Massachusetts Teen Convicted of Homicide in Texting While Driving Case Massachusetts courts are cracking down on texting, as illustrated in a recent texting while driving case. A young man was involved in a tragic car accident that resulted in the death of a 55-year-old father of three. The teen claims he was distracted by concerns about his homework and tired from his dishwashing job when he veered out of his lane and crashed head on into the man's truck. Prosecutors tell a different tale. Instead, they claim the teen was texting prior to the crash, which caused ...

OSHA Instructs Employers To Train Workers To Avoid Needless Workplace Deaths Workers have a right to trust their employers not to put them in harm's way. Unfortunately, not all employers deserve this trust. A recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found some employers are not properly training employees to prevent "needless and avoidable loss of life." OSHA recently doled out multiple citations to Tribe Mediterranean Foods, asserting the Nestle subsidiary violated 18 workplace safety standards. Among the violations, Tribe was ...

Plan Ahead for Financial Consequences of Divorce Over a ten-year period ending in 2009, both the marriage rate and the divorce rate in Illinois have been declining, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Divorce, however, remains an event touching the lives of many in the Chicago area, with 32,369 divorces occurring in the state in 2009. Among all the other considerations, finances deserve special attention for anyone going through divorce. Couples need to take stock of their assets and liabilities, which will have to be divided in the divorce process. ...

Fatal Falls at Residential Construction Sites Lead OSHA to Tighten Rules Construction work is inherently dangerous in many ways. But, by taking the appropriate safety precautions, much of the danger at a construction site can be mitigated. Falls are one of the most common causes of injury among construction workers. Previously, fall safety standards promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were less stringent for residential construction sites compared to commercial sites. Now, under a new set of directives in effect as of June 16, residential ...

Summer Hazards for New England Construction Workers New England temperatures vary widely between the seasons. From frigid winters to steamy summers, the range of temperatures can make life difficult for those who work outdoors to earn their living, including construction workers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health notes that construction workers face many physical and medical risks connected to the weather, particularly during the hot summer months. Heat related on-the-job injuries might be the basis ...

Kentucky Looks to Remind Uninsured Motorists About Insurance Law When people are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists, securing compensation presents several practical and legal challenges. Even if the accident is covered by an insurance policy owned by the driver who was not at fault, medical expenses and property losses can easily exceed policy limits. While motor vehicle owners in Kentucky and Ohio must carry liability coverage, far too many of them choose to ignore that obligation. Kentucky recently took steps ...

Older Couples Have Different Concerns in a Divorce With a national divorce hovering around 50 percent, most people are familiar with the difficulty and hardship that come along with ending a marriage. More than ever though, older generations are divorcing. As of 2009 -- the last year such data was compiled -- baby boomers make up one out of every four divorces. That is an increase of 15 percent since 1990. This increase is felt particularly hard in Florida, where countless residents of northern states come to live out their golden years. Divorce at any age is difficult, ...

Ohio's New Texting Ban Goes Into Effect This Summer Distracted driving poses hazards for everyone on Ohio's streets and highways, from pedestrians and bicyclists to drivers and passengers -- and even the distracted driver. Common sense dictates our expectation that lawmakers will enact smart policies to curb behaviors that increase the risk of car crashes and truck accidents. Gov. John Kasich's recent signature of House Bill 99 brings welcome attention to the perils of texting while driving. When the bill takes effect on August 30, Ohio will be the 39th state with ...

Senate Passes Bill that Would Require Black Boxes in Cars In May, the US Senate passed a mandate requiring the installation of event data recorders, also known as black boxes, in passenger cars. The mandate was included in this year's transportation bill. Though event data recorders have their opponents, the devices are already installed in many cars and provide crucial data to law enforcement in the event of a car accident. The bill will now proceed to the House for consideration. How do Event Data Recorders Work and What do They Record? Event data recorders, ...

Stricter Workers' Compensation Guidelines for Opioid Painkillers in CT People recovering from work-related injuries have many challenges to overcome, including mental and emotional stress and physical pain. The Connecticut Workers' Compensation Commission (WCC) recently added a new challenge for injured employees by enacting stricter guidelines for the prescription and use of opioid painkillers. While the WCC is not trying to restrict how medical professionals help their patients manage pain after injuries, these guidelines may impact the treatment and compensation injured ...

Trampolines and Tragedy: Liability When Bouncing Fun Leads to Injury In a nation concerned with childhood obesity, it may seem surprising that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) would issue a caution on the use of a popular and fun form of exercise for children. Yet, this knowledgeable body of children's health has done just that. The physician's group warns parents against allowing their children to use trampolines for exercise and as backyard toys. The group also strongly advises against allowing children under the age of six on these exercise devices for ...

Pennsylvania's Texting While Driving Ban May Not Go Far Enough Did you stop texting and driving after the ban in Pennsylvania went into effect this past March? If you are like many teen drivers who participated in a recent survey the answer is "No." The survey results raise questions about whether more needs to be done to prevent distracted driving in Pennsylvania. The survey released by Bridgestone showed that while about 90 percent of Pennsylvania teen drivers are aware texting and driving is prohibited by law, almost 20 percent read texts while driving ...

Civil Aviation Accident Deaths on the Rise, NTSB Reports Fatal civil aviation accidents are on the rise according to research conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board. These accidents are in marked contrast to commercial aircraft, which have actually seen a decrease in accident deaths in recent years. The NTSB examined both general aviation as well as on-demand Part 135 aircraft accidents. The agency's research found that: -Civil aviation accidents increased to 1,550 in 2011, up from 1,500 the year before -Civil aviation deaths also rose from 469 in ...

St. Paul Dog Injures Child In Midst of National Dog Bite Prevention Week National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- a collaborative initiative sponsored by a diverse array of groups ranging from the American Veterinary Medical Association to the U.S. Postal Service -- ran May 20-26 this year. By raising awareness and providing safety tips, Dog Bite Prevention week aims to cut down on the 4.7 million dog bites that plague American households every year. One St. Paul dog owner didn't seem to get the message though -- and hadn't for the past two years. On May 24, "Blue," ...

Revision of Labeling Standards for Hazardous Chemicals May Save Lives In an effort to keep workers safe, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently revised its Hazard Communication Standard so that it is in line with the international standards created by the United Nations. According to OSHA, the new standard will save 43 lives annually and prevent about 585 workplace injuries. The new OSHA standard, which will be fully implemented in 2016, is designed to reduce confusion about chemical hazards, increase safety training ...

Ob/Gyn Doctors Need to Respond to Labor and Delivery Dangers Doctors are not always responsible when something goes wrong in childbirth. Because of childbirth's inherent risks, obstetricians and gynecologists cannot guarantee a perfect delivery. There are times, however, when birth injuries can and should be avoided by prompt, effective medical action. Shoulder Dystocia Consider, for example, what happens when the baby is not positioned properly to go through the birth canal. Shoulder dystocia -- where the baby's shoulders and the mother's pelvis come in contact ...

What's on Your Smartphone? The Police May Have More Access Than You Know It is hardly fair to refer to the microcomputers most of us carry every day as "phones." Calendars, texting records, voicemails, photo files and even remote access to email, social networking sites and data cloud services are humdrum features on most mobile devices in the information age. The amount of data stored directly on or accessible by the average Smartphone is nothing short of astounding. What happens when your phone falls into the hands of someone you would rather not share ...

Massachusetts Lawmakers Revise Alimony Law The complexities that accompany the divorceprocess are due not only to potential disputes between a wife and husband who are ending their relationship, but also the laws that will impact their decisions. Like all states, Massachusetts has a diverse set of family law statutes that govern issues such as child support, custody, property division and modification of divorce decrees. Lawmakers in Massachusetts recently amended the commonwealth's alimony statutes, enacting several important changes to the duration of spousal support. ...

School bus accidents have become so common in the New York City area that they're almost a staple of local news stories. Nationwide, the statistics are just as striking. According to a Department of Transportation study revised in March of 2011 (DOT HS 396), about 19 children die each year in school bus accidents -- either as riders or nearby pedestrians. Various types of injuries also continue to multiply. In fact, during one June 2012 school bus crash in Queens, 30 people were injured. Immediate steps must be taken to greatly reduce all of these injuries ...

Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com), the Insider of Guided Vacations, is pleased to announce the launch of their exciting new 2013 South America brochure, complete with 13 full itineraries and 7 extensions including the Galapagos, Easter Island, Peruvian & Brazilian Amazon. Offering an insider's view of South America that travelers can only get with Trafalgar, the trips feature unique guided sightseeing with Local Experts as well as Trafalgar's exclusive Local Specialties and authentic Be My Guest dining. To kick off the new brochure, Trafalgar is offering savings up to ...

Hamilton Equipment - 800-733-0275 - is proud to be a stocking dealer of all Demco Sprayers, Booms and Parts! Call us for a price quote and specifications. See our great action video of a Demco 150 or 200 Gallon Rear Mount Pro Series Sprayer with Jet Agitation. Demco 150 or 200 Gallon Rear Mount Pro Series features: 150 or 200 gallon tank with jet agitation, molded sight gauge, sump, fillwell with no-splash cover. Rear mount brackets are complete with saddles, tank bands and all necessary bolts. Rear mount brackets will fit categories "1" and "2". Unit ...

NASA's TRMM satellite noticed that Fabio's remnants have "chilled out" in very cool waters of the Eastern Pacific, while only dropping light to moderate rains. On July 18, 2012 at 2043 UTC (1:43 p.m. PDT), the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite saw the remnants of what was once Hurricane Fabio southwest of the California coast. Upper level winds were shearing it apart and cool ocean waters with temperatures of about 19 Celsius (66.2 Fahrenheit) near the center of the low's circulation were chilling it at the surface. Temperatures of 26.6 C (80F) are ...

Tampa, Fla. (July 19, 2012) – The search for medical technologies through 'medical travel' can change the lives of patients and their family members, according to medical anthropologists Cecilia Vindrola-Padros and Linda M. Whiteford, who examined the lives of Bolivian and Paraguayan families who traveled to Buenos Aries, Argentina, seeking pediatric oncology care for their children. In a study published in the current issue of Technology and Innovation – Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors®, Vindrola-Padros and Whiteford, who are both at the University of ...

While many bacteria exist as aggressive pathogens, causing diseases ranging from tuberculosis and cholera, to plague, diphtheria and toxic shock syndrome, others play a less malevolent role and some are critical for human health. In a new study, Cheryl Nickerson and her group at ASU's Biodesign Institute, in collaboration with an international team* including Tom Van de Wiele and lead author Rosemarie De Weirdt at Ghent University, Belgium, explore the role of Lactobaccilus reuteri—a natural resident of the human gut—to protect against foodborne infection. Their results ...

Despite guidelines recommending screening for depression in cancer patients, it's been unclear whether interventions designed to treat this depression are effective. A study by the University of Colorado Cancer Center and other institutions, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, changes that. This meta-analysis of 10 studies encompassing 1362 patients shows that especially cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacologic interventions decrease depressive symptoms in cancer patients. "In the past, we had looked at interventions as a whole – most of which ...