January 18th, 2012
For most of his life, Brandon Fisher refused to deal with his disability. He thought of it as a nuisance and wanted nothing to do with it. Growing up, Brandon felt like an outcast. He felt awkward because he walked differently, and so he rarely interacted with his classmates. Eventually, however, he desperately wanted to prove he was no different from his peers.
Living with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is not a single disorder, but a group of neurological disorders that cause difficulty with movement and coordination. The condition can result from damage to a developing brain or from congenital defects. These problems typically happen when a baby is in the womb. They can also appear during the first two years of a child’s life when the brain is still maturing. A common cause of cerebral palsy is an insufficient level of oxygen in the brain, which can occur when mistakes are made during childbirth. Unfortunately, some cases of cerebral palsy have no clear cause.
Along with the symptoms and pain caused by the disorder, many also suffer from depression. Children with cerebral palsy face ridicule and bullying at school, which makes them feel alone. They are also frustrated when faced with reminders that they cannot do the same physical activities as their peers. When Brandon Fisher faced these challenges, he began to engage in risky behavior such as biking down a steep incline only to crash into a wall, just to fit in.
Finding Hope
Now 27, Brandon has opened up. Read the rest of this entry »
January 16th, 2012
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, poisoning has become the leading cause of injury death.
- In 2008, more than 41,000 people died from poisoning in the U.S.
- Almost 90 percent of poisoning deaths (36,500 fatalities) were caused by drugs.
- Most drug-related deaths are caused by illegal drugs, such as crack cocaine and methamphetamine, but more than 40 percent of all drug fatalities in 2008 involved prescription opioid analgesics.
Opioid Analgesics
Analgesics are painkillers, and opioids include the prescription medications OxyContin, Percocet, oxycodone, Vicodin and others. They treat pain by preventing certain nerve signals from reaching the brain. Unfortunately for many, opioids also change the way the brain processes the nerve signals that do get through. These nerve signals create a strong, addictive sense of euphoria. An opioid can also cause an overwhelming psychological compulsion to use the drug. People who develop this addiction often take the drug in higher and higher dosages, administer it in alternative and dangerous ways or use it in combination with other substances. These behaviors often cause poisoning and death.
Without medical precautions, patients can easily become physically dependent on these medicines. Read the rest of this entry »
January 14th, 2012
Businessweek reported that Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is under investigation for failing to report a toy defect. The company allegedly took almost two years to confirm reports of poorly constructed toys and remove the products from the shelves. Although the first report came to Build-A-Bear Workshop’s attention in July 2007, the company did not report the injuries to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or recall the item until March 2009. The government requires all manufacturers, distributors and stores to report defective products that may cause injury or death to consumers within 24 hours after they obtain enough information to support the claim. At the same time, the company is facing several newer recalls.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Must Pay $600,000 Penalty
Due to the allegations that Build-A-Bear Workshop failed to report the risk of injuries in a timely manner, the company must pay a civil penalty of $600,000. The toy in question is a beach chair sold in stores and online from March 2001 and October 2008. The chair is allegedly fitted with sharp edges on the wooden frame. There is a serious risk for pinching of fingers, laceration and even amputation if a child’s small finger is caught as the chair folds. The company eventually recalled roughly 260,000 chairs. Build-A-Bear Workshop maintains it was not aware of any injuries until more than 200,000 units of the product had already been sold, mainly during late 2008 and early 2009.
Build-A-Bear Workshop Issues Three Recalls in 2011
Earlier in 2011, Build-A-Bear Workshop recalled an inflatable inner tube that poses a strangulation risk if children pull it over their heads. Read the rest of this entry »
January 13th, 2012
Traumatic brain injury, often called TBI by medical professionals, can occur when a blow to the head causes damage to the brain. Millions of people suffer brain injuries in the U.S. each year, and nearly half of them are serious enough to require hospitalization.
According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 50 percent of all TBIs are the result of automobile accidents. Military personnel exposed to concussive forces are also at risk, and TBIs are associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. Victims of violent assault often suffer head injuries that result in TBI. Contact sports, such as football or boxing, can result in TBIs. Although some injuries are obvious and require immediate medical intervention, many brain injuries do not cause symptoms until days or even weeks after an incident.
People who suffer TBIs may experience anything from a change in physical sensation to extreme emotions. Movement and coordination, the ability to express thoughts with language, and even the way a person thinks can be affected. TBI patients often need lengthy rehabilitative therapy.
Luckily, there are many organizations, such as those mentioned below, which work together to do research and provide ongoing education into TBIs so that the medical community can increase the success rate of treatments.
The JHTR and COMBI Collaboration
The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), in an ongoing effort to increase health care access and treatment potential for TBI patients, has created a national network of medical professionals, research centers, advocacy councils and support groups. Read the rest of this entry »
January 12th, 2012
According to a report in the online publication, Daytona Beach News-Journal, from Thursday, December 30 to Friday, December 31, 2011, Interstate 95 in Port Orange, Florida was closed for roughly 21 hours. A four-vehicle accident, which claimed the life of one driver and injured five others, was the cause of the shutdown of the state’s major highway. Because of the crash, methyl bromide, a toxic chemical, was released into the air and residents in nearby neighborhoods and surrounding areas were warned of potentially hazardous fumes.
Logger Loses Control
The driver of a logging truck lost control of his vehicle and overturned, subsequently releasing his load of logs onto the highway and starting a chain reaction. A 16-year-old female driver smashed her vehicle into the logs head-on, and a rig carrying two trailers of methyl bromide hit the logging truck. The driver of the rig died in the crash.
After the collision, the chemical-carrying trailers burst into flames, catching the logging truck on fire in the process. Some of the canisters hauled on the trailers ruptured with such loud force that residents reported hearing the explosion from miles away. Because of the explosion, methyl bromide, an extremely hazardous toxic chemical that poses significant, and sometimes fatal, health problems, was released. Read the rest of this entry »
