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Burns - External News
Firefighters Exposed to Carcinogens Through the Skin
Posted 1 day 7 hours ago by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 18, 2017 – Firefighters face many known hazards on the job, but one area that hasn't been well researched is how their skin's exposure to hazardous chemicals might increase their risk of cancer. It has long been known that firefighters have higher rates of several types of cancer than people in the general population. In a new study, researchers at the University of Ottawa examined firefighters' exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in smoke from fires. PAHs can cause genetic mutations and are known carcinogens. They are one of the hazardous substances released into the air when wood, plastics, furniture, electronics or building materials burn. The researchers collected urine samples from – and also wiped the skin and clothing of – more than two dozen Canadian firefighters before and after they responded to fires in 2015 and 2016. On average, the levels ... Read more
Related support groups: Cancer, Burns - External, Diagnosis and Investigation
Health Tip: Suggestions for a Healthy Halloween
Posted 10 days ago by Drugs.com
-- Children look forward to Halloween more than many other holidays, but the occasion doesn't come without potential dangers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests how to keep your family safer on Halloween: Store-bought costumes should be labeled "flame-resistant." If you make your own costume, use flame-resistant fabrics, such as polyester or nylon. Kids should wear bright, reflective costumes. Or add strips of reflective tape, so they'll be more visible. Children should always use a flashlight for better visibility. Kids should wear makeup and hats rather than masks that can obscure vision. Test the makeup first to see if it causes an allergic reaction. Children should never wear decorative contact lenses. Carefully inspect all candy. Check for allergens before allowing your child to eat any treats. Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns
Health Tip: Keep Kids Safe From Fire and Heat
Posted 27 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
-- It's important to teach children from a young age the danger of fire. By setting clear and concise fire-safety rules, you will decrease the likelihood of dangerous burns. TheU.S. Fire Administration offers these suggestions: Keep children at least three feet away from anything hot, such as candles,space heaters and stovetops. Keep smoking materials locked up in an out-of-reach place, Never leave cigarette lighters or matches where children can reach them. Never play with lighters or matches when you are with children. Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns
Health Tip: Stay Safe During a Lightning Storm
Posted 1 Sep 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Thunder and lightning storms are a fixture of summer's heat and humidity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests how to stay safe when lightning is near: As soon as you hear thunder, go inside, preferably in a safe building. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. If you cannot find shelter, remain as low to the ground in a crouching position with as little of your body touching the ground as possible. Do not go near water during a thunderstorm, because lightning can travel through plumbing. Do not use electronic equipment, because lightning can travel through electrical systems. Corded phones should not be used during a thunderstorm, but cordless or cellular phones are safe. Avoid direct contact with concrete floors and walls, because lightning can travel through metal wires or girders embedded in ... Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External
Health Tip: Seek Safety From Lightning
Posted 5 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
-- If you're caught outside during a thunderstorm, go inside immediately. If that's not possible, the National Weather Service suggests: Stay away from open fields, hilltops and ridge tops. Avoid tall objects, including single trees. In the woods, gather near a group of low trees. If you are with several people, stand apart to avoid the possibility of sharing lightning current. If you're camping, choose a low area. But remember that a tent offers no protection from lightning. Avoid anything that's wet. Also steer clear of metal objects, including fences and poles. Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns
Eye Docs Debunk 5 Fireworks Myths
Posted 2 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
SUNDAY, July 2, 2017 – Firecrackers, sparklers and bottle rockets may seem harmless enough, but there's really no such thing as safe fireworks for consumers, eye doctors warn. Each year, about 10,000 fireworks-related injuries are treated at U.S. emergency departments. Most of those cases involve children, including many who suffer eye injuries, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Most of the injuries are caused by legal fireworks that parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers and Roman candles, according to the AAO. The group debunks five top fireworks myths. Myth 1. Sparklers are safe for young children. False. Sparklers burn at 1,800 degrees – that's hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers are responsible for most fireworks-related injuries among children age 5 and younger. Myth 2. It's safe to watch nearby fireworks if you don't light ... Read more
Related support groups: Eye Conditions, Burns - External, Visual Defect/Disturbance
Summer Fun Is Not Without Hazards
Posted 16 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 – Preventable deaths spike during the summer in the United States. But, following some simple safety measures can reduce accidents, the National Safety Council says. "Someone dies every 4 minutes because of something we know how to prevent," said Deborah Hersman, president and CEO of the public service organization. In 2015, there were more than 146,500 preventable deaths in the United States from causes such as drowning, poisoning, traffic crashes, choking and fires. That was a 7 percent increase from 2014, according to the safety council. The rate of preventable deaths has increased after years of decline, largely due to the current prescription opioid abuse crisis and a rise in motor vehicle deaths. Summer is the time of greatest risk. Between 2011 and 2015, preventable deaths during the months of July and August exceeded 117,000, the council said. June is ... Read more
Related support groups: Fracture, bone, Sunburn, Poisoning, Burns - External, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse, Acetaminophen Overdose, Prevention of Fractures
Fire Up the Grill Safely This Holiday Weekend
Posted 28 May 2017 by Drugs.com
SATURDAY, May 27, 2017 – Safety should be on the front burner when you fire up the barbecue this Memorial Day, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says. Propane used in gas grills is highly flammable and about 30 people in the United States are injured each year due to gas grill fires and explosions. Many of these incidents occur when someone lights a grill that hasn't been used in a while, or just after refilling and reattaching the gas container. The CPSC said people should routinely perform a number of safety checks. Check the tubes that lead into the burner for blockages from insects or food grease. Use a pipe cleaner or wire to clear a blockage and push it through to the main part of the burner. Inspect gas hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks, and make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing. Keep gas hoses as far away as possible from hot ... Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns
Health Tip: Keep Newborns Safer
Posted 24 May 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Hundreds of babies die every year from accidents that are completely preventable. What can parents do to prevent a tragedy? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends: Whenever baby travels with you, always securely strap the infant into an appropriate car seat. The device should always be in the back seat and face toward the rear. Prevent falls by making sure baby is never left alone on any elevated surface. Secure stairs and other unsafe areas with a baby gate. Prevent burns by adjusting the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Never hold a hot beverage while carrying baby. Prevent choking by carefully cutting up food into small pieces. Avoid giving baby foods that pose a choking hazard, such as hot dogs, grapes, carrots, popcorn, peanuts or apples. Make sure baby cannot reach small items that may cause choking. Do not put blankets, pillows ... Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns, Prevention of Falls
More Climate-Fueled Wildfires May Lie Ahead
Posted 13 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2017 – Climate change will fuel extreme wildfires across the globe in coming decades, including the western United States, scientists predict. Researchers in the United States and Tasmania analyzed data from nearly 500 extreme wildfires that occurred around the world between 2002 and 2013. "Almost all happened under bad conditions – high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds – which tell us that weather and climate are very important," said study author Mark Cochrane. He's a senior scientist at South Dakota State University's Geospatial Sciences Center of Excellence. The scientists then used monthly world weather data from 2000 to 2014 to predict likely changes in fire behavior between 2041 and 2070. The study authors concluded there would be a 20 percent to 50 percent increase in the number of days when conditions are prime for fires. "Those conditions ... Read more
Related support groups: Dehydration, Burns - External
Cats Absorb Flame Retardants -- Likely That Children Do Too
Posted 5 Apr 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, April 4, 2017 – House cats can have high levels of flame-retardant chemicals in their blood, say researchers, warning that young children might, too. The contaminants were in house dust, according to Swedish researchers who took dust samples from 17 homes and blood samples from the resident cats. "The brominated flame retardants that have been measured in cats are known [hormone] disruptors," said study author Jana Weiss. She's with Stockholm University's department of environmental science and analytical chemistry. "It's particularly serious when small children ingest these [flame-retardant chemicals], because exposure during development could have consequences later in life, such as thyroid disease," Weiss said in a university news release. The fire-inhibiting chemicals are found in textiles, electronics and furniture. They eventually become dust and pose a health hazard, ... Read more
Related support groups: Poisoning, Burns - External, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse, Minor Burns
FDA Throws Cold Water on Whole Body Cryotherapy
Posted 3 Mar 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, March 3, 2017 – There's no evidence that a growing trend called whole body cryotherapy is effective, but it does pose a number of risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. In whole body cryotherapy, people are placed in an enclosed space and exposed to vapors that reach ultra-low temperatures ranging from minus 200 to minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit, typically for two to four minutes. Many spas and wellness centers claim that whole body cryotherapy can treat diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer's, fibromyalgia, migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stress, anxiety or chronic pain. "Based on purported health benefits seen in many promotions for cryotherapy spas, consumers may incorrectly believe that the FDA has cleared or approved [whole body cryotherapy] devices as safe and effective to treat medical conditions. That is not the case," Dr. Aron ... Read more
Related support groups: Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress, Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer's Disease, Burns - External
Health Tip: Babysitter Safety
Posted 24 Feb 2017 by Drugs.com
-- Before letting a babysitter stay with your child, make sure the sitter knows the answers to a few basic safety questions. The University of Michigan Health System suggests discussing: The sitter's knowledge of CPR and first aid. The need to put babies to sleep on the back, with no blankets, pillows or toys in the crib. How to soothe a crying baby, and the dangers of shaking a baby. Choking hazards and food allergies. Never giving the child medication, unless specifically shown how by parents. Household safety, such as locking doors and turning on exterior lights, never letting anyone into the home, and knowing when to call the police or an ambulance. Never leaving a child alone in the bathtub, even for a moment. Fire-safety guidelines, including having several routes for leaving the home. Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns, Labor and Delivery including Augmentation, Prevention of Fractures
Health Tip: Soothing a Minor Burn
Posted 23 Feb 2017 by Drugs.com
-- While severe burns require a doctor's care, most minor burns can be carefully treated at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these suggestions: Hold the burned area under cold running water for about five minutes to ease pain and swelling. Never ice or rub a burn, and never pop a blister that forms from a burn. Cover the area with a clean bandage that won't stick to the burn. Gently wash the area regularly with water and soap. Skip ointments unless recommended by your doctor. Avoid butter, grease and other home remedies. Read more
Related support groups: Sunburn, Burns - External, Minor Burns, Minor Skin Irritation, Minor Skin Conditions
Health Tip: Fire Safety in the Kitchen
Posted 6 Feb 2017 by Drugs.com
-- There are a few things you should keep in mind any time you are using the kitchen stove. The American Red Cross suggests these fire safety guidelines: Never leave food cooking on the stove unattended. Turn the stove off if you must leave the room. Check on food often while cooking, and set a timer to remind you. Don't wear clothing with long or loose sleeves. Keep oven mitts, towels and other flammable objects away from the stove. Make sure children stay at least three feet from the stove. Keep kitchen surfaces clean, and get rid of any grease buildup immediately. Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen and install a smoke alarm in the room. Before going to bed or leaving the home, check the kitchen to make sure all appliances are turned off. Read more
Related support groups: Burns - External, Minor Burns, Burns, Nitrogen Retention
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