The weather many of us have waited for—boating weather—has finally arrived. And with it arrives the risks of that most pleasurable of pastimes on the water. But how many of us think about anything beyond the excitement of getting our craft back out? Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 21 to 27, is meant […]
Those who work with electricity generally develop a healthy respect for its power and dangers; those who don’t often don’t live to tell the tale. But we can all use reminders now and then. National Electrical Safety Month, held in May and sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), is a good time to […]
Trees are both useful and beautiful. They serve as wind breaks, give us welcome shade on a hot day, provide oxygen by consuming carbon dioxide, and improve the value of our property. We celebrate Arbor Day, which encourages Americans to plant and care for trees, on April 29 in 2016. Trees do need care and […]
It’s no secret why Window Safety Week happens in early April; this year it’s April 3-9. When “spring has sprung” after a long winter, we itch to throw open the windows and invite the fresh air inside. It’s also a time when homeowners and businesses alike become aware of dirty windows and long for a […]
For the second time in two years, a state legislature task force has recommended that the Maryland legislature create a no-fault birth injury fund. The most recent endorsement occurred in December, 2015. Unlike the previous year, this time the task force included both insurance and legal representatives. The proposed fund, which would be similar to […]
High-tech improvements to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 5-Star Safety Ratings for new vehicles are on the way. The changes are supposed to give all of us better information we can use when buying a new car. One of the stated goals of publishing such information is to encourage manufacturers to continue creating […]
You might know the following scenario: it’s cold outside and getting colder. Sitting around watching TV or simply relaxing with your family is making you shiver, and you don’t have a fireplace. Raising the thermostat setting for the entire house is expensive, so you turn to your portable heater. When the warm air shoots out, […]
Winter has its own special set of challenges. One of many is walking safely when you suspect ice might be underfoot. It’s not always possible to spot the stuff, as anyone who has ever skidded on “black ice” can readily attest. Ice can cause serious falls, resulting in broken bones and nasty gashes, and even […]
A new study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has determined that active natural gas wells in Pennsylvania employing fracking technologies put expectant mothers at a significantly higher risk of premature birth and of generally having high-risk pregnancies. The research findings were published online at the end of September, 2015, in the […]
Delivery truck drivers for parcel delivery companies such as UPS, FedEx and USPS log millions of miles a year, especailly during the traditional holiday season, and often under conditions of extreme time pressure. Although these drivers are trained before they are sent out on the road, delivery truck accidents are all too common nevertheless. If […]