Mary's Blog I Love You

Brazoria County announced today that it has has received an increased number of Shigella cases in the community over the past two months.  Most of these cases are in children. The number of cases and exact daycares have not been publicly announced in this Brazoria County Daycare Shigella Outbreak. County Health Officials Recommend Use proper hygiene Wash hands before and after changing diapers, using the toilet, eating or preparing food, or petting an animal Ensure supervised hand washing of small children after using the toilet Disinfect surfaces such as toys, doorknobs, countertops, or other high-touch items Individuals with fever, vomiting, or diarrhea  SHOULD NOT  attend school/childcare/public activities until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved  without  medication(s) Symptomatic individuals should not participate in water activities until one week after diarrhea has stopped without the use of medication(s) If you or your child are experien...

“Dooring” accidents are a type of traffic collision that takes place when a bicyclist or other road-user crashes into a motor vehicle’s open door. In some cases, these accidents are caused by a vehicle occupant failing to check for oncoming traffic before opening the car door. In other cases, the vehicle occupant may have negligently left the car door open. To avoid colliding with the door, bicyclists or motorists will sometimes quickly swerve to move out of the way. This sudden swerve may cause a secondary collision, as the bicyclist or motorist could potentially collide with another vehicle in the next lane over.  In the state of New York, dooring accidents have become such a prevalent issue that policymakers have developed laws designed to prevent them. According to the New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, Sec. 1214 : No one can open the door of a motor vehicle that faces moving traffic until it is reasonably safe to do so, and that door can be opened without interfering in the ...

Otherwise known as side-impact or broadside collisions, T-bone car accidents occur when the front of a vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle, forming a “T” shape. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) , researchers estimate these accidents result in the deaths of approximately 8 thousand Americans each year. T-bone accidents most commonly take place at intersections, where the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. Some of the most common injuries sustained during a side-collision include: Traumatic head or brain injuries (TBI) – traumatic brain injuries occur during a high-energy impact so strong that it causes the brain to collide with the skull. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, confusion, vomiting, drowsiness, and changed behavior. Chest trauma – according to a report from MedScape, researchers estimate that car accidents cause approximately 70 to 80 percent of blunt-force chest trauma. In sev...

Otherwise known as a type of neck sprain, whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained after a car accident. According to a recent report from Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) , researchers found that over 2 million Americans suffer from whiplash each year. This injury “occurs when the head suddenly snaps forward, then backward in a whip-like motion that over-stretches the joints, muscles and ligaments of the neck and upper back,” states the RUMC. It doesn’t take a lot of force to sustain a whiplash injury. In fact, injury can occur at speeds as low as 10 miles per hour — all it really takes is a high-energy impact. Whiplash most commonly occurs in rear-ending collisions when a vehicle is subject to a sudden forward-moving force. Unfortunately, rear-end collisions are all too common. According to a report from the Washington Post, U.S. roadways see an average of 1.7 million rear-end collisions per year — making the risk of sustaining a whiplash injury exceedingly high. ...

Because of the sheer weight and size of commercial vehicles, any collision they are involved in has the potential to become catastrophic. According to a 2017 report from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) , researchers found that approximately 107 thousand large trucks were involved in injury-causing accidents. Alarmingly, there were almost 5 thousand large trucks and buses involved in fatal vehicle collisions.   One of the most common types of trucking accidents is called a “jackknife” accident, which occurs when a truck made of two components — a trailer and a cab — folds in on itself in a “V” shape. In a report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) , researchers estimated that each year, around 2 thousand injury-causing collisions can be attributed to jackknife accidents. Annually, these accidents result in approximately 200 fatalities on the road.   What exactly is the cause of jackknife accidents? There can be several reasons f...

Doug Sauls’ Salmonella Outbreak Closes Restaurant in Nashville, North Carolina Doug Saul’s Salmonella Outbreak.  14 people are sick with Salmonella food poisoning in Nashville, North Carolina.  10 of them ate at Doug Sauls’ Bar-B-Q & Seafood before getting sick.  On Friday, Nash County Health Department suspended Doug Sauls’ Bar-B-Q & Seafood’s food establishment operating permit, effective immediately.  Doug Sauls’ had to be temporarily closed so that it can be sanitized.  Nash County Health found Salmonella in multiple locations in the restaurants kitchen.  The health department found that there “were conditions present constituting an imminent health hazard .” “The North Carolina Department of Agriculture Food Protection Division identified Salmonella present in equipment and food that is likely to cause an immediate threat of serious adverse health effects. This finding was reported as part of an investigation of a small but persistent numb...

The construction industry in New York City is exploding. NYC is currently going through what’s been called “the biggest building boom in more than half a century.”  In fact, there are more than 40,00 active construction sites spread out across the five boroughs.  One thing is clear – the building boom has led to a surge in construction accident injuries in New York City. Construction accident injuries have increased by a staggering 61 percent since 2015. Last year, alone, there were 761 reported construction-related injuries in the city. City Approves Surprise Construction Site Inspections Officials in the Big Apple have set out to protect construction workers and keep them safer on the job. How? By empowering city inspectors to conduct unannounced, surprise inspections on job sites. Before the surprise inspections began last year, the city would alert contractors and property owners prior to a site visit. This gave companies and employers enough notice to fix potentia...

“Sharps” is a term that is often used in the medical field to refer to needlesticks, scalpels, and other medical instruments that are used to penetrate the skin. When these medical instruments are improperly disposed of, they can become a serious biohazard — even a small nick, cut, or puncture wound could have devastating consequences. This is because used medical instruments can potentially carry several different types of bloodborne pathogens, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and more. According to a report from the United States Department of Labor, researchers estimate that “5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.” Anyone who works in or with a medical facility is at risk of sustaining a sharps injury, including medical professionals, custodians, waste management workers, and more. There are several procedures in place for c...

According to a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there has been a 163% increase in the total number of cosmetic procedures performed from the years 2000 to 2018. There are hundreds of procedures available, which prospective patients can pick and choose from to alter almost any part of the body. However, the increase in demand for often-invasive cosmetic procedures could also lead patients to suffer severe harm if doctors fail to adhere to an acceptable standard of care.    While surgeons are highly-trained, highly-educated medical professionals, not all of them have the training or licensing they need to be cosmetic surgeons. Much like any other occupation, it takes years of training and practice to become a professionally licensed cosmetic surgeon. Additionally, many of these procedures are so specialized that surgeons can only become licensed to perform a very small number of them. Over the years, there has been an increasingly concerning issue...

Unveiled in 1904, the New York City subway system is one of the oldest and most frequently used public transit systems in the world. Additionally, it has the most subway stations out of any other — both nationally and internationally. In total, the New York metro has 472 stations, connecting through Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. While these stops are managed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority ( MTA ), there are so many that adequately maintaining stations can be difficult. As a result, poor maintenance in neglected stations can create many risks for injury within the New York City transit system. Of these risks, slipping and falling in a subway station is perhaps one of the most frightening. According to a 2016 report from the MTA, there were 168 incidents involving contact with trains, in which 48 people were killed. In poorly maintained subway stations, travelers are not only at risk for injury if they slip and fall — they are in danger of being killed. Some of the...

When it comes to car accidents, even a seemingly minor collision can result in serious, long-term injuries . While some of the most common types of injuries include head, neck, and spinal trauma, accident victims often report suffering severe knee injuries in collisions. These types of injuries occur when there is a strong external force suddenly placed on the knee, which may cause extensive damage to the bones, ligaments, cartilage, and more. The most common types of knee injuries sustained in car wrecks include: Kneecap Fractures – Kneecap fractures occur when the patella is cracked, broken, or shattered. These fractures are caused by high-energy impacts, such as car accidents. Thighbone Fractures of the Knee – Like kneecap fractures, thighbone fractures are the result of high-energy impacts. In this case, the fracture can extend from the kneecap into the lower femur. Shinbone Fractures of the Knee – Shinbone fractures, like kneecap and thighbone fractures, can happen during ...

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries reported after a car accident . However, many times, symptoms don’t appear right away. It’s not uncommon for symptoms of whiplash to be delayed for a few hours, or even a few days. The symptoms might be so minor that you don’t pay much attention to them right away. Maybe you’re not really sure if it’s whiplash or just normal aches and pains. What symptoms should you be on the lookout for? What should you do when you realize that you’re experiencing symptoms of whiplash? Here’s what you need to know. What is Whiplash, Anyway? Whiplash is an injury involving the neck, and, in some cases the shoulders and back. During a car accident, especially a rear-end collision, momentum can cause a passenger’s head to experience violent, rapid back and forth movement. This motion causes the tissue, tendons, and/or ligaments in the neck to overextend. The force of the crash basically causes the neck to extend beyond its normal range of motion. What Are ...

The birth of a child should be one of the happiest and exciting times in a new parent’s life. However, this excitement can be overshadowed by birth injuries caused by the negligence of medical professionals. Unfortunately, birth injuries are all too common. According to birth injury statistics , an average of 28 thousand infants are born with a birth injury each year. Among some of the most common injuries are head and brain traumas, which take place when the infant’s skull is subjected to too much — or improperly placed — pressure. One of the leading causes of head and brain trauma in new-born infants is the improper use of forceps by medical professionals. Forceps are a birth-assisting tool, typically used by physicians when a mother cannot push a baby out on her own during delivery. However, the tools are seen by many obstetricians as so risky that many no longer use them. Many potential complications could arise with the use of forceps. For the mother, these complications include...

Construction workers suffer from some of the highest injury rates within the domestic workforce. According to a report from the United States Department of Labor, “one in five worker deaths . . . [are] in construction.” In the year 2017, 971 construction workers were either killed or fatally injured while on the job. What was the leading cause of these fatalities? According to the Department of Labor, almost 40 percent of worker deaths were the result of serious falls. There are several factors that may be linked to the high number of fall deaths among construction workers, including the unsafe use of ladders. In a publication from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), researchers stated that “ladders are [a] major [source] of injuries and fatalities among construction workers . . . many of [these] injuries are serious enough to require time off the job.” For any worker, taking time off work to receive medical treatment can have devastating financial consequenc...

For our family went on vacation this year and spent Memorial Day with some friends in upstate New York. Between grilling out, sleeping in, and taking a break from the daily grind; it was a most relaxing time. I looked forward to time to just get away as a family and clear my head. This year was extra fun because they got to meet our new daughter. But – the food writer that I am – took Food Safety and Travel into account before I left. What I don’t get a vacation from is – you guessed it – food safety and neither do you. My wife and I are took a little break from our diet while we were in New York, mainly because there is a little bakery right around the corner with the most delicious pastries you will ever have. Diets are meant to be broken now and again right? While we are traveling however, paying attention to what we eat is a top priority. Be it fast food, a diner off the interstate, or a packed lunch; taking the time to make sure what we eat on the road is just as important as of...

The CDC just announced a new multistate Ecoli outbreak. Their announcement, however, is a bit odd. It appears the Maryland Ecoli outbreak cases linked to Ready Pac Foods Bistro ® Chicken Caesar Salad are part of the mix (no pun intended) but those in other states who have tested with the same strain of Ecoli have not reported eating that particular product. Nothing is mentioned in the announcement as to whether lettuce or lettuce products were eaten by others who are sick. Further, 6 Wisconsin cases are included in the outbreak. Could these be linked to the 20-case mystery source in the Wisconsin Ecoli outbreak ?  Could romaine be to blame again? While the theories are flying around about this multistate Ecoli outbreak, here’s what we know: A total of 17 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 8 states. A total of 7 hospitalizations have been reported, and no deaths. Whether or not ALL of the Wisconsin Ecoli cases are included...

Thanksgiving is a time that many people pull out their cooking skills or test them out for the first time as this eating holiday approaches. I remember fondly my first large family gathering after I moved away from home for the first time ever. My now husband and I invited my family and we also made plates of food for local law enforcement who could not be with their families and delivered them to the local Sheriff’s Office. There were certain recipes that I wanted to make but had no idea how so I picked up the phone and called my Grandma. I know I bugged the her nearly to death asking how to make sweet potato casserole and found myself in the years following calling her the night before Thanksgiving each year asking the same questions. I miss being able to call her now, but I have to admit I have nailed that casserole (finally). She would be proud that I regularly practice Thanksgiving Food Safety. Thanksgiving Food Safety With all of this cooking comes some real risks and while do...

The time of year is upon us where social media and our lives in general are full of people being extra thankful for everything they have. The obvious things come to mind and like most I am focused on those things such as family, friends, health, etc. Thanksgiving food safety is always something to be thankful for. But we are thankful for other things, too. Working for Make Food Safe over the last year has given me even more things to be thankful for and they are not your average ones. Before I began this journey (and I do say journey because it was a huge step for me to even consider accepting this and of course wondering if it was the right thing for myself, my family and if I would even be good at it), I had no idea what Legionnaires Disease was. I had no clue about certain aspects of food safety when it came to types of food that I was not accustomed to eating such as oysters. I didn’t know what vibrio was either. I really felt like I had been left out of some type of food safety ...

Thanksgiving is upon us folks. In just a few short days we will be gathering with family, catching up on the past year or so with new stories, commenting on how everyone (especially the children) has grown, and most importantly, eating. And Thanksgiving Food Poisoning is a real concern on this holiday. If you cannot guess, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not just because of all the yummy goodness ready to be consumed (I am a foodie after all), but because it is a time to see family and reflect on all of the good things in life. We could spend a lot of time together talking about the good things in our lives but that will be for another time. Whenever you have a group of people, a large amount of food, and sometimes a small house to pack it all in; there are bound to be food safety issues that need to be addressed. You don’t want for the day to be remembered by everyone getting sick. Let’s take a few minutes together and talk about a few tips to make our Thanksgiving this year sa...