Archive for April, 2012

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24
Apr

UAB Research Backs Up Man’s Plea to Wear Bicycle Helmets During Storms

April 24, 2012

A Birmingham man is spreading the word that a bicycle helmet will not only keep you safe from danger while riding, but it also might be the key to surviving extreme weather, including tornadoes.

According to CBS 42 News, the man had partnered with the Birmingham Barons to hand out 125 free helmets and educate the public on how they can save your life during a storm. He knows about the dangerous nature of storms firsthand, as he was paralyzed from the waist down after an April 8, 1998, storm tore through his house and killed his son. He says that had his son been wearing a helmet, he may not have suffered the traumatic head injuries caused by the storm, and that he may still be alive today.

Recent research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham backs up the man’s claims, stating that wearing a helmet during a storm significantly reduces the chances of suffering head or neck injuries, which are the most dangerous that can be inflicted by a storm.

Estimates show that half of the fatalities from the April 27, 2011, storm that tore through Jefferson County were the result of head and neck injuries.

This is why the Alabama Injury Lawyers with Norris Injury Lawyers encourage citizens to keep a bicycle helmet for each member of your family stowed away with your storm emergency preparedness kits.

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17
Apr

One Killed And Four Injured As A Result Of Two-Vehicle Collision

April 17, 2012

A 14-year-old Huntsville, Alabama, girl was killed and four other people were injured in a two-vehicle collision Friday. According to WAFF 48 News, the crash happened just after midnight on Highway 24, near the intersection with County Road 217.

Reports from the Alabama State Police indicate that the crash happened as a white car carrying the young girl and three others was heading east on Highway 24. When the car began to slow to make a right turn onto CR 217, a pickup truck failed to stop and rear-ended the car. The collision sent the car sailing into a ditch, while the truck skidded across the intersection before stopping in the median of the road.

The young girl, who was riding in the backseat, died as a result of the injuries she sustained in the crash. The three passengers in the car, along with the driver of the pickup truck, were taken to a local hospital in Decatur to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

State troopers say that they will continue to investigate the accident and that charges could be filed later.

The Alabama Auto Accident Attorneys with Norris Injury Lawyers would like to remind young drivers to always buckle up and obey the speed limit. The firm would also like to send their thoughts and condolences to the family of the young girl who died in this tragic accident.

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10
Apr

Birmingham Fire Department Offering Free Smoke Detectors To Local Residents

April 10, 2012

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that house fires affected roughly 384,000 families in 2010. Those fires killed 2,640 people and injured another 13,350. An estimated 37 percent of the homes in these fires weren’t equipped with smoke detectors—a potentially deadly oversight.

For example, a 3-year-old boy was injured in a fire Monday in a home that officials say had no fire detectors installed. According to CBS 42 News, firefighters were called to the scene around 4:30 a.m. The mother fled the home without the boy, who was later recovered by rescue crews. He was taken to a local hospital where he remains in stable condition.

In an effort to curb the high number of homes in the area without smoke detectors, the Birmingham Fire Department (BFD) is offering to install smoke detectors in city homes for free. BFD Battalion Chief C.W. Mardis stated, “Smoke alarms will give you that audible alert which will give you two or three extra minutes to get out in case of a fire.  They have been proven to save lives over the years.”

If you are in need of smoke detectors in your home, you are encouraged to contact the department at (205) 250-7540.

The Alabama Injury Lawyers with Norris Injury Lawyers say that a smoke detector should be installed within 10 feet of each bedroom in order to provide ample coverage of your living quarters.

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3
Apr

FDA Considers Making More Medications Available Over-The-Counter

April 3, 2012

The United States is experiencing a problem of getting prescription medications to citizens who need them. While the reasons for the problem vary from drug shortages to rising costs, the Food and Drug Administration is asking for the public’s input on how it can solve the growing issue.

According to a press release issued by the agency, it’s considering making some prescription medications available over-the-counter. Some of the drugs may feature certain stipulations, such as discussing the medication with a pharmacist or passing a diagnostic test, but the goal is to make getting the medications into a patient’s hands easier.

Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, supported the measure by saying, “The rules for nonprescription status were established in an age when widespread access to information technology did not exist. The world is evolving. It’s clear there are now many interactive mechanisms that can help consumers through the process of self-diagnosis and medication selection in a much more comprehensive manner than a few words on a fact box.”

While experts agree that the cut in health care costs far outweigh the negative ramifications that can be solved through regulation, others feel the change could bring unforeseen problems with record keeping, patient diagnosis, and liability concerns.

The Alabama Drug Injury Lawyers with Norris Injury Lawyers urge those taking medications to only use them as prescribed by their doctor.

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