Tag: safety

Enjoy Fireworks Season Safely

Fireworks produce loud, explosive noises that can reach dangerous decibel levels, often exceeding 150 decibels (dB). To put this into perspective, normal conversation typically measures around 60 dB, while prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 dB can lead to permanent hearing loss. “Fireworks’ high decibel levels pose a significant risk, especially for children, individuals with… Continue reading Enjoy Fireworks Season Safely

Is Popcorn Bad for Your Health?

Lately, there have been a number of stories on whether PFAS and have an adverse effect on our health. I read that some food wrappers, like bags for microwave popcorn, use PFAS to keep food from sticking to bags. How dangerous are PFAs? The following information from UCLA Health should answer common questions. The term… Continue reading Is Popcorn Bad for Your Health?

Is Your Pet’s Medicine Safe?

Anyone who’s ever had to give a cat a dose of medicine, you know that it can go sideways quickly. While no cat enjoys the process, some might be more cooperative depending on how the drug is given. For example, some cats tolerate taking pills easier than liquid, while others make the pill-giving process into… Continue reading Is Your Pet’s Medicine Safe?

How to Safely Wear A Face Mask

Masks are one of the most important ways to stop the spread of COVID-19. You should wear masks in public settings, around people who don’t live in your household, and when you can’t stay 6 feet away (socially distance) from others. But not every mask is automatically helpful, and deciding what kind of mask to… Continue reading How to Safely Wear A Face Mask

How to Prevent Childhood Drownings

Drowning is one of the leading causes of childhood deaths. In children under the age of four, only birth defects claim more lives. In accidental deaths of children under the age of 15, it’s second only to car accidents. Knowing these sobering statistics is the first step in battling these preventable tragedies. I spoke with… Continue reading How to Prevent Childhood Drownings

COVID-19: Blood Donations Update

The nation’s blood supply requires a steady supply of donors who generously donate millions of units of potentially life-saving blood and blood components each year. Every two seconds, a patient needs a blood transfusion. But in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “the… Continue reading COVID-19: Blood Donations Update

Parking Lot Safety for Kids

A study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows an alarming need for adult supervision in parking lots, with 67 percent of children observed not having supervision at some point between the vehicle’s parking and the child’s entering the building. “Children are unpredictable,” said David Schwebel, Ph.D., associate dean for research in the UAB… Continue reading Parking Lot Safety for Kids

A 5-Step Coronavirus Survival Plan for Seniors

As the coronavirus continues to spread across the globe, and now is becoming more widespread by the day in the United States, it is critical that the most vulnerable population being impacted understands how to be better prepared. Seniors have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus with the tragic death of eight residents in… Continue reading A 5-Step Coronavirus Survival Plan for Seniors

What You Should Know about Products Containing CBD

Products containing the drug cannabidiol (CBD) seems to be available almost everywhere, and marketed as a variety of products including drugs, food, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and animal health products. But other than one prescription drug product to treat two rare, severe forms of epilepsy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any… Continue reading What You Should Know about Products Containing CBD

How to Keep Your Food Safe – And Avoid Wasting It

Between the food industry and consumers, Americans are throwing out about a third of our food — about $161 billion worth each year. “Imagine this: You go to your favorite supermarket and come out with three bags full of groceries. Before you get in your car, you toss one of those bags in the garbage.… Continue reading How to Keep Your Food Safe – And Avoid Wasting It

FDA Testing Frozen Berries for Viruses

Although frozen berries should be cooked before using, some people still skip that step, increasing their risk of exposure to harmful viruses. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported three hepatitis A virus outbreaks and one norovirus outbreak linked to frozen berries in the United States from 1997 to 2016.  As a result, the… Continue reading FDA Testing Frozen Berries for Viruses

Safety of Hospital Patients Still Falls Short

Although it’s long been a goal to increase patient safety in hospitals, there hasn’t been nearly as much progress as there should be. The commitment to increase patient safety came after a landmark 1999 study by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) highlighted the prevalence of medical errors and made clear the need to decrease… Continue reading Safety of Hospital Patients Still Falls Short

How Safe Are Electronic Health Records?

Four years after publication by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), voluntary guidelines designed to increase the safety of e-health records have yet to be implemented fully, according to a new survey. The findings appeared recently in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. “Less than 20 percent of… Continue reading How Safe Are Electronic Health Records?

5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids

Repeatedly responding to “What’d you say?” can often be the norm during conversations with aging parents. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from using hearing aids. Despite age being the strongest predictor of hearing loss among adults, fewer than one in three adults… Continue reading 5 Ways to Convince Parents to Get Hearing Aids

Play It (Food) Safe This New Year’s

Whether it’s a New Year’s Eve party or a New Year’s Day feast, eating with friends and family can be the best part of the holiday season. But even the most festive occasion can be, well, spoiled by food that isn’t prepared or preserved in the right way. Stop Foodborne Illness, a national nonprofit, public… Continue reading Play It (Food) Safe This New Year’s

Laser Toys: How to Keep Kids Safe

Many kids (and parents) who have seen Luke Skywalker battle Darth Vader with a light saber think lasers are cool. What they may not know is this: When operated unsafely, or without certain controls, the highly-concentrated light from lasers—even those in toys—can be dangerous, causing serious eye injuries and even blindness. And not just to… Continue reading Laser Toys: How to Keep Kids Safe

Buying Pet Medicines Online: Ensuring Products Are Safe

Editor’s note: Buying your pet’s medications online may be tempting in terms of cost. But you need to approach the issue cautiously, say experts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you’re purchasing medications for your pet online to save money or for convenience, there are Internet sites that represent legitimate pharmacies. But… Continue reading Buying Pet Medicines Online: Ensuring Products Are Safe