Traffic deaths are down on U.S. roadways, but the small drop pales in comparison to the surging rate of recent years. Deaths in traffic crashes fell 0.3% last year compared to 2021, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). On average, crashes claimed the lives of 117 people a day — more… read on > read on >
Summer is almost here, and its arrival brings opportunities for many people – including those who suffer with allergies and asthma — to plan vacations away from home. A recent article titled “Allergies don’t take a vacation” in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology encourages those with allergies and asthma to consider their conditions and… read on > read on >
Tornadoes bring with them many dangers, but perhaps not so evident are the risks from colorless and odorless carbon monoxide (CO) from generators used to temporarily restore power. With parts of the United States expecting another round of severe weather, the Consumer Product Safety Commission offers tips to avoid CO poisoning or fires in the… read on > read on >
Texting and driving can be deadly. Holding your phone in your hand to talk and surfing the internet while behind the wheel is dangerous, too. This is widely known, but a new survey finds that about half of all respondents still use an electronic device most or every time they drive. “I’d say it’s not… read on > read on >
Marijuana legalization in the United States appears to be driving an increase in car crash deaths due to a jump in “intoxicated driving,” researchers say. In 4 out of 7 states that legalized recreational cannabis, deaths from car crashes rose 10%, according to the University of Illinois Chicago study. On a brighter note, suicide and… read on > read on >
Florida has yet another new mosquito species in its midst that has migrated from the tropics, settling in at least three counties since 2018. It’s not yet clear whether this one, called Culex lactator, will contribute to transmission of mosquito-borne viruses in the state, but scientists are concerned about the rate of new mosquitoes arriving… read on > read on >
“Baby on Board” warning stickers apply even when there’s a mom-to-be in the vehicle, a new study argues. Pregnant women involved in traffic collisions are at heightened risk of potentially serious birth complications, even if the wreck only involves minor injuries, researchers report. These complications can include dislodgement of the placenta, very heavy bleeding, and… read on > read on >
Hurricanes not only disrupt the communities they affect, they also pose an increased risk of death for people with dementia. This heightened risk could owe to disruption in their normal routines, changes in their living environment or even changes in access to caregiving or medications, a University of Michigan researcher said. “The important message is… read on > read on >
Pedestrian deaths have surged on U.S. roads in recent years, and they are climbing again. Pedestrian deaths hit a 40-year high in 2021, and numbers for the first half of 2022 were up about 5% over the same period in 2021, according to a new Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) analysis. It cites a variety… read on > read on >
The changes in temperature and daylight brought by winter may make a person feel like hibernating. It turns out that humans do get longer REM sleep in wintertime and less deep sleep in autumn, even in an urban setting, German researchers reported Feb 17 in Frontiers in Neuroscience. REM sleep is the stage when vivid… read on > read on >
