Personal and Home Safety

Tips for Physical & Mental Self Protection in These Times and Anytime

What would you do if you felt physically or emotionally threatened in some way? Do you trust your ability to escape a dangerous situation without harm? Would you remain calm and grounded, responding if needed in an appropriate way, or do you fear you’d panic—making a frightening situation worse? The ability to respond to danger… Continue reading Tips for Physical & Mental Self Protection in These Times and Anytime

Nail polishes with “N-Free” Labels Are Not Necessarily Free of Toxic Compounds

Consumers are growing more knowledgeable about the potential health effects of nail polish, and manufacturers have taken action. They have started removing potentially toxic ingredients and labeling their products as being free of those substances. However, these labels aren’t always accurate, and reformulated products aren’t necessarily safer, according to a report in Environmental Science &… Continue reading Nail polishes with “N-Free” Labels Are Not Necessarily Free of Toxic Compounds

Safety Tips Snowbirds Should Know While Traveling

In the next few months thousands of people will head to warm locations like Florida, Arizona and Texas for a few months to escape the winter weather where they are from. It’s important for snowbirds to be aware of their surroundings while traveling to and from their destination, especially if they are taking a road… Continue reading Safety Tips Snowbirds Should Know While Traveling

7 Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Healthcare Payment Data Safe

Your medical records and personal payment data are worth a lot of money on the “dark web.” In fact, medical information sold on the anonymous regions of the internet is four times more valuable than a Social Security number. When criminals get their hands on your medical records or billing information, they have everything –… Continue reading 7 Steps You Can Take to Keep Your Healthcare Payment Data Safe

Drowsy Driving in the Ridesharing Industry Is a Public Safety Risk

A position statement from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) concludes that fatigue and sleepiness are inherent safety risks in the ridesharing industry. Both sleep deprivation and circadian influences leave ridesharing drivers at risk for drowsy driving. The typical schedule for workers in the ridesharing industry may lead to driving after extended periods of… Continue reading Drowsy Driving in the Ridesharing Industry Is a Public Safety Risk

Personal Self-Defense Tips for Seniors

Seniors may be statistically less likely to be the victim of a violent crime than younger age groups, but the fall-out of a violent crime against a senior can be much more devastating. Reaction times are reduced as we age, and seniors may not have optimal health, so a physical attack can take longer to… Continue reading Personal Self-Defense Tips for Seniors

New Year’s Food Safety Tips

Happy 2018! Many people make New Year resolutions to better themselves. Since the most popular resolution is a happier life and healthier body, Stop Foodborne Illness reminds goal-setters that “healthy foods” may come with their own health risks. Before kicking off any food-centric New Year’s resolutions, review proper food safety practices. One of the more… Continue reading New Year’s Food Safety Tips

Fast Facts on Sexual Assault

In the wake of accusations against Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, Harvey Weinstein and other powerful public figures from entertainment and politics, sexual assault is a hot topic in the news and on social media. Many argue that not enough is being done to protect women inspiring a “me too” campaign that has spread on social media inspiring women… Continue reading Fast Facts on Sexual Assault

Why You Shouldn’t Tailgate at Traffic Lights

When pulling up to a traffic light, most drivers get pretty close to the car in front of them, leaving just several feet of space between their bumper and the next. The practice of packing tightly at traffic lights is widely accepted. Traditional thinking says the closer a car is to a traffic light, the… Continue reading Why You Shouldn’t Tailgate at Traffic Lights

Tips on How to Prevent Falls

Did you know that each year, millions of older people – those 65 and older – fall? In fact, according to the CDC, one in four older people fall each year and less than half report the fall to their doctor. Falling once doubles your chance of falling again. Alan Mayer, author of I’m 93,… Continue reading Tips on How to Prevent Falls

Safety Tips Snowbirds Should Know When Traveling

Driving Speed Is Affected When a Driver’s Mind Wanders

Research done at North Carolina State University in Raleigh and published in the journal Transportation Research Part F found that driving speed fluctuates more when a driver’s mind wanders from focusing on the act of driving – and that the outside environment influences how often a driver’s mind wanders. The researchers define mind wandering as… Continue reading Driving Speed Is Affected When a Driver’s Mind Wanders

Toy Nerf Gun Can Cause Serious Eye Injury

An article published in September 2017 in BMJ reports notes that a warning from doctors was issued after three people went to hospitals on separate occasions with a serious eye injury as a result of being shot at by a Nerf gun. A release from the publishers explains that all three were in pain and… Continue reading Toy Nerf Gun Can Cause Serious Eye Injury

Older Drivers Who Experience Falls May Be at a Higher Risk for Car Crashes

As we age, our ability to drive may help us live independently, shop for ourselves, and maintain social connections. A release from the American Geriatrics Society explains that although car crash rates are low among older adults and are declining, older adults do still have higher rates of fatal crashes. Falls, which are a common… Continue reading Older Drivers Who Experience Falls May Be at a Higher Risk for Car Crashes

80-Year-Olds Are Just as Street Smart as 18-Year-Olds

Our gut instinct about whether a stranger poses a threat is just as sharp when we’re 80 as when we’re 18, according to research done at the University of Portsmouth in the UK and published August 28th 2017 in Europe’s Journal of Psychology. A release from the university notes that older people are as good… Continue reading 80-Year-Olds Are Just as Street Smart as 18-Year-Olds

Emergency Department Visits Are Not a Catalyst for Falls Prevention Activities

[Editor’s note: Click here for “6 Steps to Prevent a Fall” by the National Council on Aging: https://www.ncoa.org/wp-content/uploads/6-Steps-to-Prevent-a-Fall-1.pdf ] Adults age 65 and older who go to the emergency department (ED) for a fall-related injury are not likely to participate in a fall prevention program after being discharged, despite being given a flyer for a… Continue reading Emergency Department Visits Are Not a Catalyst for Falls Prevention Activities

Travelers Take Heed: Wildlife Poses Dangers For Those Unaware

As the summer travel season begins, many tourists head to outdoor destinations that bring them into contact with wildlife they don’t normally encounter back home. Locals might be aware of a problem with alligators, bears, or lions, but if there are no warnings posted, someone from out of town may not know they’re potentially in… Continue reading Travelers Take Heed: Wildlife Poses Dangers For Those Unaware

How to Make Your Garage Safer

Most of us keep our homes free of safety hazards. We may have child safety locks, smoke detectors and would likely never store toxic chemicals where children or pets could get to them. But many people routinely store potentially unsafe chemicals, tools and other “toxic or dangerous junk” in increasingly cluttered garages. All that toxic… Continue reading How to Make Your Garage Safer