Community Safety

Berkeley, CA — Do you prefer going out for a bite with friends instead of cooking at home? Before you dig into that burger, consider this: A recent study shows that food consumed while dining out may contain hormone-disrupting chemicals called phthalates, which have been linked to a number of health-related issues.

Alexandria, VA — More than a third of U.S. homeowners who have planned a digging project this year don’t intend to call 811 first, according to a recent survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance.

Washington — A new Consumer Product Safety Commission regulation intended to enhance the safety of infant bouncer seats is in effect, the agency announced March 23.

Fort Collins, CO — Thirty-three percent of recent high school graduates have ridden in a motor vehicle with an impaired driver, a recently published study from Colorado State University reveals.

Minneapolis — Non-opioid painkillers are as effective as opioids in treating moderate to severe chronic back pain and hip or knee osteoarthritis pain, according to researchers from the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Washington — Every nine minutes, a child 6 years old or younger is taken to the emergency room because of an unintentional medicine-related poisoning – and one child dies every 12 days – according to a recent report from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Atlanta – The number of emergency room visits stemming from opioid-related overdoses continues to increase, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Washington — Pedestrian deaths in the United States have increased faster than all other types of traffic fatalities over the past decade, and now are at a 25-year high, according to a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Columbus, OH — Parents of teen drivers, take note: Despite state laws being in place, about one-third of teens say they talk on their cellphones and text while behind the wheel, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Injury Research and Policy.

Washington — Drowsy driving contributes to about 10 percent of all motor vehicle-related crashes, exceeding federal estimates by nearly eightfold, according to newly released research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.