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The compliance date for the Hours of Service Final Rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) goes into effect on July 1, 2013. With new guidelines for commercial driving time and rest breaks, the final rule is poised to create safer roadways for both truckers and commuters. Trucking Safety Then and Now Before the final rule was announced by FMCSA on December 22, 2011, commercial truck drivers were allowed to work up to…

Advancements in medicine have led to some miraculous discoveries and treatments, but even the latest technology can have devastating side effects. In a recent medical malpractice case involving robotic-assisted surgery, a 65-year-old male patient experienced a tragic outcome. Robotic Procedures for Prostate Cancer Laparoscopic prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) is a common treatment for prostate cancer, and the da Vinci prostatectomy is one of the latest procedures being offered to these patients. Its…

By the numbers 7,630 Fatalities – An estimated 7,630 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes during the first three months of 2012, a 13.2 percent increase over the first quarter of 2011. This reverses a historic downward trend in fatalities during the past several years. Source: Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities, First Quarter 2012 (download), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   1.7 Million – More than 1.7 million people participate annually –…

Keeping a level head after a motor vehicle accident isn’t easy, especially if there are injuries involved. First priority: make sure that help is on the way for anyone who needs medical attention. Then take steps to protect your interests. Learn what to do if you are involved in a road crash. Protect Your Interests First 10 Minutes, First 10 Hours After a Road Accident: The key to keeping it together after a crash is…

Human health and food safety compromised despite laws As Americans we want to trust the federal agencies that are designed to protect us, such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is charged with developing and enforcing food safety laws across the country. But what happens when these organizations are the ones breaking the very laws they established? Feeling violated In a May 2013 audit from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the…

Study into Auto Accidents Could be Clue to Best Decisions for Illinois. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has yet to approve the bill to raise the Illinois speed limit on non-urban interstate highways from 65 mph to 70 mph. But some motorists may already be concerned that an Illinois speed limit increase could be the harbinger of more auto accidents and fatalities. It’s a Numbers Thing Whenever new legislation is proposed, it’s typical for people to…

Map Shows State-by-State Licensing Information The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education features an interactive map that shows state licensing and regulation information for child care. Is Your Day Care Provider Accredited? Find Out Accredited providers have met child care standards higher than most state licensing requirements. Look up providers through the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Association for Family Child Care,…

By the numbers 38 States Report – Just 38 states require licensed child care providers to report fatalities to state officials. Child care centers in 12 states and home-based providers in 11 states are not required to report fatalities. There is also no federal reporting requirement. Source: Why Aren’t We Outraged? Children Dying in Child Care Across America, Child Care Aware of America 4:1 Staffing Ratio – National standards recommend that there be one care…

Finding affordable and safe day care has become a major challenge for working parents. Recent studies show that child care now exceeds the annual median rent in almost half of all states, straining already tight budgets to the breaking point. But money means nothing if little Johnny or Judy doesn’t come home safely at day’s end. Serious inconsistencies in licensing, enforcement and training have created dangerous situations where thousands of kids are injured each year…