Inflatable bounce houses are big, colorful, cheap to rent and practically scream “childhood fun.” So, what could possibly go wrong? It turns out plenty. For one thing, the air-filled party staples are vulnerable to being blown aloft and even flipped over if left unmoored, a new study warns. But even when staked firmly in place,…  read on >  read on >

Flooding, heat waves and drought have made 58% of infectious diseases worse, a new analysis claims. For the review of previous studies, published Aug. 8 in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers found that 218 of the known 375 infectious diseases have been made worse by climate change, including malaria, hantavirus, cholera and anthrax. The…  read on >  read on >

Better lighting and other changes to street crossings could improve pedestrian safety for seniors — the age group most likely to be killed by oncoming vehicles. Researchers pored over four years of Oregon crash data for locations considered dangerous for walkers age 65 and older. They called for changes to improve visibility and illumination, to…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – It’s long been conventional wisdom that weather makes arthritis pain worse. The issue has been studied through the years, with conflicting findings. But three recent studies found weather does have some impact, said Dr. Robert Shmerling, writing for the Harvard Health Blog. In one study with 222 participants who had arthritis of…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ended its program to monitor COVID-19 cases on cruise ships, leaving the industry to manage infection risks aboard its vessels. Cruise ships experienced some of the earliest coronavirus outbreaks as the pandemic began. The CDC had monitored cases for two years under the…  read on >  read on >

When hurricanes, floods and fires hit, everyone can struggle to respond and cope, but new research suggests that women, people with kids under 18, renters, the poor, and Black and Asian Americans are the most vulnerable to weather disasters. These groups need special help before disasters occur to make sure they’re equipped to act, said…  read on >  read on >

(HealthDay News) – – Car crashes and deaths are on the rise in U.S. states that have legalized recreational marijuana, a new study finds. “Marijuana, like alcohol and just about every other drug, changes how you feel and how you behave. That’s the purpose of a drug. And that changes how you drive. We all…  read on >  read on >