All news posts from July 01, 2001 to July 31, 2001

Contrary to popular belief, tanning beds and booths are more harmful to your skin than a day in the sun. Although the ultraviolet radiation is the same, in a tanning bed, you are right next to the "bulb" and may receive a much stronger, quicker dose. According to dermatologists, one 15 to 30 minute tanning session is

Ten people required medical treatment following the derailment of an Amtrak train near Sabula, Missouri. The train, bound for Dallas, left Chicago with 174 passengers and 12 employees but derailed at 2:17 a.m. in a rural area where recent heavy rains may have damaged the tracks. Three cars and one engine derailed, lan

Denis Deonarine, a Florida doctor, has been charged with first-degree murder, racketeering and trafficking a controlled substance in the OxyContin overdose death of one of his patients. Michael Labzda, 21, of Jupiter, Florida, died on February 8, 2001, from an overdose of the painkiller that was prescribed by the doct

Ford Motor Company recently began a publicity campaign to promote its newly redesigned Explorer SUV. However, the automaker's marketing materials fail to mention that only the four-door model of the popular vehicle has been redesigned. The two-door Explorer Sport, the more dangerous model, has not been redesigned.

According to recent Federal government estimates, about 3% (500,000) of drivers talk on hand-held cellular phones at any given time. The rates double during non-peak hours, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). NHTSA researchers gathered data on over 12,000 vehicles traveling through

Firestone attorneys have settled 40% of the lawsuits filed against the company alleging that the Firestone Wilderness AT and ATX tires are defective. At least two hundred lawsuits have been settled and Firestone is working feverishly to settle more. In all, the company is facing over 500 personal injury lawsuits and

A Washington D.C. landlord recently plead guilty to obstructing justice and making false statements to Federal officials during an investigation of lead based paint in his low income housing properties. David Nuyen's plea will result in a two-year Federal prison term. He admitted violating the Federal Lead Hazard Red

Toxic mold is slowly making its way across the Nation, destroying homes and causing serious health problems. Thousands of people are suing builders, landlords and insurers for health and property damage resulting from toxic mold. In the midst of a flurry of lawsuits, insurers and builders are researching ways to lesse

Increasingly, on-call specialists are refusing to answer emergency room pages to treat patients. Many states have noticed the trend and are taking steps to stop it. The root of the problem is greed. Many patients are uninsured, poor, have no family doctor and use the ER as their primary source of medical treatment.

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring Abbott Laboratories to slow production of its popular thyroid medication Synthroid. Synthroid has been on the market for nearly 50 years but the FDA never required the drug to go through its formal approval process. Recently, the FDA discovered potency problems with Sy

The Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee recently released the results of a study of the Nation's nursing homes. Thirty-five percent of the homes were cited for over 10,000 episodes of abuse during the two-year period of the study. Of the 5,926 facilities cited, 1,500 incidences pla

A massive explosion killed four people and injured dozens others, some critically, at a county fair in Medina, Ohio last evening. Witnesses tell InjuryBoard.com that an antique tractor engine exploded about 6:30 p.m., sending shrapnel and hot oil flying into the air. The tractor engine, built in 1918 and steam operate

Today, Johns Hopkins resumed federally funded research studies involving human subjects. The government suspended the hospital's privileges last week, following the death of a volunteer involved in an asthma study. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) reinstate

Ford Motor Co. will stop using P235/70R1616-size General Ameri 550 AS tires as replacements for Firestone tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced that the General Ameri model reported tread failures of 124 per million, well in excess of the 9 failures per million of the rec

Illinois Governor George Ryan recently signed a bill banning the gasoline additive MTBE beginning in 2004. Ryan believes the ban will help corn farmers as ethanol, another gasoline additive and alternative to MTBE, is made from corn. MTBE and ethanol are the main additives employed to help gasoline burn cleaner.

Researchers report that arsenic trioxide, a newly approved leukemia treatment, is responsible for the sudden of three leukemia patients. The patients were participating in a study of the new treatment. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is very rare. Only 800 to 1,000 people are diagnosed with APL annually in the Uni

Sixteen days after his twin brother died, Ron Carmichael was killed in a car accident on I-75 in Ocala, Florida. Carmichael, his wife and two sons were traveling home from a family camping trip that followed his twin's funeral. Don Carmichael died July 4, 2001 at Bon Secours-Venice Hospital while working as th

A Miami-Dade man injured in a forklift accident at work was awarded $5.9 million for the loss of his left foot. Rudy Smith was working at Ramco Trading Company in Hollywood, Florida in August 1993 when he stepped on a forklift that moved backward, crushing his left foot against a pole. After 10 days in the hospital

A Pinellas County woman was awarded $4.8 million for a mistake made at Jacksonville's Mayo Clinic. The jury found Dr. Bruce Pearson negligent for performing a biopsy on Lisa Gabrelcik's neck. The mistake caused Ms. Gabrelcik permanent nerve damage, as well as problems speaking and swallowing. A Mayo Clinic spokesper

Scrutiny of the Montgomery Family Day Care Home in Lakeland, Florida continues following the death of a 2-month-old girl. Kourtney Schiel died at the day care center on August 4, 2000. Investigators determined that Kourtney died on her stomach in her crib at least two hours before her grandmother came to pick her up

Puerto Rico has banned the sale of meat from Vieques Island pending the results of toxic substance testing. Two-thirds of the 51-acre island are used for U.S. Navy training exercises. Officials are unsure how much meat is produced from livestock that graze on Vieques, which is just east of Puerto Rico's main island. R

Most of Los Angeles' school districts are banning diesel fuel in new or replacement school buses. The districts plan to use a cleaner-burning natural gas to decrease the amount of smog produced by school buses. California's South Coast Air Quality Management District recently mandated that the State improve air qualit

A Branson, Missouri roller coaster accident injured seven people last night. The Firestorm roller coaster failed to stop as it approached the loading area, smashing into a preceding train. Seven people were injured. All were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released.

FDA has strengthened the warnings and precautions sections in the labeling of OxyContin (oxycodone HCl controlled-release) Tablets, a narcotic drug approved for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, because of continuing reports of abuse and diversion. OxyContin contains oxycodone HCL, an opioid agonist with an

A Federal jury in Louisiana awarded Seth Becker, a 24-year-old amputee, $43 million for injuries he sustained while working offshore for Baker Oil Tools. Becker lost both of his legs below the knees in a June 1997 accident and is expected to need amputations above the knees due to a bone infection. Following testimony

Two consumer watchdog groups, Public Citizen and the Government Accountability Project (GAP), recently issued a report documenting discrepancies among the top 20 cattle producing states' testing methods for Mad Cow Disease, also known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). BSE, a neurological disease in cattle, ca

Over the past 14 months, four airbag lawsuits against automakers have gone to trial. The suits arose from alleged airbag design defects that caused the devices to deploy during low-speed crashes, killing children riding in the front seat. So far, the automakers have successfully defended each of these suits. At

Following an incident in which an Air Sudan Airbus A300 lost power in both engines during takeoff, the Federal Aviation Administration is ordering thorough inspections and tests of Pratt & Whitney jet engines used on this and many other wide-body jets. Although tests had already been ordered on the Pratt & Whitney 4000

American scientists found that women exposed to DDT are more likely to deliver babies before 37 weeks of gestation. Although the link between DDT and premature births had long been suspected, this is the first study to confirm the association. Of 2,380 infants studied, scientists found that 572 babies were either born

The State of West Virginia filed suit against Purdue Frederick, Co., Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma, Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Inc. and Abbott Laboratories, claiming that these organizations aggressively marketed the painkiller OxyContin without disclosing the potential for abuse. The suit seeks civil penalties an

The small town of Port St. Lucie, Florida, just north of West Palm Beach, is dealing with a prescription drug abuse problem. City officials recently held a town meeting to warn parents of the dangers of OxyContin abuse. The meeting was called following the death of a 14-year-old boy who overdosed May 27th on the pote

Matthew Kaminer, an 18-year-old University of Florida freshman, died April 20, 2000 after taking OxyContin . Kaminer's parents are suing Purdue Pharma, OxyContin's maker, and Eckerd pharmacy. Toxicology reports determined that the prescription painkiller caused the young man's death . Kaminer was found dead

A lawsuit stemming from a deadly 1992 Ford Explorer accident involving four teenage girls recently settled for $22 million. Two of the girls lost their lives in the accident and two others were seriously injured. The suit alleged that the Ford Explorer is unreasonably dangerous due to its high center of gravity, inhe

After a yearlong investigation into Bridgestone/Firestone tires , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is preparing to urge the company to dramatically expand its recall. Firestone maintains that its tires are safe and threatened to fight NHTSA's actions in court if necessary. Any NHTSA ordered

Trans World Flight 379 from St. Louis to San Jose made an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base 65 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri. None of the 140 passengers on board were injured. During the flight, the pilot's engine trouble indicator light came on. The Air Force released a statement that a catastr

The Mabb family of Queensbury, New York is suing General Electric Corp. for $1.2 million in damages. The lawsuit claims that the company failed to properly dispose of GE capacitators, used as power surge protectors, which led to PCB contamination of the Mabb's property. According to the family's attorney, Penny Mabb h

Doctors appear to be aware of Tylenol's potential to cause severe liver damage according to a recent survey. Professors at the University of Michigan questioned 400 doctors on their knowledge of risks associated with acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Ninety-five percent were aware that acetaminophen coul

The Federal government is considering requiring sobering new warnings on the use of the popular over-the-counter painkiller acetaminophen. The ingredient is increasingly linked with life-threatening liver damage. Tylenol is the best-known acetaminophen product. A researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern

Baja Widetrack radial tires manufactured by Bridgestone/Firestone were a factor in a rollover accident that killed a mother and one of her teenage sons and injured her other son and husband. The Baja Widetrack tire on the rear passenger side of the vehicle separated while 15-year-old Michael Carmichael was driving,

A corrections officer has agreed to testify against his coworkers in a criminal prosecution for the 1999 beating death of inmate Frank Valdes. This is a major accomplishment for prosecutors who have been unsuccessful in procuring the testimony of other guards due to a "code of silence" observed among this tight-knit

The captain of a Cabo San Lucas glass-bottom boat will be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three American tourists. Paulina Armijo, 54, of New Mexico, Elizabeth Steven, 64, of Alaska, and Dorothy Farnman, 32, of California, all drowned when the glass-bottom boat capsized in heavy surf.

A recent report given to the Czech Republic by Philip Morris is getting a lot of attention from anti-smoking groups. The report told the government that its healthcare costs were actually decreased by citizens' increasing tobacco use. Findings flaunted the fact that smokers generally die earlier, which decreases the

A recent investigation into the death of Orange County inmate Karen Johnson found several jailhouse nurses accountable for her death. Johnson died from withdrawal after going without the medication prescribed to help her break an addiction to pain killers. While Johnson was being booked into jail on May 23 for violati

Recently, Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth issued an opinion allowing local governments to impose their own regulations on cell phone use. The opinion was a response to a recent inquiry from a Dade County community seeking permission to pass a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving. Butterworth s

The father and widow of an inmate killed at the Florida State Prison in Starke filed a lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections, Governor Jeb Bush, Corrections Secretary Michael Moore, Florida State Prison Warden James Crosby and eight former prison guards. Death row inmate Frank Valdes died awaiting ex

A class action lawsuit brought against drug manufacturer Novartis AG has recently been dismissed. According to Texas Federal judge Hilda Tagle, the plaintiffs failed to fully support their claim that the pharmaceutical company conspired with psychiatrists to over-prescribe Ritalin. Ritalin is an anti-hyperactivi

The CEO of Johns Hopkins Medical Institution admitted the hospital's responsibility in the death of a 24-year-old study participant. Ellen Roche was an otherwise healthy woman when she voluntarily enrolled in Hopkins' study of irritants that cause asthma. As part of the study, Roche was given one gram of hexame

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, recently announced suggestions to help hospitals reduce medical mistakes. The Agency reviewed 79 widely used patient safety practices. Surprisingly, it found that the majority of these practices were very e

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are taking steps to curb the sale and marketing of the medicinal herb comfrey . The agencies are concerned by internet advertising claims that the herb can cure conditions such as asthma , indigestion, cancer and multiple sclerosis . The

Abuse of Oxycontin, a powerful synthetic opiate, is becoming a major concern across the country. Not only is the drug dangerous because of its overdose potential, but drug abusers, dealers and thieves are burglarizing pharmacies in search of the potent painkiller. Oxycontin, also known as "hillbilly heroin" due t

Passengers claiming they developed potentially fatal blood clots while flying filed suit in Australia against three international airlines. Qantas Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, British Airways, and Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) are named as defendants. Following the World Health Organ

Confirming a long-suspected connection between smoking and infertility, scientists recently announced the results of a study finding that women who smoke cigarettes inhale a toxin that can destroy eggs in their ovaries and cause early menopause. The study was published in the journal Nature Genetics. The toxins,

The 92nd annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) will be filled with hot debates, including NAACP president Kweisi Mfume's plan to sue the lead paint industry for the numerous health problems the substance has created. Details of the lawsuit will be unveiled durin

After almost two years of negotiations, a settlement has been reached in an abuse case filed against the New York City police department. In August 1997, Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima, was arrested, placed in handcuffs, and then tortured by police officer Justin Volpe. Volpe, who claimed Louima punched him, retalia

Later this year, Ford Motor Company will install a hands-free wireless phone cradle in many of its new vehicles. Cellport Systems Inc. produces the cradles Ford plans to offer. The device allows drivers to operate their cellular phones with voice commands. The adapters plug into a center console base and are availabl

Three American citizens on a weeklong Carnival cruise to Mexico drowned July 13th when their glass bottom boat capsized near Baja, California. Elizabeth Steven, 64, Paulina Armijo, 54, and Dorothy Farnman, 32, died in the accident. According to Carnival officials, 17 passengers from the company's Elation cruise

A family is moving away from the Sydney tar ponds after being notified that their son, 19-month-old Locklan Fraser, has two times the allowable level of arsenic in his blood. Locklan is just one of nearly 200 children living near the tar ponds and old coke oven. These sites are now being tested for arsenic and lead b

W. R. Grace & Co. is defending its marketing of a product containing asbestos. The New York Times recently reported that Grace marketed its product as asbestos-free although it contained trace amounts of the deadly substance. Monokote 3, a product used to fireproof steel beams during construction, had a chemical makeu

Grady Carter, a 71-year-old Jacksonville, Florida resident, is the first individual to slip through the web of tobacco company lawyers to collect a personal injury check. Carter became a national icon for the anti-smoking movement when a 1996 Jacksonville jury awarded him $750,000 in damages from the Brown & Williamso

A new report issued by the environmental organization Greenpeace reveals that customers, dry cleaning workers, and the general public are exposed to dangerous levels of the cancer causing solvent perchloroethylene, also known as "Perc." The substance is used to dry clean nearly 85% of all clothes in the United States.

A Tulsa, Oklahoma chemical tank blew open, releasing toxic arsine gas and sending nearly 100 people to area hospitals with nausea and breathing problems. Oklahoma State Poison Control officials urged anyone who thought they may have been exposed to the gas to immediately go to a hospital, as exposure to arsine gas may

Darrin Villa, Mike Knobloch and Kaleiohao Mahoe, all from Long Island, decided to take a parasailing trip during their vacation to Clearwater Beach, a resort town on Florida's west coast. After their terrifying experience, none of these seasoned New Yorkers is likely to go up in one of the contraptions again. All

The parasailing accident that killed a mother and her daughter at Fort Myers Beach, Florida last week was not the first for employees of AA Parasail. Apparently workers now employed by AA were involved in a similar fatal accident about two years ago. In that incident, Edward Iddon, 36, was killed when he fell more tha

Lisabeth Bailey-Straney, 37, and her 13 year-old-daughter Taylor Straney, were killed yesterday when the harness of their parasail broke, plunging them over 20 stories into the Gulf of Mexico. The two landed in thigh deep water where onlookers pulled them to the beach. Witnesses say that the accident occurred as a

Despite earlier rumors that a $9 million settlement had been reached in the Abner Louima police abuse incident, the final word on the case has not yet been spoken. In 1998, Louima sued New York City for $155 million after he was arrested and tortured by Brooklyn police officers. The lawsuit stemmed from a 1997 s

Patients in a two hospitals in Denver and New Orleans may have been unintentionally exposed to the brain disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob, the human form of mad cow disease. Fourteen patients underwent medical procedures where tainted surgical instruments where used. The form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob that the patients may have

Recently, the New York Times reported that W.R. Grace & Co., a longtime producer of asbestos laden products, intentionally misled the public by claiming that its Monokote fireproofing spray was asbestos free. The company, which filed for bankruptcy in April, defends its marketing of Monokote as asbestos free, even tho

With deer tick season peaking, the debate surrounding Lyme disease and its various treatments and vaccine is raging. The tiny deer tick carries the bacteria that cause the sometimes debilitating condition. In a study published in this month's New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Mark Klempner of Boston University foun

Lasik eye surgery is performed to improve patients' vision, however, on occasion it seems to do just the opposite. The latest concern? Post-surgical dry eyes, a potentially debilitating condition which can be permanent. In a recent study of nearly 50 Lasik patients, researchers reported in the journal Ophthalmology t

A Florida man was run over and killed yesterday when a police pursuit went out of control. Russell DeVaughn, 19, was relaxing in a lawn chair on the sidewalk when a car driven by Ansel Jackson careened off the road, collided with another vehicle, and ran over DeVaughn. A spokesman for the Seminole County Sheriff's

The State of Florida held more disciplinary hearings against doctors this year than ever before. A record 295 disciplinary actions were taken compared with 163 such actions the previous year. Most doctors were disciplined for minor offenses such as failing to fulfill their continuing education requirements, refusing

A man was killed this weekend when the 41 foot speed boat he was riding in hit a large wave. Steven Waller struck his head on the windshield and was thrown overboard as the boat raced at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour. The accident occurred several thousand feet off of New Smyrna Beach, on Florida's east coast.

Recently, an Orlando, Florida man died of emphysema complications brought on by working in a sick building. Peter Karp, 61, took a job as a computer programmer with the Orange County government. Unbeknownst to Karp, the air-conditioning system in his office was contaminated with mold and fungus, aggravating his preex

GlaxoSmithKline announced today that it will comply with the British Medicine Control Agency's (the UK's version of the FDA) request to supplement Paxil's warning label. The move comes after an American man killed his family, then himself, while beginning treatment with Paxil to ease his depression. The company admit

Armed bandits are holding up drugstores and small town pharmacies across the country, not in search of cash, but rather on a quest for the powerful painkiller, OxyContin . States such as Florida, Vermont, West Virginia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky, California, and Pennsylvania have seen an alarming incr

When Gage Stevens was born he brought joy into the lives of his parents. Unfortunately, their happiness was short lived. Gage was constantly irritable, so his parents took him to a doctor to determine the cause of his irritability. Dr. Susan Orenstein of Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital diagnosed Gage with acid refl

Discard your mercury thermometers. The American Academy of Pediatrics' July 2001 issue of the journal Pediatrics advises people to discontinue using the popular devices. The pediatric group suggests using digital thermometers or other suitable alternatives. The recommendation comes as consumer awareness of the health

Vietnam and Indonesia are not exactly hotbeds of environmental protectionism, yet these two countries, along with Switzerland, have banned the use of arsenic as a wood preservative. Unfortunately, U.S. consumers continue to be exposed to the dangerous substance when they purchase pressure treated lumber. Lumber

A woman who left her Jeep Grande Cherokee idling and unattended for a moment learned an important lesson: apply the parking brake. The 1998 Cherokee suddenly shifted into reverse, despite the fact that there was no one in the vehicle, and accelerated across a highway and down a slope, until brought to an abrupt stop b

A Jeep Grand Cherokee owner was injured recently when his vehicle unexpectedly shifted into reverse, knocking him down and running over his foot. The man lodged a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in which he noted that his Cherokee had lurched into reverse at least once before. T

A California Jeep Grand Cherokee owner suffered minor injuries recently when his Cherokee unexpectedly shifted into reverse, pinning him behind the car. "Looks like the Jeep popped into reverse by itself, . . . I suspect that engine vibration caused the lever to move into reverse and the Jeep then started to roll back

Three Pennsylvania residents were killed in fireworks accidents over the Fourth of July holiday. The first incident occurred on Tuesday in Altoona when a pipe struck and killed a 9-year-old boy after it flew out of an exploding cannon. On Wednesday, another cannon exploded, hurling shrapnel through the air, kill

The president of Sulzer Orthopedics was fired yesterday after the company endured months of turmoil associated with the recall of thousands of defective hip and knee replacements . Gary Sabins was relieved from his post by Sulzer Orthopedics' Swiss based parent company, Sulzer Medica. Sulzer recalled the defect

A San Diego man is suing Motorola, Sony, and his cell phone carrier after he developed brain cancer in the area where he routinely held the phone to his head. Gibb Brower is only 41, yet doctors say he will be lucky to reach his 42nd birthday. Mr. Brower used his cell phones in his private landscaping business. The j

A man received several deep propeller cuts after he was thrown from his 31 foot boat during a fourth of July fishing trip. Ernest Phillips of Largo, Florida was driving the vessel when he made a high speed turn, causing his seat to rip from the deck, hurling him overboard. Investigators do not believe that alcohol pl

Scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center released a study today that questions the safety of the widely used breast cancer drug tamoxifen. The study, which was published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests that women who take tamoxifen and suffer from a reoccurrence of cancer, may

Two brothers were injured yesterday as the personal watercraft they were riding jumped a lakebed and collided with a tree. Benjamin Bernard, 11, was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg where he underwent surgery for a fractured skull and blood clot on the brain. His younger brother, Daniel Be

Self-propelled scooters have become immensely popular. Over 5 million of the toys are expected to be sold in 2001. Unfortunately, with the increase in scooter usage comes severe injuries to young riders. During 2000, over 28,000 scooter related accidents occurred in the United States, making the devices some of the m

Ford Motor Company is beefing up its Washington, D.C. office in anticipation of further legal wrangling over the safety of the Ford Explorer . After Congressional hearings last month in which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hinted that it might open an official investigation into Ford's pop

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a young woman who died in a Johns Hopkins University clinical trial was not informed of the experimental nature of the medication she was given. In addition, FDA investigators cited the study's organizers for failing to report a previous adverse reaction to the medi

The Federal government took possession of 234 Vermont sheep suspected of carrying a variation of mad cow disease . Officials also plan to seize a nearby flock of 140. The Agriculture Department said that the flocks or their ancestors might have been exposed to mad cow disease before they were transported to the

A study of the human version of mad cow disease, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), indicates that the fatal condition may have a 30-year incubation period. During the study, scientists investigated five deaths in Queniborough, Leicestershire, a small English village. Prominent English scientist, Professo

In a scene common in schools across the country, families are battling over the rights of their children to eat an American favorite, peanut butter. Ridge Street Elementary in New York is the latest school to deal with this problem. A five-year-old girl, so allergic to peanuts that she could die if she licked peanut b

DeConna Ice Cream Company will change the label of its popular Big Daddy Reduced Fat Ice Cream to indicate accurate nutritional values. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel recently tested the product and found the ice cream had three times the calories and over two times the carbohydrates than the label indicated. De

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is launching an effort to locate recalled portable crib/play yards like the one that recently killed a nine-month-old baby. Baby Trend, Inc., of Ontario, California, recalled nearly 100,000 "Home and Roam" and "Baby Express" cribs/play yards in 1995 out of fears that t

Doctors urge you to protect your children from trampoline injuries. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) announced that the number of Americans treated annually for trampoline injuries has tripled since 1991, exceeding 100,000. The majority of those injured are under the age of 14. The AAOS report

State Farm insurance company has released its latest study in which the company ranks the ten most dangerous intersections in the United States. Number one on the list is the intersection of Flamingo Road and Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines, Florida, just North of Miami. According to State Farm statistics, nearly 2

Are pool alarms the answer to protecting children around the pool? A recent evaluation of competing pool alarms conducted by Dateline NBC found that the devices can be helpful, but they are no substitute for close adult supervision. Over 350 children drown each year in private swimming pools, and 6,500 are treated as

In the State of Florida, any fireworks which are "prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation" are illegal. However, a loophole in State law has resulted in a booming market for curbside fireworks vendors. While the law carries a fine of

Arsenic trioxide, a drug created to treat leukemia patients, has come under scrutiny by the FDA after two separate clinical trials resulted in drug-related deaths. Cell Therapeutics of Seattle, the maker of the arsenic trioxide drug Trisenox, is evaluating the results of these two trials. The medical journal Bloo

The $4 billion per year pressure treated wood industry is under attack. The industry, which in the past enjoyed a cozy relationship with government regulators, may be in a battle for its survival. The reason? Chemicals used to preserve wood have been escaping from pressure treated decks, docks, playgrounds, and othe

The Senate passed sweeping healthcare insurance legislation on Friday, voting 59 to 36 to send the Bill to the House for further debate. After years of delays, the so-called "patients bill of rights" guarantees Americans already covered by insurance, either private or employer provided, with certain benefits and the r

I am pleased to appear before you today and wish to thank Subcommittee Chairmen Stearns and Greenwood, Subcommittee Ranking Members Towns and Deutsch, Full Committee Chairman Tauzin and Ranking Member Dingell for the invitation to appear at this hearing. With me are NHTSA's Executive Director, L. Robert Shelton, a

New York became the first State to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Citing the increasing number of accidents caused by distracted drivers, Gov. George Pataki recently signed the bill into law. Nearly 40 other States are considering similar laws. New York's will go into effect November 1, wi

Hospitals are now required to inform patients of harmful mistakes made during their treatment. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(JCAHCO), a nonprofit policymaking group, instituted the new requirement after a 1999 study revealed that almost 100,000 people die each year due to medical

Ford is soon expected to announce its decision on whether to remove certain tires from its list of replacements for the Firestone Wilderness ATs. Questions were raised during last week's congressional hearings regarding the failure rate of the tires Ford has been using as replacements for the Firestones. Congressma

Toxic mold is destroying homes and lives. Some people, like Melinda Ballard of Texas, have been forced from their homes by the insidious fungus. Recently, NBC News reported that Ballard was awarded $32 million in a lawsuit filed against her insurance company. While mild mold infestations can be killed with a simple b