Death from Airbags Is Not Dependent on Size
November 21st, 2007
Today, kids 13 or over are allowed to ride in the front seat of a car with a passenger-side airbag, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendations. Some parents may even think that their younger child is safe if he is tall for his age.
Dr. Craig Newgard is assistant professor of emergency medicine in the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine’s Center for Policy and Research in Emergency Medicine, and an emergency physician at OHSU and Doernbecher hospitals. He “felt it was time to study whether more children could be at risk, and assess whether age or body size were good measurement guidelines.”
According to his 2005 study, “children 14 and younger were at high risk for serious injury from air bags when they sat in the front passenger seat during car crashes. In contrast, air bags had a protective effect for children aged 15 to 18. In addition, the study showed age may be a better indicator of risk than height or weight.”
“Several body changes during puberty, such as muscle mass, bone density, and bone mineral content, may help explain why body size isn’t a good measurement of risk in children.”
Automakers have switched to airbags with sensors for the front passenger seat, to deploy with less force than a regular airbag. The sensor may be able to detect the passenger’s weight, but not the age.
If a child under 15 must ride in the front seat of a car, it is only safe if there is no airbag at all, or if the airbag can be turned off or set to a lower force. In addition, the child must use a lap belt and shoulder harness.
How to Get Teenagers to Sleep Despite Their Inner Clock
August 21st, 2007
Teenagers see staying up late at night as a right. Even though teenagers push to stay up later and later, they do still need more sleep than adults. Many adults function best with 7 hours of sleep, but school-aged children need 9 or 10 hours. Teenagers will give themselves this much sleep if they are allowed to wake up on their own. Weekends attest to this. But, it is necessary for them to go to bed early enough to get 9 or 10 hours of sleep before getting up for school.
The Dangers of Energy Drinks
August 18th, 2007
(A follow-up to “Ephedra Free,” dated August 13th, 2007)
Coffee contains about twice as much caffeine as soda, and
most of the energy drinks contain at least as much caffeine as coffee. One of the energy drinks contains as much caffeine as five cups of coffee, or the equivalent of two and a half Vivarin, No-Doz or Dexatrim. (The name of this drink is being omitted so kids won’t search it out.) To put this into perspective, the Olympic Committee will disquality an athlete that has had more than three cups of coffee.
Ephedra Free
August 13th, 2007
Most people know that caffeine is stimulant. Many do not realize that guarana, ginseng and mate are also. Stimulants can be beneficial when used correctly.
Another stimulant, ephedra, was taken off the market because a few people died after taking it. Some of the fatalities occurred when it was taken before extreme physical activity, or rigorous activity in extreme heat. When used correctly, it does work wonders for allergies and asthma.
Meat for Vegetarians?
June 15th, 2007
Many people have given up eating meat, for a variety of reasons. One reason is that they think meat does not digest well, if at all. Proponents of “food combining” say that the real problem is what you eat with your meat.
Their rule for eating meat is to not combine it with starch, another protein, cheese, acid foods, sugars, or fats. That eliminates the cheeseburger, bacon and eggs, pepperoni pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, and most of the staples of the American diet.
So if you’ve turned vegetarian simply for better digestion but miss the occasional Read the rest of this entry »
Toothbrush Horror
June 11th, 2007
Oh, where your toothbrush has been!
Not many people would feel it is healthy to prepare meals in a bathroom. But, toothbrushes are usually stored there - and in the open. This is a room that was built for regular deposits of urine and feces.
A place that is almost as filthy as the bathroom is the mouth. But, that is where toothbrushes go every day.
First, prevent the filth.
Close the toilet lid before you flush, and instruct everyone in the family to do the same. The flushing action of the toilet forces waste down, but it also forces germs up into the room. These germs land on every surface, including exposed toothbrushes.
Toothbrushes could be kept inside a closed medicine cabinet. This would prevent them from the germs that must still escape while the toilet is being used. There must be a covered toothbrush holder somewhere.
Older Fathers and Birth Defects
October 20th, 2006
Men are physically able to father a child much later than women can normally conceive. But, the risks increase with the age of the father.
It has long been known that older women have a higher chance of giving birth to a baby with Down Syndrome. This occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 women under 30, 1 in 400 at 35, and 1 in 6 by age 50.
Researchers now say that the same can be said for older fathers. Compared to fathers between 20 and 29, the incidence of Down Syndrome increased by 15 percent in men over 35, 30 to 40 percent in men over 40, and 300 percent higher in men over 50.
Older men also have a higher risk of fathering children with Achondroplastic Dwarfism, Marfan Syndrome, or Myositis Ossificans.
Birds, Butterflies and Caesareans
October 18th, 2006
Imagine a bird hatching from its egg. The process involves an incredible stuggle for life. The human reaction is to help crack the egg and/or pull away some of the shell. Helping with the hatching process almost always results in the death of the baby bird. The same is true for a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. The process of change, from a fetus to a live baby Read the rest of this entry »
All That We Need
October 16th, 2006
The world began as a perfect place, and we were given all that we need. Even though the world is no longer a perfect place, who’s to say that we don’t still have all that we need. Here are just a few examples of “medicines” found in nature.
- Aspirin was one of the greatest discoveries ever, but it was found in the bark and leaves of the willow tree.
- Cranberry juice will prevent a urinary tract infection.
- Apple cider vinegar lowers blood pressure and takes away the pain and restriction of movement caused by arthritis.
- Eating turkey will put an insomniac right to sleep.
- Garlic will lower the bad cholesterol.
When there is a choice, the natural way seems best.
~ Natural remedies do affect the body and can be strong “medicine.” Using two at once can result in each cancelling out the other or in getting too much of a good thing.
