2012 Archives - 10/214 - Archive

We can’t emphasize enough how dangerous distracted driving can be.  Every day it seems like there a news story about an accident stemming from cellphone usage or a survey conducted which shows the prevalence of the habit.  This latest story concerns the latter.

A survey recently conducted in Washington highlights the regularity of various dangerous driving practices, and not surprisingly, cellphone usage is the most common.  78% of people between the ages of 18 and 24 admit that they use their phones behind the wheel in a way that could be considered breaking the law.  This is the age range that most typically uses a phone, but they’re far from the only ones; other drivers used phones at high rates as well.

This comes even as people learn from public safety campaigns geared toward other dangerous behaviors and adjust their driving as needed.  98% of people report using their seatbelt whenever they’re in an automobile, while three quarters of respondents report sticking to the speed limit.  And 90% of individuals reported an understanding of being placed under arrest if they’re pulled over while driving drunk, which likely explains why fewer than one out of every ten respondents said they refrain from driving if they’ve drank alcohol in the past couple hours.

The lesson is:  drive safe.  Distracted driving is finally being looked upon as being as dangerous as intoxicated driving, but we still have a ways to go before attitudes toward it shift.  As campaigns show us, though, it is possible for a shift in perception to occur.

Numerous types of trucks are being recalled because there’s a chance that continued usage could lead to a fire and subsequent injury.  Read on to find out if you might be the owner of one of these vehicles.

Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. has announced the recall, which pertains to eight different models of medium duty trucks.  Each is of a model year between 2005 and 2013 and was produced between August 18, 2003 and November 16 of last year.  A whopping 35,168 trucks are encompassed within the scope of the recall.

At issue is the fact that the B+ circuit which leads from the battery to the starter could experience wear over a long period of time.  This wear, which stems from repeated interference between the circuit and its sheath, could lead the circuit to short to ground.  A short to ground situation might then cause a fire to break out, endangering anyone inside the vehicle.

The recall is currently slated to start on January 15.  At that point, owners should receive word of the issue from Hino.  Truck repairs will then be conducted by dealers at no cost to the consumer.

With tens of thousands of vehicles, many of them nearly a decade old, affected by a recall, there’s always a worry that some vehicles will slip through the cracks.  Hopefully owners will hear about the issue and get their trucks fixed accordingly.

A company based in nearby Glendale has initiated a recall of a food product because of a potential undeclared allergen threat.  Cake Decors Pastillage Flowers sold at Hobby Lobby and online are being recalled by Sugar Flowers Plus.  The recall comes on the heels of a reported allergic reaction that the company states has not been proven to be had in conjunction with these specific products.  However, Sugar Flowers Plus readily acknowledges that egg white wash was used as a sort of glue for these gumpaste flowers, and thus an allergic person could experience some sort of adverse event.  In the reported case, the individual apparently suffered an itchy throat following consumption and stomach cramps upon taking benadryl.

Click here to learn more about the recall.

Do you know how many pedestrian fatalities have occurred in your town in the past year?  How about the last six years?  In Auburn, Massachusetts, precisely zero pedestrian deaths have taken place over that timespan.  The effort has been sufficient to receive recognition from AAA, who has bestowed the Auburn Police Department with a Pedestrian Safety Citation.  An officer with the department credits in part the installation of a traffic officer whose duty it is to speak with residents to learn about what safety concerns they may have.  The police have also instituted safety checks around schools and have responded to citizen queries, such as attempting to slow vehicles down if they get a report of speeding.

Click here for more information.

One would think that antiseptic wipes would be free of bacteria that could do harm to a patient, and indeed, this was the common wisdom in the 70s.  At that time, regulators figured that the contamination risk would be pretty much offset by the antiseptic solutions that lend the products their name.  Alcohol wipes and the like have thus not been subjected to sterility standards that certain other items have to meet.

That could change, though, now that the Food and Drug Administration is moving forward with a public hearing designed to get a wide array of thoughts about these products.  The move was prompted by recent reports of contamination compromising the safety of the antiseptic wipes.

It would appear that the rules written in the 70s failed to take into account certain bacteria that can thrive even in the antiseptic environment.  Concerns were raised following the untimely death of a child in 2010.  The boys parents claimed that the alcohol wipe that was utilized prior to the boy’s surgery was in fact contaminated with Bacillus cereus.  They allege that this in turn led the child to incur bacterial meningitis.

The makers of the products, H & P Industries and the Triad Group, have since been the target of a couple dozen lawsuits alleging that the wipes provided to care facilities were not adequately protected from bacteria.  The safety of wipes and swabs is being widely scrutinized, with some calling into question manufacturing methods and others blaming the FDA for a lack of oversight.

In the most recent edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, FDA experts stated their belief that the prevalence of bacteria in these types of wipes might be greater than a consumer might expect.  Although reports of contamination are fairly rare, they believe that many infections in the wake of a medical procedure are not attributed to the wipes because of a mistaken belief among healthcare professionals that a contamination of such items is impossible.  As such, there’s a chance that underreporting is the norm.

The FDA looked into this issue back in 2009, but the investigation came to nought when an advisory committee disagreed over the severity of the problem and the cost of making severity mandatory.  Manufacturers also largely fought the measure at the time.

Until a decision can be made, doctors are advised to use caution and to look out for infections.  Should one occur, healthcare professionals should keep in mind the possibility that the antiseptic pads could be to blame.  Aside from that, it appears we’ll have to wait a little longer to see if the FDA decides to act on this potential threat to patient safety.

In an age where airplanes can get people across the country in relatively little time, it’s easy to forget about the dangers posed by trains.  Railway safety tends to get short shrift in this modern day, which is why it’s great to hear about the efforts of groups like Operation Lifesaver.  A Union Pacific representative involved with the program in Colorado recently explained the ways they stress injury prevention.

It all starts with engineering, enforcement, and education (the three E’s).  Those who witness an Operation Lifesaver presentation get to learn about how trains work, including the reasons for and importance of signals.  Police are also invited by the group to ride on a train so that they can spot dangerous behavior.  This theoretically helps the cops to understand what to look out for when on patrol.

But perhaps most important are the tips offered to regular citizens.  Safety begins with understanding the limitations of trains and the force of an impact.  Just because an engineer sees you doesn’t mean they’ll stop in time.  It takes the average freight hauler a mile to come to a complete halt.  Not exactly stopping on a dime.  The OL representative stressed that an automobile driver is 40 times as likely to die in a train collision than in a crash with another vehicle.

So use some sense.  Approach every train track with caution, even if the gates aren’t down, and be particularly on guard if there are multiple train tracks present.  The first set might be clear of danger, but that doesn’t mean the second one is.

Earlier this week saw a recall issued in regards to Ford Fusion vehicles.  In that instance, the vehicles may have suffered from a defect which could lead to a fire.  Now there’s word that another recall is being issued, but this time the Fusions in question may have a defect that compromises visibility.

Affected vehicles in this case were produced between February 3 and October 20 of this year, and each is of the 2013 model year.  19,106 of these particular Fusions are being recalled by Ford because they fail to meet the federal standards that pertain to lamps and reflective devices.

Specifically, the coating for the low beam headlamp projector might not be sufficient due to improper curing that may have taken place while the manufacturing process was ongoing.  This could cause the coating to get hazier over time, essentially blocking out the light emitted from the low beams.  Drivers would be privy to decreased visibility the longer they drive, which could lead to a potential crash situation.

On Monday, the recall is set to start.  At that point, owners can expect to receive word of the issue from Ford.  Dealers will then offer a headlamp assembly replacement service at no cost to consumers.

Two recalls on one vehicle in a week’s time is not a trend we’d like to see continue.  Hopefully this is the end of the safety woes associated with these automobiles.

We’ve spent the fast few weeks or so bringing you tips that can be followed in order to help ensure your family will remain safe throughout the coming holidays.  But considering the multitudinous nature of this holiday, there’s really no shortage of safety tips out there.  We could caution you against potential personal injuries all the way up until 2013 and never run out of safety directives.  Here then are some new tips from MySafe:  LA.

One needs to take particular caution around the holidays if pets reside in the home.  Inquisitive animals can create hazards that homes without pets don’t have to worry about.  Animals can chew on the strands of lights, gifts under the tree, extension cords, and more.  And things like mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias, while festive, can be poisonous if an animal decides it would like to eat the item.  Tinsel could likewise be dangerous when consumed.

It’s also not surprising that a few fire safety tips are offered up.  Consumers are advised to be prepared in order to protect themselves from danger.  That means having fire extinguishers at the ready for when a blaze erupts throughout your home, including in the kitchen.  For a grease fire in the latter, don’t toss water onto the flames; instead, consider using baking soda and covering the blaze with a cookie sheet to prevent oxygen from reaching the flames.  And finally, have carbon monoxide and smoke alarms available to further offset the risk of a fire.

The Duluth, Georgia-based Suzanna’s Kitchen has announced the recall of cases of Freebird Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets, Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets, and Freebird Fully Cooked Gluten Free/Soy Free Chicken Patties.  A whopping 35,800 pounds of product are affected by the recall, and the items were available across the country shortly after production on either September 6 of last year or March 15 of this year.  The safety of these items may be compromised by the presence of plastic pieces within the product.  It’s thought that the packaging holding the items before production could be to blame for the issue.  No one has reported incurring an illness or an injury in conjunction with the chicken at this time.

For more about the recall, click here.

Kids’ bed rails from the South Plainfield, New Jersey-based Dream on Me are being recalled.  These pink or blue items could become detached from the mattress they’re affixed to.  This could potentially lead any kid placed on the mattress to slide into the space between the mattress and the rail.  A child in such a predicament could experience strangulation or suffocation, and thus the recall has been initiated.  No injuries have been reported in conjunction with the 900 or so recalled products, which were available at various independent retailers and Amazon between September of last year and May of this year.  The rails should not be used, and a refund can be obtained from the company.

For more about the recall, click this link.