New Year’s Eve has come and gone, but people still find reasons to party. Maybe they are celebrating a late holiday party, a new promotion or a graduation. Whatever the occasion, people often couple their celebrations with alcohol.
Understanding birth injuries
The possibility of your child becoming injured during birth is something you may not wish to think about, but the unfortunate fact is that it does happen. The Birth Injury Guide says that six to eight of every 1,000 babies are born with a birth injury. This article will take a look at a few common questions people have about birth injuries in order to best understand them.
Don’t overlook the symptoms of trauma to the brain
Just because no injuries are visible after a car crash doesn’t mean that you are fine. In fact, you could have sustained a catastrophic injury without even knowing it. Two of the most dangerous injuries that can go overlooked relate to your brain. Undiagnosed or delayed diagnoses of strokes and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are two that can have severe repercussions, including lifelong brain damage and even death.
By educating yourself on the symptoms you may be able to prevent any damage from worsening. Here are some indicators that your brain is crying for help after a crash.
Pedestrian killed after being struck by self-driving car
Autonomous cars have been hailed as the transportation of the future. The companies behind the technology claim that the vehicles will revolutionize travel and lead to safer roads.
Unfortunately an incident last week proved that the technology is not foolproof.
Vehicle infotainment systems still a danger to safe driving
If you drive a vehicle manufactured after 2016, you might enjoy some of the perks of a modern In-Vehicle Information System (IVIS), such as hands-free commands, GPS, side and rear cameras, navigation and mapping, a Bluetooth connection and streaming services for music, audiobooks, and more.
Recent research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) reports that while hands-free interactions with an IVIS can help drivers stay focused on the task of driving, the intensive visual and cognitive requirements of modern IVIS systems still have a negative impact on driver safety.
After Birth, The Danger Isn't Over
Pregnant women may anticipate being out of the woods once they deliver a child, but this isn't always the case. And in too many circumstances, medical providers may not recognize the risks these women face until it's too late. Post-delivery complications like preeclampsia (yes, it can occur after delivery, too), hemorrhage and infection occur regularly in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. now has the highest maternal mortality rate of all the world's wealthiest countries. Many of these injuries and deaths are preventable. So why are they happening in the first place?
Lack of protocol, lack of resources
What happens when your spinal cord is injured in an accident?
Spinal cord injuries can occur when you are involved in a car crash. These injuries are very serious and require emergency medical care that can be extensive.
Depending on the severity of the spinal cord injury, there is a chance that you will have to live with the effects of the injury for the rest of your life. If you have a spinal cord injury, think about the ways that this can impact the way you live and your finances.
How a microwave helmet could lead to better brain injury outcomes
Motor vehicle accidents are the third leading cause of all cases resulting in traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Some brain injuries result in hematoma, which is a pooling of blood outside the blood vessels that clots and leads to tissue damage. When a hematoma occurs in the brain, it can cause damage to the brain, and may even lead to death. To prevent the dire consequences that can result from a brain hematoma, surgery may be required to release pressure on the brain.
First responders can save lives and improve outcomes by knowing which hospitals offer the appropriate neurological services - including surgery if needed -- and calling ahead for trauma teams to be ready and waiting to perform tests that examine the structure and function of the brain for injury. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell right away whether a person has a hematoma after a brain injury. But an instrument normally used to detect strokes may be useful for determining whether a TBI patient has a hematoma and therefore needs to be transported to a hospital with the capacity to perform surgery.
GETTING THE MESSAGE ABOUT TEXTING AND DRIVING IN PENNSYLVANIA
Today, it's more common to see a cellphone in the hands of a teenager than not. But it isn't just teens who enjoy the fun and usefulness of cellphones and smart phones; adults of all ages take advantage of the opportunity to get connected with family, friends and associates at any time they wish with modern phone technology. While amazing, these phones can also be deadly if used at the wrong time. For this reason, texting and driving has been banned in the state, says the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
MEDICAL MISTAKES CAN BE CAUSED BY A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM
It's often taken for granted that patients get adequate medical care when they visit the hospital, especially for a serious injury or illness. However, this is not often the case. Medical errors are more common in hospitals and doctor's offices in Pennsylvania and across the country than people may think, accounting for up to 440,000 patient deaths a year from preventable medical mistakes.
