Hi,
The first thought that comes to my mind when I consider extreme sports is safety. If you are considering participating in any type of extreme sport, I want you to first reflect on and be aware of the tremendous importance of safety precautions that you must take in preparing yourself for involvement and participation. The word itself, “extreme” is a connotation of a word that represents danger and exemplifies the need for safety.

Webster’s Dictionary (2007) defines the word “extreme” as “very great or intense, severe, radical.” Needless to say, those of us here at www.safetyissues.com cannot emphasize enough the need for knowledge, preparation and level-headedness when it comes to extreme sports participation. The magnitude of danger is great. The stories of deaths, amputations and paralyzing results are numerous. Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular extreme sports and allow me to offer you some tips in concern of your safety, should you choose to participate.
With its own Olympics of sorts–The X Games–without a doubt, extreme sports have reached the mainstream. With extreme sports centers and summer camps, many youths and adults alike are finding themselves drawn to the action. The most popular extreme sports are:
• BMX biking
• Skateboarding (Skitching)
• Snowboarding
• Rock Climbing
• Skydiving
• Street lugging
• Barefoot water-skiing
• Wakeboarding
As a whole, there are general rules for safety, when it comes to extreme sports participation. These include: wearing appropriate gear, having supervision and being in a safe locale. The most common injuries associated with extreme sports on an undivided basis of categories include: sprains, fractures, cuts, bruising and broken teeth. Keep in mind these are minor compared to some of the catastrophes that have occurred while individuals have been participating in extreme sports. Take into account:
• May 2, 2003: Alton Ralston was rock climbing and hiking in the Grand Junction, Colorado alone when a boulder fell and pinned his arm against the rock. After five days of being pinned, having no water or food, he realized his only hope for survival was to cut his arm off with his pocketknife, which he did. To this day, he remains an amputee.
• Feb. 2007: Jacen Abbott, 19, was “skitching” (holding on to the rear bumper of a vehicle while on his skateboard; with the vehicle moving) when he fell off his skateboard and was run over by the truck that was “pulling” him. He suffered permanent brain damage.
These two incidents represent a minimal amount of the number of tragic accidents that have occurred as a result of an individual participating in an extreme sport.
Other than the above, below are listed safety precautions that must be taken into account in order to assist in preventing either minor or major misfortunes from occurring as a result of extreme sports participation:
• Check and re-check your gear for wear and tear and durability.
• Check and familiarize yourself with the surface you are going to be competing or playing on.
• Wear padding, helmets and the appropriate clothing to the extreme sport you will be engaging in.
• Do not rush the learning curve! Know your limits and do not attempt to perform an act for which you do not have enough experience to do so.
• Wear proper footwear.
• Read and inform yourself of weather conditions that may affect your sport environment.
• Be in shape for your sport.
• Do not participate in your sport if you are physically tired and/or your emotions are not “in check.”
As always, turn to us for your safety related questions, comments and answers. We welcome and look forward to them.
Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control recently released the results of the first-ever government study on the “choking game.” This is a game where children try to asphyxiate (themselves or with a friend’s help) and lose consciousness, and then experience euphoria with the rush of oxygen when they revive. If they regain consciousness, that is.

The CDC found that at least 82 children have been killed since 1995, just playing the game. This is just an approximation, since there are no official records. CDC had to make their estimate by scouring the news reports. The first incident was reported in 1995, and there were less than 3 deaths per year, until 2004.

And then there were more: 22 deaths in 2005, 35 in 2006, and 9 in 2007. The victims were young, ranging from 6 to 19 years old, and came from 31 states. Most kids engaged in this behavior are between ages 9 and 14.

The Web site GASP (Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play on www.stop-the-choking-game.com) estimates even more deaths. Its campaign was started by Sharron Grant of Ontario, Canada, whose 12-year-old son strangled himself in 2005 using a computer cord to play the choking game.

According to the GASP tally, 30 children died in 2004, 74 in 2005, and 101 in 2006; they have tallied 66 deaths for 2007 and 2 so far in 2008.

The choking game has other names: Pass-Out Game, Blackout Game, Fainting Game, Tingling Game, Space Cowboy, California Dreaming, Space Monkey, and, probably the most appropriate, Suffocation Roulette, as suggested by Israeli doctors. It involves children or adolescents trying to cut off circulation by choking, strangling, or suffocating a friend until he/she passes out. Then they release the pressure, which gives a tingling sensation and euphoria that lasts a few seconds as the friend regains consciousness. They may engage in the game, and their parents may be in the next room or in the house unaware of what they’re doing.

The children love the sensation and may get so addicted they begin to play the game alone. They’ll use belts, ties, scarves, ropes, even dog leashes to strangle themselves. This becomes particularly dangerous, since no one is around to help revive them. In the CDC study, 67 of 70 deaths happened when children were playing alone. Almost 90% were boys.

When airflow has been cut off longer than the body can tolerate, the child may suffer brain damage; they may also die, and their deaths may be mistaken for suicides. They may pass out within a minute and die in as little as 2-4 minutes. They’re not trying to kill themselves; they’re normal children and adolescents trying to get high and having some fun.

Even if they don’t die, repeated sessions can lead to permanent disability. A 15-year-old boy in Minnesota was revived but suffered severe brain damage and now looks like he was born with cerebral palsy. Children can also suffer concussions, fractures, and hemorrhaging in the eyes and cornea.

Parents of victims often were not aware of the game, until their children died. Parents should talk to their teens and warn them about the dangers of this game. It is easy to hide, so it pays to be extra vigilant, and watch for:

• Bloodshot eyes
• Suspicious marks on the neck below the ears (they may try to hide the marks with clothing, scarves, etc)
• Frequent headaches, often very painful
• Loss of concentration; disorientation
• Dull noises (thuds) coming from their rooms
• Belts, ropes, scarves, etc., tied to room furniture, doorknobs, or closet poles

Children are playing this game because they think it’s fun. It’s not! It is very dangerous and they need to understand that. Life has no reset button, think safety.

Safe Living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

Taking images to help us remember the most pleasant events is something each of us has done at one time or another. At an earlier time, people would sing about having photographs and memories of significant events in our lives. With the advent of the digital video camera, we now talk about images and memories.

Camera - In-Car Camera - Road Safety Guard - Record Scenery while Traveling

When we go out for some skiing this winter, or just to take in the outdoors or explore the places we visit, you may want to have an in-car camera to shoot the scenery while you’re busy minding the wheel. Everything that’s out there on the road may be safely captured in real-time video with the in-car camera that you can install in minutes (without any special tools). All the images you want will be filed in a secure memory card that can store up to 2Gb of images (equivalent to about 5 hours of recording). A 1Gb memory card can hold 2.5 hours of recording time. You won’t have to worry about power, as it can use 12V DC, by plugging into your car cigarette lighter, or 3 size AAA batteries.

But it is not only scenery and majestic mountains that can be stored here. Winter is a very cruel season for driving, and the road conditions may be quite treacherous. It is good to have a record of driving conditions that you can provide to law enforcement authorities and insurance companies in the event that something untoward happens ─ accidents just come without notice. You can get very disoriented after an accident, and you don’t always remember things before a crash.

The in-car camera, in this case, becomes useful not only for recollection but also for protection. Not physical protection during a crash, but protection of the knowledge of the exact road conditions, the weather, and the traffic that prevailed at the time of a crash. It can also be protection of your financial health afterwards, since you can use the images taken by the in-car camera as evidence in case it’s needed.

The in-car camera can give you some peace of mind and a sense of security that everything on the road as you drive is properly recorded. At the very least, it ensures your nice memories are safe. And when it matters, it ensures you have a back-up to your memory. Life has no reset button, think safety.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

It may be true that your data and other files are the most important part of your laptop, but surely that doesn’t mean you can afford to lose the laptop either. No matter how inexpensive computers become, nobody really wants to buy a second laptop if they can keep their first one, safe. To prevent your computer from getting lost, you may need to spend a little extra time and money to make sure your laptop is safe from thieves — or a fire.

Laptop Burglary Safe Fire Resistant Model HD-20

One effective way to secure your laptop is to put it in a secure room or even a safe, like a Laptop Burglary Safe Fire Resistant. You may want to store your laptop safely when you’re not using it or not traveling with it. A secure room, like a server room, may be a good place for laptops that stay in the office — but then you may not have access to the server room. Or, you may be keeping your laptop at home.

A Laptop Burglary Safe Fire Resistant provides you with an additional level of protection than a secure room, and that is a fire resistant storage container. If you use one, your laptop is not only safe from burglars but is also reasonably protected from fire and smoke damage.

The Laptop Burglar Safe Fire Resistant is spacious enough for your laptop and a few other things, with its interior dimensions of 20 in. wide x 6 3/8 in. high x 12 in. deep. You can add CDs or flash drives. The laptop safe could also be used to store removable hard drives, if you wish.

The Laptop Burglar Safe Fire Resistant has a ¼ in. thick solid steel-plate door. To protect your laptop from scratches and direct contact with metal, the interior is velvet-lined. It gives 30 minutes of fire protection, when directly exposed to fire.

To control access to the safe, there is an electronic keypad for you to program a four- to eight-digit code. In case the situation calls for it, you can use its mechanical key override features. Batteries power the electronic circuits in the laptop burglar safe fire resistant, and you also have an external power override, just in case. There are pre-drilled holes on the safe bottom to secure it in place.

Remember, physical safety is one of the most overlooked aspects of computer security, and yet, it is one of the easiest things to implement. With the Laptop Burglar Safe Fire Resistant option, you can really keep your laptop (and your valuable data) secure. Life has no reset button, think safety.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

The medications that our physicians prescribe for us are meant to promote healing and wellness. How many of us, after receiving a new prescription for a medication, upon arriving home, time permitting, execute an internet search on the medication before taking it? The number of websites that contain medication user experiences, professional advice from physicians (such as WebMD), or the homepage of the medication itself, are immeasurable in number. One only needs to perform a “search” and realize that the number of websites available for finding information/experiences is enormous.

How do we know the reliability and safety of these websites? That is the purpose of this writing; to provide you with this information. Keep in mind, when just “surfing the net”, it is important to be extremely cautious when reading information from the internet about a medication. On the flip side, however, there are many reliable and qualified websites that are offering solid and dependable information about medication (See below).

Our safety responsibility is to educate and here my aim to assist you with discerning between websites which are valid and proficient and those that may not be.

In an extremely thorough and comprehensive report, written by Matthew S. Eastin, out of Ohio State University, dated: July 2001, Mr. Eastin writes:

“Millions of Americans use the Internet as a resource for information, with a large proportion seeking health information. Research indicates that medical professionals do not author an extensive amount of health information available on the Internet. This creates a possibility for false information, thereby potentially leading ill people away from proper care.”

After initiating this reliable and valid (based on the number of participants used, as well as the criteria for the study) research project which involved 125 participants, Mr. Eastin drew the conclusion that:

“While findings did not indicate a significant interaction between source and content type, they did indicate an overall tendency to rate all information as relatively credible. In addition, results indicate that both knowledge of content and source expertise affect perceptions of online health information. The effects of content knowledge and source expertise on perceived credibility are complex and indirect, and no single generalization can encompass their impact.” (For full report please visit: http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol6/issue4/eastin.html#Participants).

Because we are always here for your safety, I have put together a list of websites, which are considered reliable and credible by the Association for Ambulatory Healthcare; a highly respected health care organization recognized as such by the United States Federal Health Organization.

General Health

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
One of 12 agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for all Americans.

American Academy of Pediatrics Health Information
This site also features health and safety-related parenting tips.

American College of Sports Medicine: Public Resources

American Dental Association: Your Oral Health
This site also includes a “Find a Dentist” search engine.

American Medical Association Doctor Finder

American Red Cross

CBS News Healthwatch
Cutting-edge health news articles and interactive tools.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Authoritative site for research and information on a very wide variety of health conditions and public health concerns. A component of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC promotes health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.

Doctors for Adults: Health Information by the American College of Physicians

Familydoctor.org
From the American Academy of Family Physicians, this site features a wide variety of user-friendly tips, tools, and guides related to wellness, diseases and conditions, current events, and medications.

Mayo Clinic
Managed by a team of Mayo medical experts, this site provides useful and up-to-date tools and information to empower people to manage their own health.

Medline Plus
Trusted health information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Available in English or Spanish.

Merck Manual of Medical Information Home Edition
Uses everyday language to explain disorders and diseases, symptoms, diagnosis and prognosis, and prevention.

Quackwatch
Distinguish fraudulent or unsubstantiated claims from reliable health information.

RxAssist
A comprehensive directory of patient assistance programs to find free or low-cost medication.

Rx List Internet Drug Index

Student Resources (student health insurance)
Affordable health, prescription drug, vision, and dental insurance for college students. This site also provides basic information about health insurance and Student Health Zone, a directory of online health information for college students.

Web MD

World Health Organization (WHO)
The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO’s objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO’s Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Mental Health

American Psychological Association Help Center

Healthy Minds
Mental Health Information from the American Psychiatric Association.

National Institute of Mental Health
Detailed mental health information, research, and breaking news from the mental health branch of the National Institute of Health.

The websites above are: Accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC) © 2007 University Systems Health Services.  

Do you have any experience–positive or negative–involving medication and the internet? We not only welcome but encourage your comments. Since life has no reset button…tune into this blog and to our website daily.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford