January is New York’s Most Dangerous Month for Home Fires
Home fires caused by heating equipment escalate considerably in January, making the first month of the year the most dangerous in terms of house fires and serious burn injuries caused by home heating elements, according to the United States Fire Administration (USFA).
While hidden defects in home heating equipment can cause harm, so can using equipment that is not installed or maintained properly. The USFA recommends that New York families take several steps to reduce the risk of fire and burn injuries during the chilly winter months.
Protect Yourself from Burn Injuries in Tanning Beds: Know the Risks
Indoor tanning often comes with warnings about its risks. Just like tanning under natural sunlight, indoor tanning exposes the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is known to increases the chances of skin cancer and other disorders. However, fewer tanning salons warn customers of the risk of an equally serious problem: severe burns and eye damage caused by overexposure to tanning beds.
According to a recent study cited by WebMD, about 3,200 people seek emergency room treatment each year after being injured in a tanning bed. Eighty percent of the injuries suffered are first- or second-degree burns to the skin or eyes. People with light skin tones were more likely to suffer burns than those with darker skin, and young adults ages 18 to 24 were more likely to be injured than older adults, the study found.
Four Ways to Keep Elderly Loved Ones Safe from Burn Injuries
Fire, burn, and scald injuries can harm all Americans, regardless of age – but statistics show that elderly people are more likely to die in a fire than their younger family members. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), in 2010, adults age 65 and older made up 35 percent of all deaths in fires, even though they represent only 13 percent of the population as a whole.
This holiday season, give your elderly loved ones the gift of greater safety and peace of mind by helping them reduce their risk of fire and burn injuries. Here’s how:
Travel Safely This Holiday Season! Here’s How
This holiday season, the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimates that over 46 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles by car. Millions of others will board trains, planes or buses in order to reach their holiday destinations.
If you’re traveling this holiday season, you can help reduce your risk of injury or illness by keeping a few basic safety tips in mind:
- If your seat has a seat belt, use it! During the Thanksgiving holiday in 2012, 60 percent of people killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt at the time even though one was available, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. If you’re driving, require your passengers to buckle up, and double-check children’s car seats to make sure they are correctly installed.
Safer Holiday Decorating Can Reduce Burn Injury Risks
Families throughout New York decorate their homes and offices for the winter holidays. Whether you’re preparing for Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holiday event, paying attention to the details as you decorate can help you prevent serious burn injuries.
Here are some tips for safer holiday decorating, courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
- Check for “credentials.” Many holiday decorations meant to support electric lights or candles, like artificial trees, wreaths and candleholders, will be labeled if they are made of fire-retardant or fire-resistant materials. Avoid items that are not labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant, as these can catch on fire more quickly and may cause burns.
1 World Trade Center Scaffold Malfunction Leaves Window Washers Hanging
Two veteran window washers were left dangling precariously outside the 68th floor of 1 World Trade Center recently when the scaffold rigging malfunctioned. Crowds and television crews gathered on the street nearly 827 feet below to watch as the FDNY worked to rescue the two men.
The window washers began the work day as usual – with a series of standard safety checks -before descending to the 43rd floor. With several years of experience working on New York’s skyscrapers between them, the men did not panic when the rigging became stuck as they reached the 68th floor later in the day. In a matter of minutes, the scaffold went from horizontal to almost entirely vertical.
Three Ways to Prevent Burn Injuries during Holiday Cooking
The winter holidays will soon be here, and families throughout New York will be enjoying the season by gathering with family and friends to enjoy tasty holiday treats. Cooking on a hot stovetop always increases the risks of burn or scald injuries, but you can take several steps to help reduce this risk for yourself and those you love.
Here are three ways that experienced New York burn injury lawyers help their families and friends avoid burn and scald injuries while cooking:
Keep Halloween Happy With These Safety Tips
Halloween is a favorite holiday for many kids and adults. Dressing up in costumes, staying up after dark and going trick or treating all raise holiday excitement. However, without the proper safety steps in mind, Halloween can easily turn from a real treat to a nasty trick.
The experienced New York injury lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP encourage you and your family to have a fun holiday season that includes these safety steps:
Study Finds Google Glass Doesn’t Make Driving Safer
Does Google Glass make texting while driving safer? Probably not, according to a recent study conducted at the University of Central Florida.
The study placed drivers in a driving simulator to test their ability to send messages using Google Glass, their own smartphones or an unfamiliar smartphone. During each test, drivers were asked to send text messages on the device they were given. As they texted, the simulator showed a car slamming on its brakes ahead of their own.
Study Finds that Girls May Experience Concussion Differently than Boys
Parents, teachers, and coaches whose student-athletes have suffered a concussion know that the symptoms can linger for weeks or months after the initial injury. But a new study suggests that the symptoms girls face after a concussion can be very different from the symptoms boys face.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, followed over 9,000 Ontario teenagers who had suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Researchers asked the teens to describe their behavior and moods after the concussion occurred.