Community Safety

Washington – Every eight minutes, a child is taken to an emergency department as a result of poisoning from prescription or over-the-counter medication, according to a recently released report from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Baltimore – Gardeners in urban areas need more education on harmful contaminants that may be present in soils due to pollution and other sources, concludes a recent study.

Vancouver, British Columbia – Sugary drinks may be the biggest factor in adolescent obesity, with access at schools contributing to higher consumption, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia.

Emmitsburg, MD – Approximately 280 people were killed and 1,125 were injured in home electrical fires from 2009 to 2011, according to a new report from the U.S. Fire Administration.

University Park, PA – School hearing tests may not capture high-frequency hearing loss among adolescents, suggests a new study from the Penn State College of Medicine.

Iowa City, IA – Drinking two or more diet beverages a day may increase older women’s risk of having a heart attack, suggests a new study from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Portland, OR – More than 20 percent of older adults with chronic conditions have been prescribed medications that conflict with each other and may even make another condition worse, concludes a new study from Oregon State University and Yale University.

Washington – A total of 1,353 people died from school transportation-related crashes between 2003 and 2012 – an average of about 135 fatalities per year, according to a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Bethesda, MD – Teens who ride with drivers who are impaired by drugs and/or alcohol may be more likely to drive impaired themselves, according to a recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Washington – An estimated 24,270 motor vehicle crash fatalities occurred in the first nine months of 2013 – a 3.7 percent decrease from the 2012 estimate from the same time period, according to a new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.