Community Safety

Birmingham, AL – People who skip sleep in favor of watching TV may find themselves eating and drinking more – possibly putting them at risk of obesity, according to a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Washington – The Food and Drug Administration has proposed two rules intended to minimize the risks of skin cancer presented by indoor tanning beds.

Jacksonville, FL – Participating in contact sports as a youth or young adult may lead to brain damage, according to a study from Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus.

Aurora, CO – High school cheerleaders are known for being prominent on the sidelines, but a new study puts their sports-related injuries front and center.

Seattle – Injuries experienced around the globe have declined nearly one-third over the past quarter century, prompting researchers to suggest that “the world is becoming a safer place to live.”

Alexandria, VA – Injuries related to crib bumpers are on the rise, and some researchers want the products banned.

Washington – Drug overdoses are the top cause of injury death in the United States, and heroin and controlled prescription drugs are the “most significant drug threats” to the nation, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment.

Boston – In the quest to better understand how disease is transmitted, researchers recently had an “aha moment” from an achoo.

Washington – Wheelchair users are about 36 percent more likely to be killed in vehicle-pedestrian crashes than non-wheelchair pedestrians, according to a study from Georgetown University.

Las Vegas – Falls and fights are the leading causes of eye injuries that result in hospitalization, according to research from Johns Hopkins University. The research was presented Nov. 14 at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.