a dim room with no screens, books or stimulation of any kind. It isn’t easy, especially for children with a lot of
Chronic back pain: What can you do about it?
“Of pain you could only wish for one thing: that is should stop,” wrote George Orwell in his famed novel 1984. For people struggling with chronic lower-back issues, however, those wishes are not always granted. For many people, the pain doesn’t stop. How do you know when back pain has become chronic and what are the
2 justices dissent on denial of review in DUI evidence case
A drunk driving case recently made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. At issue was whether the defendant’s right to confront witnesses was violated when a blood-alcohol test was presented as evidence without the testimony of the analyst who performed the test. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case, but a pair of
Protecting firefighters from toxic exposure on fire scenes
Are firefighters at a greater risk of cancer? It makes sense that they would be. While buildings once consisted primarily of wood, metal, glass and textiles, today’s structures are riddled with asbestos, plastics, polymers and chemical coatings. The housing of a television set, for example, contains benzene, ethylene oxide and formaldehyde, all of which are
What toys should I avoid this holiday season?
Whether you’ve just started shopping for the little ones in your life or the gifts are already under the tree, adults with children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews should know just because a toy looks fun doesn’t mean it’s safe. Many toys hit the shelves every year that pose a risk for injury or are defective.
Goodyear G159 tires linked to over 100 deaths, never recalled
Did confidential settlements prevent safety regulators from learning about all crashes involving Goodyear’s G159 tires? According to an investigation by to the transportation and vehicle website Jalopnik, at least one crash involving the tire was never recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — possibly because the people involved were prevented from notifying NHTSA
Improperly calibrated breath testing machines do occur
Most DUI arrests and convictions are based on the results of a breath testing machine such as the Intoximeter, Intoxilyzer, Alco-Sensor or Alcotest. As a result, attorneys defending DUI cases often question the accuracy and validity of the breath test. These machines can cause inaccurate results when they are used by untrained personnel, used improperly,
High-visibility DUI enforcement season about to begin
The holiday season, beginning at Thanksgiving and continuing until after the first of the year, is a dangerous time of year. It’s party season, and that means more people will drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, it’s also high-visibility enforcement season. It may seem counterintuitive to advertise enforcement activities, but the National
New traffic safety research targets wrong-way driving crashes
A Florida State University psychology professor has been researching how to prevent wrong-way driver crashes for the Florida Department of Transportation. His research indicates that advanced-technology pavement markers and “smarter” signs could help prevent wrong-way driving, especially among drivers who have been drinking. Wrong-way drivers cause only about 3 percent of all traffic crashes, but
Justice Department scrutinizing asbestos trusts for mismanagement
When companies expose workers or customers to asbestos and people develop asbestos-related diseases, those companies can be held legally responsible. Asbestos has been used in various applications due to its heat- and fire-resistance. Unfortunately, it causes the deadly cancer mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. Because of the massive cover-up involving asbestos manufacturers and suppliers, many