Why Are Dangerous Chemicals – Like Asbestos – Still Allowed in the U.S.?
The first known death due to asbestos was in 1906. In the 1970s, court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of its dangers since the 1930s and had concealed them from the public. It wasn't until 2002 that asbestos mining ended in the U.S. with the closing of the last U.S. asbestos mine. And yet, asbestos is still not banned in this country, exposing millions of people to the long-term effects of this dangerous chemical. In fact, from 1999-2017, there were 5,157 asbestos-related deaths in Arizona. So why are these chemicals still allowed and used in the United States?…
Defensive Driving: The Top Hazards and How to Avoid Them
The bad news? Traffic fatalities in Arizona rose for the third straight year in 2022 according to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report. There were 1,294 traffic fatalities across the state (pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist deaths all increased last year), which is the second-highest total ever recorded in Arizona. What has caused the number of traffic fatalities to go up every year since 2019? The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) says, “Figures show crashes associated with inappropriate speed and speeding accounted for a greater share of deaths and injuries, providing a sobering reminder for Arizonans to avoid such unsafe…
Construction Jobs Are Risky, Here’s How to Remain Safe
Construction is a risky business. If you’re not operating with the utmost safety standards at all times, site accidents can cause serious injuries, including permanent disability, loss of a limb, a traumatic brain injury, blindness, broken bones, or even death. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, nearly one in five workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry, with just over one-third of all fatalities due to falls, slips, and trips (which represents an increase of 5.9 percent). And in Arizona, the private construction industry sector had 20 fatal workplace injuries in 2020, just over 20 percent…
Patient Safety Should Be a Given, But It’s Not. Here’s Why.
Botched surgeries, infections, adverse medication reactions, and misdiagnoses sound like things you would only see on a primetime drama. But in reality, they happen far more often in our nation’s hospitals than most people think. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that one in four patients admitted to a hospital will experience harm. Most concerning: A significant number of these adverse incidents are preventable. In fact, of the patients whose health was negatively impacted, almost a quarter of all adverse events were preventable. The sobering conclusion is that patient safety in America has a…
How to Comply with Arizona Driving Laws for Teenagers
An important milestone your teenager reached was getting a driver’s license. Now that it’s back to school season, your teen will be sharing the road with buses, kids on bicycles, and other newly minted driver’s license holders. While your teen sees driving as a step toward independence, parents are left wondering if your child is ready for the road. The reality? Statistics show that teens simply don’t have the same level of responsibility as adults. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that “teen drivers have a higher rate of fatal crashes, mainly because of their immaturity, lack of skills,…