Archive for the ‘Health and healthcare’ Category
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Giving children a healthy start
Source: Audit Commission
From the Summary:
Children have a right to enjoy the best possible health, but there are significant differences in their experiences. Children under five years living in deprived areas are 8 per cent more likely to be obese; 9 per cent more likely to be of a low birth weight; and 12 per cent more likely to have an accident than those living in the rest of England. Evidence clearly demonstrates that improving early years’ health contributes considerably to better health outcomes in later life, with reduced levels of diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension, all of which have a significant impact on the NHS as well as wider society, children and their families.
Children’s health has been an increasing priority for the government over the last ten years. Between 1999 and 2009 the government published over 20 policies relating to the health of under-fives (Figure 1). However, except for Sure Start and more recent policies such as the Healthy Child Programme, policy statements have largely focused on the 0 to 19 years age group or wider population public health, rather than on the under-fives.
Between 1998/99 and 2010/11 we estimate that £10.9 billion (including £7.2 billion for Sure Start, which had dedicated funding for health improvements in the early phase of roll-out) will have been invested in programmes aimed in whole, or in part, at improving the health of the under-fives, but this has not produced widespread improvements in health outcomes (Table 1). Some health indicators have indeed worsened – for example, obesity and dental health – and the health inequalities gap between rich and poor has barely changed.
+ Direct link to Summary (PDF; 1 MB)
+ Direct link to Full Report (PDF; 3 MB)
Posted in Children and families, Diseases and conditions, Documents in the news, Europe, Health and healthcare, Obesity, Poverty, Social and cultural issues, United Kingdom | No Comments »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
USDA Announces New Framework for Animal Disease Traceability
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced today that USDA will develop a new, flexible framework for animal disease traceability in the United States, and undertake several other actions to further strengthen its disease prevention and response capabilities.
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The framework, announced today at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Mid-Year meeting, provides the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the United States. USDA’s efforts will:
- Only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce;
- Be administered by the States and Tribal Nations to provide more flexibility;
- Encourage the use of lower-cost technology; and
- Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process.
+ Animal Disease Traceability
Posted in Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Health Spending Projections Through 2019: The Recession’s Impact Continues
Source: Health Affairs
The economic recession and rising unemployment—plus changing demographics and baby boomers aging into Medicare—are among the factors expected to influence health spending during 2009–2019. In 2009 the health share of gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to have increased 1.1 percentage points to 17.3 percent—the largest single-year increase since 1960. Average public spending growth rates for hospital, physician and clinical services, and prescription drugs are expected to exceed private spending growth in the first four years of the projections. As a result, public spending is projected to account for more than half of all U.S. health care spending by 2012.
Posted in Business and economics, Consumer issues, Government and politics, Health and healthcare | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
More than 30 Percent of Seniors Are Not Immunized Against Pneumonia in 36 States; New Report Finds Low Adult Vaccination Rates in U.S.
Source: Trust for America’s Health
A new report, Adult Immunization: Shots to Save Lives, released today by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) found that more than 30 percent of adults ages 65 and older had not been immunized against pneumonia in 36 states as of 2008. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts recommend that all seniors should be vaccinated against pneumonia, which is a one-time shot for most individuals, since seniors who get the seasonal flu are at risk for developing pneumonia as a complication.
Nationally, 33.1 percent of seniors had not been immunized against pneumonia, and even in the state with the highest immunization rate – Oregon – more than one quarter (26.8 percent) of seniors were not immunized. Washington, D.C. had the lowest number of seniors immunized, with nearly half (45.6 percent) of seniors not immunized.
Overall, the Adult Immunization report found millions of American adults go without routine and recommended vaccinations each year, which leads to an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 preventable deaths, thousands of preventable illnesses, and $10 billion in preventable health care costs each year. In addition to low rates of pneumonia immunizations, only 2.1 percent of eligible adults have had the tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough vaccine in the previous two years; only 10 percent of eligible adult women have had the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; and only 36.1 percent of all adults were vaccinated against the seasonal flu in 2008.
+ Full Report
Posted in Diseases and conditions, Health and healthcare | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Regulating Industry-Funded Science Could Harm Patient Safety, Report Finds
Source: Center for Ethical Solutions (via Competitive Enterprise Institute)
Corporate funding of medical research does not lead to irreconcilable conflicts of interest or raise the possibility of harm to patients, according to a new study published today by the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The study, conducted by medical ethics scholars from the non-profit Center for Ethical Solutions, found that often over-looked motives such as scholarly ambition, glory seeking, or a fear of academic failure tend to be more likely motives than monetary interest in most cases of harm to patients.
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Critics point to a small number of unfortunate and tragic cases in which financial conflicts of interest may have played a role in research-related injuries and deaths, then proceed to condemn the profit motive in biomedical research as a whole. However, the report shows how monetary interests of sponsors tend to align with the broader interests of patients and society as a whole: both are dependent upon research that results in successful medical products which improve human health.
+ Full Report
Posted in Business and economics, Consumer issues, Ethics, Health and healthcare, Science | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Environmental and Health Groups Face Off Against Household Cleaner Giants in Court
Source: Earthjustice
Public health and environmental advocates faced off against household cleaning giants Procter & Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Church and Dwight and Reckitt-Benckiser in a Manhattan court today in a fight for transparency about the toxic chemicals in cleaning products.
The manufacturing giants are refusing to follow a New York state law requiring them to disclose the chemical ingredients in their products and the health risks they pose. Independent studies show a link between many chemicals commonly found in cleaning products and health effects ranging from nerve damage to hormone disruption. With mounting concern about the potential hazards of chemicals in these products, advocates are defending consumers’ right to know and asking companies to follow the law.
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The first-of-its-kind lawsuit could have national implications and comes as momentum builds nationally and internationally for toxics chemical reform. Today, the United States Senate committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing looking into the current science on public exposures to toxic chemicals. Advocates are awaiting introduction of federal legislation to reform the nation’s badly broken system of regulating toxic chemicals. And internationally, companies are preparing to comply with Europe’s new chemical regulations (known as REACH).
+ Lawsuit (PDF; 81 KB)
+ Brands targeted in the lawsuit (PDF; 43 KB)
+ Women’s Voices for the Earth report (PDF; 1.2 MB)
+ Disclosure report filed by Sunshine Makers, Inc. (PDF; 827 KB)
Posted in Business and economics, Consumer issues, Environment, Health and healthcare, Legal and law enforcement, Safety | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Haiti + 27 = 28 Countries in Crisis
Source: UNICEF/United States Fund
As global attention focuses on efforts to provide lifesaving support to the people of Haiti, UNICEF today released its Humanitarian Action Report (HAR) 2010. This annual report spotlights the most severe crises impacting children and women around the world and includes an appeal for additional assistance.
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This year’s report highlights the situation of children and women in 28 countries and territories that have been identified as being in the most desperate need, and seeks $1.2 billion to help them. HAR 2010 emphasizes the increasing importance of partnerships to meet the needs of children and families affected.
Children are suffering in many different places, and for a range of reasons. In 2009, large-scale and repeated natural and man-made disasters struck Southeast Asia, while emergencies in the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan intensified.
+ Full Report
Posted in Children and families, Health and healthcare, Human rights, International, Natural Disasters, Poverty, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »
Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Four New Publications from the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
+ Counterfeit Medicines (PDF; 198 KB)
Counterfeiting of medicines is increasing, is often linked to other criminal activities and poses risks to public health. It exposes people to medicines of unverified quality, safety and efficacy. This POSTnote considers the extent of the global counterfeit medicine trade, its impact in the UK and the technologies and policy options available to combat it. It also examines the risks and benefits of online pharmacy, one of the main ways in which counterfeits are distributed.
+ Lighting Technology (PDF; 197 KB)
Electric lighting accounts for around one-fifth of electricity consumption, both in the UK and globally. Under recent legislation, the traditional incandescent lamp is being phased out in the UK, saving 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2020 (equivalent to the emissions of around 180,000 households today). This POSTnote gives an overview of energy efficient lighting currently available and under development. It examines policy initiatives to drive uptake, as well as relevant health, environmental, public perception and economic issues.
+ Pets, Families and Interagency Working (PDF; 167 KB)
All agencies, professions and individuals who have contact with children have a duty to safeguard them. Government guidance has highlighted the need for agencies to work together and share information to achieve this aim. It has been suggested that organisations that work with animals should be included in the safeguarding agenda on the basis that there may be an association between cruelty to animals and family violence. This POSTnote examines the evidence base for this assumption, and the rationale for cross-reporting between different agencies.
+ Diagnosing Dementia (PDF; 178 KB)
Dementia currently affects 700,000 people in the UK, yet only 1 in 3 cases receives a formal diagnosis from a doctor. Dementia costs the UK economy £17bn a year and is one of the main causes of disability in later life. A key aim of the Department of Health’s 2009 National Dementia Strategy is early diagnosis. This is intended to improve quality of life through increased support, prevention of harm and reduction in care home admissions. This briefing outlines current diagnostic practices, research into newer tools and service provision proposals that aim to increase early diagnosis.
Posted in Diseases and conditions, Health and healthcare, Prescription drugs, Technology, United Kingdom, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare | No Comments »
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Lessons From the Battle Over D.A.R.E. (PDF: 5.3 MB)
Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance (DoJ)
Since its inception in Los Angeles in 1983, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) has become one of the most well-known and widespread crime prevention programs in the country. D.A.R.E.’s model is relatively straightforward. Police officers are trained to lead educational sessions in local schools that are designed to help students resist peer pressure and live drug-free lives. The program’s reach is nothing short of remarkable: D.A.R.E. has been responsible for training hundreds of thousands of police officers and educating millions of children. The program has spread to 43 different countries. In recognition of this, every year for the last 18 years, four consecutive presidents have set aside a day in April as “National D.A.R.E. Day.”
Alongside this impressive track record, however, there exists a counter-narrative. This story is written not by the administrators of D.A.R.E. but by scholars who have studied the program. To date, there have been more than 30 evaluations of the program that have documented negligible long-term impacts on teen drug use. One intensive, six-year study even found that the program increased drug use among suburban teens by a small amount. These less-than-inspiring results have received widespread press coverage, including numerous newspaper articles and a February 21, 1997 segment on the NBC newsmagazine show Dateline.
Despite these setbacks, D.A.R.E. is alive and well, taught in about 75 percent of school districts across the country. Over 15,000 police officers participate as D.A.R.E instructors, providing educational sessions about drugs and drug abuse largely targeted at 5th and 6th graders.
Posted in Education, K-12, Legal and law enforcement, Mental health and substance abuse, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Millennials’ Lukewarm Support For Health Care Bills
Source: Pew Research Center
Millennials may stand to gain more from an expansion of government health insurance than people in any other age group. Fully a third (33%) of those younger than age 30 say they are not covered by health insurance; that compares with 19% of those in Generation X, and smaller percentages of Baby Boomers (12%) and those in the Silent Generation (3%).
Yet Millennials’ support for the health care proposals before Congress has been lukewarm at best. Millennials do favor many of the individual components in these proposals — for example, 65% favor the so-called “public option.” But small percentages of young people expect their own health care or insurance coverage to improve if health care legislation passes. And as is typically the case with major policy issues, Millennials have largely tuned out of the health care debate: They are far less likely than those in older age groups to report they have heard a lot about the issue.
Posted in Age and Aging, Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
USFA Releases Hotel and Motel Fires Topical Report
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report, part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the causes and characteristics of fires in hotels and motels. An estimated average of 3,900 fires occur each year in hotels and motels, which are a subset of residential buildings. Annually, these fires are also responsible for 15 deaths, 150 civilian injuries, and $76 million in property loss. The report, Hotel and Motel Fires, was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The report is based on 2005 to 2007 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
Hotel and motel fires occur mainly in the evening hours, peaking from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Seventeen percent of the fires occur during this time. The number of hotel and motel fires is higher during the winter months when heating fires are more prevalent.
Cooking, electrical malfunctions, and heating are the leading causes of hotel and motel fires. Forty-six percent of hotel and motel fires are caused by cooking with electrical malfunctions and heating each causing an additional 7 percent of fires. Ninety-seven percent of the cooking fires are confined cooking fires, those confined to the container and resulting in limited damage.
Seventy-three percent of hotel and motel fires are confined to the object of origin and an additional 18 percent are confined to the room of fire origin. The remaining 9 percent of fires extend beyond the room of origin.
+ Full Report (PDF; 932 KB)
Posted in Safety | No Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends Update 2010
Source: Population Reference Bureau
An estimated 100 million to 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and more than 3 million girls are at risk for cutting each year on the African continent alone.
FGM/C is generally performed on girls between ages 4 and 12, although it is practiced in some cultures as early as a few days after birth or as late as just prior to marriage. Typically, traditional excisors have carried out the procedure, but recently a discouraging trend has emerged in some countries where medical professionals are increasingly performing the procedure.
FGM/C poses serious physical and mental health risks for women and young girls, especially for women who have undergone extreme forms of the procedure. According to a 2006 World Health Organization study, FGM/C can be linked to increased complications in childbirth and even maternal deaths. Other side effects include severe pain, hemorrhage, tetanus, infection, infertility, cysts and abscesses, urinary incontinence, and psychological and sexual problems.
FGM/C is practiced in at least 28 countries in Africa and a few others in Asia and the Middle East. It is practiced at all educational levels and in all social classes and occurs among many religious groups (Muslims, Christians, and animists), although no religion mandates it. Data for 27 African countries are displayed in PRB’s new wall chart Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Data and Trends—Update 2010. The prevalence of FGM/C varies significantly from country to country, from nearly 98 percent in Somalia to less than 1 percent in Uganda. There is also wide variation by geographic region and rural or urban residence within many countries. In most countries, including Ethiopia, Liberia, and Kenya, the practice of FGM/C is more common in rural areas. But the reverse is true in some countries, including Nigeria.
Posted in Africa, Children and families, Gender and sexuality, Health and healthcare, Human rights, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
Administration’s FY 2011 Budget Proposal Demonstrates Balanced Approach to Drug Control
Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy
The Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget proposed by the Obama Administration would devote significant new resources to the prevention and treatment of drug abuse, National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske said today. These resources are complemented by an aggressive effort to enhance domestic law enforcement, interdiction, and supply control programs.
Funding for prevention measures under the President’s proposal would increase 13.4 percent over the level of funding for the current fiscal year, and expenditures for treatment programs would be increased by 3.7 percent, Kerlikowske said.
Those expenditures are included in the FY 2011 request, for a total of $15.5 billion to reduce drug use and its consequences. The funds would go to the 13 Federal agencies and departments responsible for the broad continuum of drug control – from prevention and treatment to enforcement, interdiction, and international efforts. The total proposed spending in the FY 2011 National Drug Control Budget represents a 3.5 percent increase over the current fiscal year.
+ FY 2011 Drug Control Budget Highlights (PDF; 185 KB)
+ FY 2011 Drug Control Budget Factsheet (PDF; 83 KB)
Posted in Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement, Mental health and substance abuse | No Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
IOM Report Recommends Steps to Reduce Threats Posed by Hepatitis B and C, Which Disproportionately Affect Minorities
Source: Institute of Medicine
Stepped-up vaccination requirements, a boost in resources for prevention and treatment, and a public awareness campaign similar to the effort that dispelled the stigma of HIV/AIDS are needed to curb the health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.
Chronic hepatitis B and C cause thousands of cases of liver cancer, liver disease, and death each year — taking the heaviest toll among Asians, Pacific Islanders, and blacks in the U.S. — and these infections account for nearly half of the liver transplantations that must be performed annually. Resources and efforts to contain the viruses that cause hepatitis B and C lag behind those directed at other infectious diseases of similar impact to public health, noted the committee that wrote the report.
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An estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million Americans have chronic hepatitis B and between 2.7 million and 3.9 million have chronic hepatitis C. The majority of infected individuals are not aware of their condition until they develop symptoms of liver cancer or liver disease. Few among the populations most at risk — immigrants from countries where the diseases are endemic, non-Hispanic black men, injection-drug users, and people who had blood transfusions before 1992 — seek testing or information on how to protect themselves from infection. Moreover, health care and social service providers’ knowledge about hepatitis B and C is generally poor, and many fail to follow guidelines for screening patients and providing prevention, treatment, and follow-up services.
The report calls for a public awareness initiative along the lines of the effort that succeeded in increasing recognition, prevention, and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which affects three to five times fewer Americans than viral hepatitis. Educational programs and materials that outline risk factors for viral hepatitis and provide information on immunization, prevention, and proper monitoring of infected individuals should be developed and made available to all health professionals and social service providers.
Read full report for free online. (National Academies Press)
Posted in Diseases and conditions, Ethnic, Health and healthcare, Race, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
FTC Chairman, Members of Congress Call for Legislation to End Sweetheart “Pay-for-Delay” Deals That Keep Generic Drugs Off the Market
Source: Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz and key members of Congress, including Representative Chris Van Hollen, Chairman Bobby Rush, and Representative Mary Jo Kilroy, today renewed their call for legislation that would put an end to anticompetitive patent settlements, which drug manufacturers have been using to keep less-expensive medicines off the market and charge consumers billions of dollars a year in higher drug prices.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Leibowitz said consumers are forced to pay inflated prices or forgo their medication because of these “pay-for-delay” deals, in which brand-name drug makers pay their generic competitors to keep cheaper alternatives off the market. He urged Congress to adopt a provision as part of the health care reform bill to stop pay-for-delay agreements.
“Pay-for-delay deals are a bad prescription for America: when drug companies agree not to compete, consumers lose,” Leibowitz said. “Ending this practice as part of health care reform is one simple, effective, and straightforward way for Congress to help control drug costs.”
In a written statement, FTC Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch said, “As I testified last year before Chairman Rush’s subcommittee, almost all, if not all, reverse payment agreements . . . delay generic competition longer than it might otherwise occur.”
+ FTC Staff Study (PDF; 1 MB)
Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement, Prescription drugs | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Obama’s Prescription for Low-Wage Workers: High Implicit Taxes, Higher Premiums
Source: Cato Institute
House and Senate Democrats have produced health care legislation whose mandates, subsidies, tax penalties, and health insurance regulations would penalize work and reward Americans who refuse to purchase health insurance. As a result, the legislation could trap many Americans in low-wage jobs and cause even higher health-insurance premiums, government spending, and taxes than are envisioned in the legislation.
Those mandates and subsidies would impose effective marginal tax rates on low-wage workers that would average between 53 and 74 percent— and even reach as high as 82 percent—over broad ranges of earned income. By comparison, the wealthiest Americans would face tax rates no higher than 47.9 percent.
Over smaller ranges of earned income, the legislation would impose effective marginal tax rates that exceed 100 percent. Families of four would see effective marginal tax rates as high as 174 percent under the Senate bill and 159 percent under the House bill. Under the Senate bill, adults starting at $14,560 who earn an additional $560 would see their total income fall by $200 due to higher taxes and reduced subsidies. Under the House bill, families of four starting at $43,670 who earn an additional $1,100 would see their total income fall by $870.
In addition, middle-income workers could save as much as $8,000 per year by dropping coverage and purchasing health insurance only when sick. Indeed, the legislation effectively removes any penalty on such behavior by forcing insurers to sell health insurance to the uninsured at standard premiums when they fall ill. The legislation would thus encourage “adverse selection”—an unstable situation that would drive insurance premiums, government spending, and taxes even higher.
+ Full Document (PDF; 702 KB)
Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Health insurance, Labor | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding (PDF; 2.4 MB)
Source: Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS (Cambridge University andZoological Society of London)
From press release (Word):
After a ten month long inquiry, After a ten month long inquiry, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson FRS called for a non-statutory Advisory Council on Dog Breeding, changes in the law including a requirement for all puppies to be micro-chipped prior to sale, and an up-graded Accredited Breeder Scheme.
Speaking in London today, Prof Bateson (of Cambridge University and President of the Zoological Society of London) said:
“Many breeders exercise high standards of welfare, but negligent management on puppy farms is a major welfare issue as is inbreeding in pure-bred dogs. Fashions for extreme conformations are also a cause of welfare problems.”
Professor Bateson also called for a system to collect data from veterinary practices in order to generate robust prevalence data breed by breed; and for the veterinary profession as a whole to support enforcement authorities, help educate the public, and lead a shift towards a preventative approach to dog health. called for a non-statutory Advisory Council on Dog Breeding, changes in the law including a requirement for all puppies to be micro-chipped prior to sale, and an up-graded Accredited Breeder Scheme.
Speaking in London today, Prof Bateson (of Cambridge University and President of the Zoological Society of London) said:
“Many breeders exercise high standards of welfare, but negligent management on puppy farms is a major welfare issue as is inbreeding in pure-bred dogs. Fashions for extreme conformations are also a cause of welfare problems.”
Professor Bateson also called for a system to collect data from veterinary practices in order to generate robust prevalence data breed by breed; and for the veterinary profession as a whole to support enforcement authorities, help educate the public, and lead a shift towards a preventative approach to dog health.
See also: Guidance on Choosing Your New Dog – British Veterinary Association/Animal Welfare Foundation (PDF; 68 KB)
Posted in United Kingdom, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010
The Future of Animal Agriculture: 2030 (PDF; 7.6 MB)
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Mission of the FTAA is to foster and enhance balanced and enlightened public dialogue on topics related to the nature and future of animal agriculture.
The Vision is: to develop programs that are inclusive and national in scope, with the committee consisting of individuals from organizations representing academia, agribusiness, animal welfare, environment, university, government and others. The FTAA seeks to present timely issues in a balanced, innovative and thoughtful manner. The Committee also seeks to enhance public dialogue and understanding about the nature and future direction of animal agriculture, and the impact of their personal decisions on this process.
FTAA Goals are: 1. To facilitate genuine collaboration and the ability of farmers to produce food for society, while improving animal well-being. 2. To provide opportunities for dialogue and understanding of animal well-being, environmental and other issues in an atmosphere of mutual respect of consumers, farmers, advocates, commodity organizations, and others. 3. To provide information to identify critical animal production issues and enhance greater understanding of societal desires and trends that impact production agriculture.
Posted in Food and agriculture, Government and politics, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Focus on Fire Safety: Older Adults and Preparedness for Fire
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
Adults age 65 and older are at a higher risk of death from fire than any other age group. According to the USFA report Fire in the United States Fifteenth Edition, older adults account for approximately 32 percent of all fire deaths. Fire prevention and planning are key elements in reducing the risk of deaths and injuries from fire. In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared.
Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly. In less than 30 seconds, a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for a house to fill with thick black smoke and become engulfed in flames. Developing and practicing a fire escape plan and installing and maintaining smoke alarms are ways in which you can prepare for the possibility of a fire occurring in your home. Being prepared in the event a fire occurs may increase your chances of survival.
+ Fire Prevention and Home Fire Safety for Seniors
Posted in Age and Aging, Safety | No Comments »
