The National Safety Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) put consumers on alert about the lithium-ion batteries in certain hybrid vehicles. The warning comes after the battery in General Motors’s Chevrolet Volt started on fire after a crash test. A crash test earlier this year involving the Volt drew the NHTSA’s attention. Six months ago, researchers...
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Elderly Man Dies in Maryland Fire
An elderly man lost his life in a house fire last month in Westminster. According to the report at westminster.patch.com, the fire also caused approximately $1.5 million in property damage at the house on Old Washington Road. According to the report, the victim’s family heard the smoke alarm at...
Read MoreDid DC Paramedic Misdiagnosis Woman’s Condition?
An elderly Washington, D.C. woman is dead after a DC Fire Department paramedic allegedly refused to accompany the woman to the hospital after examining her symptoms. The incident occurred on November 17 and the paramedic is on paid administrative leave, as reported at myfoxdc.com. The fire department reportedly responded to a call involving the 87-year-old...
Read MoreNine People Killed in Car Crashes over Holiday Weekend
The Thanksgiving holiday weekend proved deadly on Virginia’s highways, as reported at wric.com. Virginia State Police officials said nine people died in auto crashes from November 23 to November 27. Five of the victims were not wearing seatbelts, according to Virginia authorities. One of the deaths involved a...
Read MoreCommercial Truck Drivers Banned from Cell Phone Use
Federal regulators have taken action against interstate commercial bus and truck drivers who use cell phones. From now on, the drivers will face a federal fine of $2,750 if they pick up the phone while behind the wheel of their commercial vehicle. The U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the rule last month in...
Read MoreDC Leads Nation in Hit-and-Run Crashes
Washington, D.C. is a proud leader in many areas, but a study by AAA puts DC at the top of a dubious list. Washington, D.C. leads the country in the number of fatal hit-and-run accidents, according to a report at wmal.com. In one out of every...
Read MoreFeds Shut Down Dangerous Maryland Trucking Company
Federal regulators have had enough with a Maryland-based trucking company and decided to take action. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ordered Gunthers Transport, LLC, to cease operations due to its history of safety violations. In a report at fleetower.com, the FMCSA declared Gunthers an “imminent hazard” to the public. Over the past two...
Read MoreHybrid Cars – Greener but Deadly to Pedestrians?
Did you hear that? It was a hybrid vehicle, and chances are you didn’t hear it if you are a pedestrian. The cars may be great for the environment, but one study says they can be bad news for pedestrians. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), hybrid cars are 20 percent more...
Read MoreKeep These Tips in Mind When Buying Christmas Toys
With 20-days and counting until Christmas, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has some advice to help keep the holidays safe and injury-free. So far in 2011, there have been 34 toy recalls, which is down from 46 recalls this time last year. The number of toy recalls due to lead is also down...
Read MoreChildren are Suffering Severe Injuries from Swallowing Magnets
Every household has them, whether in toys or on the refrigerator. They are magnets and they are hazardous to children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In addition to being a choking hazard, once inside the stomach, the magnets can cause internal damage. If a child swallows two or more magnets, they...
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