Thanks for using me properly. Misusing glue sticks by inhaling their fumes poses a real danger to kids. Photo by Anastacia Haddon
A recently released study shows a disturbing number of 12-year-olds are inhaling toxic substances, or huffing, to achieve a high. Commissioned by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and based on a 2006-2008 national survey, the study pointed to a rate 6.9 percent rate of lifetime inhalant use among the young demographic.
Huffing is hard to prevent because the substances that are used for it can easily be found in a house. Among them are: refrigerant from air conditioning units, aerosol computer cleaners, shoe polish, glue, air fresheners, hair sprays, nail polish, paint solvents, degreasers, gasoline and lighter fluids.
Inhaling these substances can lead to heart attack, addiction and other health problems. Huffing is a problem that health officials say needs to be addressed before it increases. Read the article at the Washington Post.
A seven-year-old California boy did exactly what he was supposed to do in an emergency and called 911—it was enough to scare off three gunmen who had broken into his house and tied up his parents. The quick-thinking boy, named Carlos, is being called a hero in his hometown and around the nation.
He spoke briefly at a press conference with Monique Patino, the dispatcher who took his call. Both will receive the 911 for Kids medal of honor next month. Watch the video below courtesy of the Associated Press.
Carlos explained how, during the break in, he locked himself in the bathroom with his younger sister and dialed 911. The would-be robbers forced their way into the room only to discover the call had already been made to the police. The three men fled the scene without harming the family, and while no arrests have been made in the case, officers say they have good leads thanks in large part to Carlos.
Wearing used clothing isn’t a new phenomenon, but Life360’s green reviewer Steffany Boldrini wants to introduce you to Stay Vocal, a company with a novel idea about reusing t-shirts. Stay Vocal rescues unwanted shirts—which would otherwise be thrown away—from large corporations, turns them inside out and rebrands them with a limited edition design. Read More
Another runaway Toyota Prius was reported yesterday. A 56-year-old driver was injured while driving her 2005 Prius in New York. The accident was blamed on the sticky accelerator pedal that has the Japanese automaker under fire. So what should Toyota owners do? Read More
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing a safety warning about baby slings, the popular baby carriers that parents can strap around their chest. The concern is that infants can suffocate, and there have already been several instances.
According to CPSC head Inez Tenenbaum, “We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies. So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers.”
Concerns about baby slings were raised as early as 2008, when Consumer Reports experienced two dozen serious injuries when children fell out of the soft fabric slings. Though the baby slings are both fashionable, and advertised as an important way for new moms to bond with their babies, it’s clear that the safety risks aren’t worth it.
Yesterday, we talked about how women who drink alcohol regularly were more likely to lose weight. Well, a new study suggests that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of having Type 2 diabetes. But not just any coffee drinkers — those who have their cup of joe at lunch time.
Two cups of coffee seems to be the magic number, as women who drank two cups were 33% less likely to develop diabetes, yet women who drank three cups in a day were only 27% less likely. There was no difference between those who drank caffeinated or decaf coffee. The researchers weren’t sure if there was a difference between those who took their coffee black or with cream/milk.
This week, the Archives of Internal Medicine published a study that divided women aged 39 and older into drinkers (light or regular drinkers) and nondrinkers and tracked their weight gain. Surprisingly, nondrinkers gained more weight — an average of nine pounds instead of three. Hey, that’s pretty good news for those who enjoy the occasionally glass of wine.
Too bad that trend didn’t carry over for men. Male drinkers gained more weight than nondrinkers, leading researchers to believe that men and women may process alcohol differently. But perhaps it has to do with varying trends in the amount men and women drink.
Obviously, the take away here isn’t that women 39 and older should drink until they drop a few pounds. But hey, I’ve heard worse excuses to drink. Prost!
Obesity is a growing danger among U.S. children (no pun intended), but how early can parents help prevent their children from becoming overweight? As a Los Angeles Times article suggests, parents should make an effort to prevent childhood obesity as early as, well, before the baby is born.
Today, one of every three U.S. children is overweight — but it’s much easier to prevent obesity than to treat it. That’s why pediatric obesity experts now say intervention should begin early — very early. The risk of becoming overweight or obese, it increasingly seems, begins before a child is born, establishes roots in infancy and may be entrenched by the time a tot starts kindergarten.
The age-old rite of passage, spring break, is right around the corner and college kids across the country are starting to plan trips that are usually filled with an abundance of sun, alcohol, and sex. For many young girls, this is their first trip away from Mom and Dad’s watchful eye and a chance to cut loose. While most will return from these trips with merely some great stories to tell their friends, the sad reality is that some will make some regrettable choices and even put themselves in dangerous situations. Read More
You may or may not find this chart comparing the levels of caffeine in various drinks surprising, but it’s good to know that coffee lovers are the supreme caffeine addicts. (And maybe coffee lovers like knowing that brewed coffee has way more caffeine than an Americano?) Of course, the serving sizes for each beverage varies. The full breakdown at Wisebread.
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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing a safety warning about baby slings, the popular baby carriers that parents can strap around their chest. The concern is that infants can suffocate, and there have already been several instances.
Yesterday, we talked about how women who drink alcohol regularly were 
Obesity is a growing danger among U.S. children (no pun intended), but how early can parents help prevent their children from becoming overweight? As a Los Angeles Times article suggests, parents should make an effort to prevent childhood obesity as early as, well, before the baby is born.
The age-old rite of passage, spring break, is right around the corner and college kids across the country are starting to plan trips that are usually filled with an abundance of sun, alcohol, and sex. For many young girls, this is their first trip away from Mom and Dad’s watchful eye and a chance to cut loose. While most will return from these trips with merely some great stories to tell their friends, the sad reality is that some will make some regrettable choices and even put themselves in dangerous situations.
