Proforma Safety Blog

Backing Up Safely with Rear View Cameras

Posted by proforma on January 5, 2011  |  No Comments

 Have you had a backup camera installed on your vehicles? Starting in 2012, proposed legislation would mandate car manufacturers to begin phasing in backup cameras with 100 percent compliance by 2014. Older vehicles will require aftermarket products, of which there are several.

Whether used on business or personal cars, SUVs or trucks, the benefits are obvious: fewer injuries, deaths and damage due to backup accidents which number 300 deaths, 18,000 injuries each year. Not to mention reducing your insurance rates.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined the camera should provide visibility extending five feet from either side and 20 feet back from the rear end of the car. The backup system should also meet minimum standards for night vision, preferably with the use of infrared LEDs.

Consumer Reports offers an assessment on car backup camera systems, but you’ll need to subscribe to view their review. Other sources of information are http://www.carbackupcameras.org/ ,  http://auto.howstuffworks.com/rearview-camera3.htm and http://www.bing.com/search?q=backup+bumper+cameras&form=MSMONY.
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Aftermarket Parts Not Acceptable Alternatives, Says Ford Motor

Posted by proforma on December 3, 2010  |  No Comments

New Ford Motor crash tests show that copy parts are not “like kind and quality” to the original equipment manufacturer parts and will not return a vehicle to pre-accident condition. If Aftermarket copy parts are used instead of Ford replacement parts, problems may occur. The copy parts are unauthorized by the vehicle manufacturer and marketed as a cheaper alternative to authorized replacement parts. For details, click here.

Beware the Killer Holiday Meal

Posted by proforma on December 3, 2010  |  No Comments

In past years medical experts have wondered whether there is a connection between a single big holiday meal and a heart attack. They now understand better the physiological effects of eating a meal packed with carbohydrates, fat, and salt, and the news is not good for big eaters.

A study of nearly 2,000 heart attack patients suggest that an unusually large meal can quadruple chance of having a heart attack within two hours. This article in Health.org provides guidance on how to be a gourmand, not a glutton.

This article points out that increased holiday consumption can trigger gout, which is on the rise with obesity, diabetes and metabolic disorders.

Kitchen Appliances that Mysteriously Turn Themselves On

Posted by proforma on December 2, 2010  |  No Comments

Just when you think you’ve heard it all — we recently read about kitchen appliances that mysteriously turn themselves on, including toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves and coffee makers, cooktops and ranges. Some owners have had to unplug the appliance to shut it down. Read this article on Consumer Reports about these ghostly phenomena.

Shopping for Safe, Fun Holiday Toys

Posted by proforma on December 1, 2010  |  No Comments

The next few weeks will be a flurry of activity as parents buy gifts for the holidays, so what could be more appropriate to share at this time than the toy industry’s top picks for 2011 Toy of the Year Awards? Categorized by age, gender and other characteristics, this list will give you a description of the toy, manufacturer, price and manufacturer’s website.

If you’re unsure what is appropriate toy for a particular age level, this guide published by the Toy Association gives specific information about the abilities and interests of children from six months through 12 years, with suggestions for what play experiences are appropriate.

For more information on the Toy Industry Association and consumer safety and shopping tips, toys and trends, go to www.toyinfo.org.

Traffic and Your Heart

Posted by proforma on September 22, 2010  |  No Comments

This news item in the University of Texas Health Science Center Health Leader offers such useful information that we repeat it in its entirety to avoid any problems with clicking through to their e-newsletter.

Traffic and Your Heart

City traffic is tough on the nerves. It could also be hard on the heart.

In a recent study, nearly 1,500 heart attack survivors were asked about what they had been doing in the four days before their heart attacks. About 8% said they had been stuck in traffic a few hours prior to the attack. The lingering effects of traffic seemed to be worse in women and those with the chest pain known as angina (American Heart Association epidemiology meeting, March 2009).

So what’s the connection between heart attacks and traffic?  Researchers have developed two leading theories involve anger or stress, and air pollution. Navigating through heavy traffic makes some people mad, especially if they are surrounded by drivers cutting in and weaving out (think I-45 North at 4:30 p.m.) Others get stressed. Anger and stress have been linked to spasms of coronary arteries, the sudden disruption of cholesterol-filled plaque, and the initiation of unstable heart rhythms, any of which can trigger a heart attack.

Air pollution is the other primary suspect. Billions of tiny exhaust particles spew from car and truck tailpipes every day. In heavy traffic we breathe in these microscopic motes by the million. Once we do, they can cause inflammation, promote the formation of blood clots, destabilize cholesterol-filled plaques, and contribute to heart-rhythm abnormalities.

In Houston, traffic is an inevitable part of travel. But the odds that being stuck on the Southwest Freeway at 5 p.m. will provoke a heart attack are really quite low, so this study shouldn’t be cause for alarm. But it does suggest that playing relaxing music while in heavy traffic might not be a bad idea, and that it’s wise to pay attention to chest pain if you’ve recently done battle on Houston’s highways at rush hour.

Replace Not Only the Batteries, But the Device

Posted by proforma on September 9, 2010  |  No Comments

We’re all aware that we need to replace batteries in smoke detectors and CO alarms in our homes periodically. But what many people don’t know is that the alarms themselves need to be replaced.

CO alarms should be replaced after five years. Stand-alone smoke detectors should be replaced after 10. The date of manufacture should be on the back of the alarm.

Cost of these alarms is not significant; a highly rated smoke alarm ranges in the $25; a CO alarm, $40. Consumer Reports recommends dual-sensor models that use both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.

No Training, No Life Jacket Can Ruin Your Boating Fun

Posted by proforma on September 4, 2010  |  No Comments

The United States Coast Guard has just released its report for the year 2009 on recreational boating accidents, injuries and fatalities in the U.S. The findings may not surprise you:

– Only 2 percent of the boating accidents resulted from mechanical malfunctioning or engine failure.
– Topping the list of causes: operator inexperience, inattention, speeding, alcohol use and improper lookout.
– 86 percent of those operating the boat when an accident occurred had no training.
– 84 percent of those who died were not wearing a life jacket.

The full report can be downloaded here.

Hearing Loss Among Teens Has Risen in Past 15 Years

Posted by proforma on August 30, 2010  |  No Comments

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that the number of U.S. teenagers that have a slight hearing loss has increased by 30 percent in the past 15 years. Those with hearing loss described as “mild or worse” increased by 77 percent during the same period of time. Males were more likely than females to suffer hearing loss; lower income more likely than higher income.

Researchers included Doctor Joseph Shargorodsky at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, who investigated two editions of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1994 and 2005-06. They were able to eliminate causes such as multiple ear infections or exposure to massive noise in the environment. The main culprit in causing hearing loss was attributed to use of headphones and personal music systems.

Fireworks Eye Injury Safety Quiz

Posted by proforma on June 30, 2010  |  No Comments

Fireworks will be part of many local July 4 celebrations, so you should know what to do if someone suffers a resulting eye injury. Prevent Blindness America offers this Safety Quiz and guidance, which actually is useful information for any type of eye injury caused by flying objects.