If anyone is thrilled about the wild winter the Portland metro area is experiencing it’s ski resorts and avid skiers. Throughout the Cascades the snowpack is at record levels — more than they have received in over a decade. As exciting as it can be to hit the slopes, skiing comes with many risks. Perhaps…
In an unprecedented season, Old Man Winter has blanketed Portland in over a foot of snow. While the average year sees 3 inches, 2017 has reaped an average of 8-10 inches throughout the city. Storm after storm brought tons of the white stuff, causing significant delays and safety concerns. Schools have closed for a record…
Following incidents of broken welds causing children to suffered finger amputations, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on December 7, 2016 issued a recall of the Lightning Slide stainless steel playground slide manufactured by Playworld Systems, Inc,. About 1,300 Lightning Slides, manufactured in the United States by Playworld Systems, Inc. of Lewisburg, PA and Horizon Industries, of Columbia, PA, have been sold by…
One woman was killed and over 100 people were injured when a commuter train plowed through the barrier at the end of the tracks and crashed into a wall in Hoboken terminal September 29, 2016. A train is supposed to come to a stop about 10-20 feet in front of the bumper at a speed…
A study conducted in May 2016 among various sports at the University of Florida, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 university, found that those who continue to play immediately after a concussion averaged an extra five days before being cleared to return to play compared to those who had stopped play immediately after…
Oregon law reflects legislative intent to protect the rights of children in many ways. For example, Oregon law, with some notable exceptions, requires appointment of a conservator, guardian or “guardian ad litem” (GAL) to make decisions in the child’s best interest. Oregon also grants children more time to assert suit than adults. And most claims…
A drug commonly used to treat depression and schizophrenia now shows promise in restoring memory to patients with traumatic brain syndrome. Tetra Discovery (a pharmaceutical company in Boston), in association with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Neurological Surgery, and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NINDS), has found that a certain phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (PDE4B) has the…
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Handbook for Public Safety estimates that more than 200,000 children each year are injured on playground equipment, and the cause is most often due to lack of adult supervision. The National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) says that nearly 40 percent of all playground-related injuries each year can be…
Throughout life, the human body and brain are in a constant state of injury and repair. Substance abuse and lack of sleep and exercise decrease brain function, while physical and mental exercise, rest, and good nutrition build up and repair brain cells. A traumatic brain injury (TBI), as shown on MRI, when severe can cause…
Tragically, mass shootings are becoming more and more common. The Orlando massacre at Pulse nightclub reminds us that it could happen anywhere, anytime where people gather. You need a plan, If and when faced with an assassin, there will be little time to react or think. The US Department of Homeland Security advises civilians to…