Space Heater Safety Tips
The cold weather is here so people are thinking about heating their homes and the bill that comes along with keeping the cold at bay. Many people turn to space heaters as an alternative to residential furnaces as they are an effective way to warm a room and they are surprisingly energy efficient. Other advantages to space heaters include their ability to heat a space as large as 300 square feet both rapidly and evenly.
Space Heater Accidents
Between 2005 and 2007 space heaters were the direct cause of about 3,800 house fires a year. These house fires were responsible for 115 deaths and 250 injuries. Space heaters are responsible for 82 percent of deaths in house fires caused by heating devices. Children under the age of five and the elderly over the age of 65 are the most common victims of space heater accidents. Homes in the south have a higher rate of space heater accidents because so many people can’t afford to heat their homes and because there isn’t as much demand for furnace heat due to a warmer climate.
Home heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires behind cooking equipment although the fires are more common in the winter when cold temperatures emerge. The good news is that fires and deaths caused by home heating equipment are on the decline. In fact, fires caused by home heaters in 2008 were down by 72 percent from 1980. New technology has helped to decrease the safety risks in home heaters. A modern space heater comes with a circuit breaker and automatic shutoffs when it is toppled or clogged or when it overheats. Still, we should follow portable heater safety tips to avoid fires in our home.
Portable Heating Safety Tips
- Keep flammable items at least three feet away from the heating device.
- Teach your children about the heat that heaters put out and have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around your space heaters.
- Have a qualified professional check and clean your heating equipment and chimneys each year before use.
- Do not leave portable heaters running when leaving the room or going to bed.
- If you are using a fuel-burning space heater, only use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer
- Test smoke alarms on a regular basis.
- Store fuel containers, piping, and regulators upright in a safe and dry area where they will not be damaged; preferably outdoors.
- Protect valves from physical damage.
When used correctly, space heaters are a safe, cost-efficient, and effective way to heat rooms within your home. Be sure to follow safety tips to avoid a space heater accident.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreCold Weather Survival Tips
The cold weather is here-colder and earlier than normal. With the sudden drop in temperature we can be caught off guard when outside for long periods of time. In addition, many people don’t know that cold weather can lower their body temperature to dangerous levels until it has happened. The bottom line is that dressing in warm layers can go a long way to preventing hypothermia and frostbite when we need to be outside to get things done.
A drop in body temperature causing hypothermia can cause a coma or even be fatal, especially if the body is also wet. Hypothermia can also cause stiff joints, slurred speech, mental confusion, shivering, slow pulse, and a loss of coordination. Frostbite can result in the loss of limbs, toes and fingers are especially susceptible. When skin is frostbitten it will become white and circulation will decrease. In the worst cases, blisters form on the skin.
Prevent Frostbite & Hypothermia
The most important thing to preventing cold weather maladies is to cover your skin with warm cotton or lightweight wool layers, starting with long underwear. We lose a lot of heat out of our neck and heads so wearing a warm hat and scarf or other neck covering is important. Warm gloves will also help to protect your hands and fingers. Your clothing should be loose, not clingy. If you are out in the cold and realize that you haven’t dressed warmly enough than cover yourself with anything that you can to preserve body heat including paper, pillows, blankets, and jackets. If you body gets wet then immediately take your clothes off so you can dry; it is safer to be naked than wet. Prevent getting wet by having access to proper raingear including a good raincoat and boots. Bring an extra pair of warm, dry socks and gloves. If you find that you are getting too warm then you can always remove a layer.
If you get into a car accident when the temperature is at or below freezing, protect yourself from the cold while you wait for help. If you have extra clothes, put them on immediately. If you have a garbage bag then cut holes for your head and arms and wear it to retain body heat. If your car is still able to run then ensure that the tailpipe is clear and turn on the heater. Let it run for 15 minutes at a time and then wait 30 minutes to preserve gas. Do not leave the vehicle.
Caring for Frost Bitten Skin
- Do not ever rub the frozen part of the body with snow.
- Use extra layers like a blanket or clothing to cover the frozen area.
- If possible, get out of the cold and inside somewhere warm.
- You can run warm water or immerse the skin in warm water but NEVER in hot water.
- If the area is not regaining color and circulation, seek professional medical attention.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreChinese Product Recalls Crisis 2007
We use a variety of products everyday but some products are toxic and need to be recalled. In 2007, China had a public relations and trade crisis on its hands when a series of product recalls on its exports were announced. The product safety institutions of the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand imposed bans on products manufactured in and exported from China because of lead in paint and other safety concerns. The products fell into a variety of categories including toys, toothpaste, pet food, cosmetics, and even seafood.
Product Recalls
Product safety recalls are serious business. If you have been hurt by a product that has been recalled for safety issues seek the help of an experienced products liability attorney. Product recalls from 2007 included:
Toothpaste
On August 13, 2007 hotel amenity provider Gilchrist & Soames recalled toothpaste manufactured in China because it was contaminated with poisonous diethylene glycol, a constituent of antifreeze. Some Chinese manufacturers had been using it as a less-expensive substitute for glycerol, which is a safe ingredient often used to thicken toothpaste.
Two brands of Chinese-made toothpaste, Spearmint and Trileaf Spearmint were pulled from the shelves in Europe after it was discovered that they also contained diethylene glycol.
Pet food
A well known pet food recall was issued in March 2007 after a Canadian pet food manufacturer notified the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that animals had died after eating its products. The FDA identified melamine in the pet food which is an industrial chemical found in plastics and resins. Of 230 samples tested for melamine, 130 came back positive in the food itself or in the wheat gravy that accompanied the food.
The FDA believes that although the food was imported from China, the melamine was added to the wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate by US manufacturers. Since this initial assessment, American journalists have reported that factory owners in China have admitted to adding melamine to pet foods. The purpose was to increase the nitrogen content of the food to make it appear that it contained more protein than it actually did. China banned the practice of adding melamine to food products on April 26, 2007, but does not take responsibility for any deaths to pets.
Toys
In June 2007, toy firm RC2 Corp was forced to recall several of its Thomas & Friends wooden train sets due to lead in the paint used by Chinese manufacturers. Later that year, RC2 recalled all of its The First Years 3-in-1 Flush and Sounds Potty Seats because a Chinese contractor had used orange paint that contained excessive levels of lead on the plaque inserted into the back of the seat.
The year 2007 was not a great year for the world’s biggest toy company Mattel as it recalled millions of products in a four week span. On August 1, Sesame Street and Dora the Explorer toys were recalled because of lead levels in the paint. On August 14, 7.1 million Polly Pocket toys; 600,000 Barbie and Tanner Playsets; 1 million Doggie Daycare, Shonen Jump’s One Piece; and thousands of Batman Manga toys were recalled due to exposed magnets that could fall off. They also recalled Sarge diecast toys from the Pixar movie Cars because of concerns over lead in the paint. On September 4, Mattel recalled 800,000 Barbie doll accessories and Fisher-Price toys after tests showed the paint used on them contained lead. Mattel ended up issuing an apology to China’s manufacturers acknowledging that the majority of the product recalls were due to their own design flaws rather than poor manufacturing processes.
In November 2007, the toy called Bindeez exported by an Australian distributor was voluntarily recalled due to the paint containing a toxic chemical that made children sick when it metabolized into the anesthetic GHB.
On November 9, 2007 Marvel Toys recalled 175,000 Curious George plush dolls manufactured in China as they contained an excessive amount of lead in their surface paint.
On November 8, 2007 Dolgencorp recalled about 51,000 Children’s Fashion Sunglasses imported from China due to dangerous levels of lead.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreGutter Cleaning Safety Tips
Budgeting for a professional gutter cleaner could be a smart investment; more than 28,000 people are injured every year in falls off of ladders in home cleaning projects. If you do decide to take on gutter cleaning on your own, be very careful to scope out hazards such as wet leaves on the roof and exposed electrical wires.
Gutter Cleaning Safety Hazards
There are many risks present when cleaning gutters including slipping, tripping, and falling off a wet roof or ladder and being shocked by electrical wires.
Ladders pose a particular risk of injury. There are many reasons that ladders pose a risk including:
- The ladder being unstable. Common causes of an unstable ladder include placement on uneven ground or insecure positioning on a roof or against the wall or gutter.
- The ladder being in poor repair. Old ladders that sit out in the shop year after year without proper maintenance will start to break down and become unstable and unsafe.
- Experiencing vertigo or dizziness. It is common for people to become dizzy when working at a high height.
Gutter Cleaning Safety Tips
Ladder Safety
Only use a ladder that is tall enough to reach where you need to clean and keep it within a comfortable distance of the spot you are cleaning. Leaning too far over to one side increases your risk of falling of the ladder. If you are using cleaning tools while on the ladder, carry them in a bucket or bag and be careful not to get them tangled on the ladder as you climb.
Safe Clothing
Always wear hard sole, non-slip shoes. Wear safety gloves when setting up and disassembling your ladder to avoid pinch point injuries. Avoid wearing lose fitting clothing as it can became entangled with the ladder. Wear clothing appropriate for the temperature; you don’t want to be freezing cold or over-heating.
Electrical Wire Safety
Look up to see if electrical wires will be in your path before positioning your ladder. Always keep ladders at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Wires should never be contacted or touched under any circumstances; overhead power lines are not insulated to prevent electrical shocks.
Dizziness and Vertigo
Be careful not to get up too fast when climbing up or off a ladder as it can cause dizziness and vertigo with could mean a dangerous fall.
Ladder Injuries Increase with Age
The dangers of gutter cleaning become more acute with increased age. People aged 65 and older are more likely to get into an accident due to decreasing balance and increased illnesses. According to The U.S. Consumer Product Safety, people aged 65 and older accounted for half of all deaths associated with a ladder in 2002. They also accounted for 16 percent of emergency room visits involving ladder-related injuries but 39 percent of those hospitalized for these injuries. If a person feels nervous about cleaning their gutters, it is in their best interest to hire a professional gutter cleaner.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreTop 10 Woodworking Safety Tips
Woodworking is a popular hobby and the woodworking industry employs thousands of workers across the country. Woodworkers use woodshop tools that carry risks of woodworking injuries. A survey of amateur and professional woodworkers conducted in New Mexico took a look at the history and rates of woodshop tool related injuries. Sixty-four percent of all woodworking injuries involved woodshop tools. The tool with the highest rate of injuries associated with its use was the jointer-planer at 4.9 injuries per 1000 person-hours of use. Chisels and gouges accounted for 3.3 injuries per 1000 person-hours of use and drill presses for 3.1 injuries. Hammers and table saws were also frequently associated with woodshop injuries. One third of the reported injuries required professional medical care and five percent of respondents experienced partial amputations.
Top 10 Woodworking Safety Tips
Apart from taking a woodworking safety course, following some basic safety tips can help you avoid a woodworking injury.
1. Wear Safety Glasses
You should put your safety glasses on when you enter the woodshop and keep them on until you leave. Do not take a chance with your eyesight!
2. Wear Appropriate Clothing
Avoid loose-fitting clothing and dangling jewelry as it could become tangled in a saw blade or cutting head. Wear clothes that will protect your body from flying wood chips.
3. Avoid Drugs and Alcohol
Hobby woodworkers should avoid using drugs and alcohol while working on their project as they are using dangerous tools.
4. Disconnect Power before Blade Changes
Always disconnect the power from a power tool before changing a bit or blade. Turning off the switch is not safe because it could get bumped back on accidentally.
5. Less Extension Cords
Try using one extension cord for all 110-volt power tools in the shop. This way you will be forced to switch the cord from tool to tool before the tool can be used. This will also help awareness to disconnect the power when making bit or blade changes.
6. Use Sharp Blades & Bits
Dull cutting tools are dangerous as the tool has to work harder to cut and is more likely to kick-back or bind.
7. Check for Nails, Screws, or Other Metal before Cutting
Check the stock for metal pieces such as nails or screws and remove them before cutting. If the cutting tool bumps into a piece of metal it could damage the cutting head and the stock; worse, it could cause kick back which is a common cause of injury. Using a metal detector is a great way to check for metal.
8. Work Against the Cutter
Always ensure that the router bit or saw blade is cutting against the motion of the wood and not in the same direction. The cutter should cut into the stock, not with the stock.
9. Do Not Reach Over a Blade to Remove Cut-Offs
Never put your hands in front of or near a moving blade; be particularly cautious when removing waste or cut-offs. Wait until the blade has stopped moving before reaching in. If possible, use a piece of scrap or stick to push the waste away from the blade. To be absolutely safe, a blade should be unplugged before risking putting your hands close.
10. Avoid Distractions
When you work in a woodshop you are surrounded by potentially dangerous tools so it is important to focus on your task and avoid distractions such as conversation. If you are working with a power tool, finish the cut to a safe conclusion before looking away.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreChainsaw Injuries Affect Thousands Each Year
While efficient, chainsaws are inherently dangerous tools that cause thousands of chainsaw injuries every year. According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission there were over 28,500 chain saw injuries in 1999. More than 36 percent of chainsaw injuries occur to the legs and knees and the average chainsaw injury needs 110 stitches. The annual expense to treat chainsaw injuries in 1989 was 350 million dollars which could mean costs are triple that today.
Workplace Chainsaw Injuries
Assuming a chainsaw injury requires four weeks recovery, worker’s compensation costs were estimated at 125 million dollars annually in 1989. Although not as easily quantified, loss of production and loss of quality of life for the injured party likely account for the single largest cost.
There are 69,000 professional loggers in the U.S. which means that it would cost five million dollars to clothe each of them with one pair of chainsaw chaps (at approximately $75.00 each). When you account for the dangers in the logging industry, however, you can see that investing in safety gear provides a good payback.
Chainsaw Safety Tips
Chainsaw injuries can be minimized by using proper personal protective equipment and safe operating procedures.
Before Starting a Chain Saw
- Check that the saw is in good working order. The controls, chain tension, and all bolts and handles need to be in good repair and adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ensure that the chain is sharp and the lubrication reservoir is full.
- Clear away dirt, debris, small tree limbs and rocks from the area you will be sawing. Look for nails and spikes in the tree before cutting.
- Always wear proper personal protective equipment when operating the saw, including hand, foot, leg, eye, face, hearing, and head protection.
- Avoid loose-fitting clothing.
- Before starting the chainsaw, ensure that the trunk or tree limbs will not bind against the saw.
- Watch for branches being held down under tension as they may spring out when cut.
- Only use gasoline-powered chain saws equipped with a protective device that minimizes chain saw kickback.
To Fuel a Chain Saw
- Only use approved fuel containers to bring fuel to the chainsaw.
- Dispense fuel at least 10 feet away from any sources of ignition when performing construction activities.Do not smoke during fueling.Use a funnel or a flexible hose to pour fuel into the saw.
- Never attempt to fuel a chainsaw when it is running or hot from use.
Operating a Chain Saw
- Start the saw on the ground or on another firm support. Drop starting the saw is very dangerous.
- Start the saw at least 10 feet from the fueling area, with the chain’s brake engaged.
- Keep your hands firmly on the saw’s handles, and maintain secure footing while operating the saw.
- Be aware of the potential for saw kick-back. Prevent kick-back by keeping the tip guard in place (if supplied) and never sawing with the tip.
- Shut off the saw or engage the chain brake when carrying the saw on rough or uneven terrain.
Chainsaw Safety Features
Over the years, chainsaw manufacturers have added safety features with the aim of decreasing chainsaw injuries. Some safety features are on every chainsaw and others are only present in areas where they are required by law. Most chainsaw safety features are focused on avoiding kickback through a chain and bar design or reducing the risk of injury should kickback happen through the use of chain brakes.
Chainsaw operators should always wear proper safety gear and inspect a chainsaw in advance to ensure that it is in good working order and has the appropriate safety features.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreIt’s Deer Season: Prevent a Deer Car Accident!
Fall means deer hunting season to many and the reality is that there are more deer running around our neighborhoods and onto our roads at this time of year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are approximately 1.5 million deer, elk and moose-car accidents in the United States every year. One-hundred-fifty to 200 of those collisions result in a human fatality, the average damage to a car or truck is $3,103 and the total cost of property damage is estimated at $1.1 billion annually. Deer populations have been growing while being simultaneously displaced by urban sprawl, which is leading to more accidents each year. According to State Farm’s claims data, there were 2.3 million car-deer vehicle collisions for the two-year period ending on June 30, 2010. That’s 21.1 percent more than five years earlier.
Read MoreGun Deaths on Decline
In 2010, guns were involved in the deaths of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings. This breaks down to more than 85 deaths each day and more than three deaths each hour. There were also 73,505 Americans treated in emergency rooms for non-fatal gunshot wounds in 2010. Firearms were the third-leading cause of injury-related deaths nationwide in 2010, after poisoning and motor vehicle accidents. The United States accounts for nearly 75 percent of all murdered children in the developed world. American children are 17 times more likely to be murdered by firearms than children in other industrialized nations.
Despite the alarming numbers, gun homicide rates, along with all violent crime, peaked in 1993 and have dropped sharply over the last two decades. Compared with 1993, the firearm homicide rate dropped by 49 percent in 2010 and there were fewer deaths from violent crime, despite the nation’s growing population. The rate for other violent crimes with a firearm such as assaults, robberies, and sex crimes was down 75 percent in 2011 compared to 1993. It is important to note, however, that violence plunged through the 1990s but has declined less significantly since 2000.
Gun Death Statistics
Homicide
- In 2010, guns were involved in 11,078 homicides in the United States. This number accounted for almost 35 percent of all gun deaths and more than 68 percent of all homicides.
- Between 2005 and 2010 there was an average of 33 gun homicides each day.
Suicide
- In 2010, guns were used in 19,392 successful suicides in the United States. This number accounted for almost 62 percent of all gun deaths.
- More than 50 percent of all suicides in the U.S. involve a firearm.
- Between 2005 and 2010 there was on average 49 gun suicides each day.
- White males represent 40 percent of the U.S. population and yet they accounted for over 80 percent of firearm suicides in 2010.
- In 2010, firearms were the weapon of choice in 44 percent of suicide deaths among people under the age of 25.
Unintentional Deaths and Injuries
- In 2010, 606 people were killed in unintentional firearm injuries.
- Between 2005 and 2010, almost 3,800 people in the U.S. died from unintentional shootings.
- On average, states with the highest gun levels had nine times the rate of unintentional firearm deaths compared to states with the lowest gun levels.
The U.S. General Accounting Office believes that 31 percent of unintentional deaths caused by firearms could be prevented by the addition of two devices: a child-proof safety lock (8 percent) and a loading indicator (23 percent).
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreHow Much THC Makes You Impaired?
With Washington and Colorado States legalizing marijuana for recreational use, law enforcement tactics are changing. Laws around marijuana have gone from a focus on prohibition to regulation. New laws are being enacted to regulate distribution, taxation, age restrictions, and how much marijuana is reasonable for a person to possess for personal use. One of the more difficult questions to answer is what constitutes legal intoxication and how that correlates to driving while impaired. How stoned is too stoned to drive safely?
Both the Washington and Colorado State Legislatures passed house bills that declare five nanograms as the legal limit for impairment. If a person is pulled over and a blood screen detects five or more nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood in a person’s bloodstream, that individual is considered legally under the influence of drugs.
It can be difficult for a person to know when they are too impaired to drive whether from alcohol or marijuana. The main difference for law enforcement is the easy availability of breathalyzer tests to quantify blood alcohol levels and the relative difficulty of imposing a blood test to check for THC levels. Over time, these sorts of dilemmas will be answered by clear laws but we are not there yet. It is important to note that the body of science describing marijuana’s effects on the brain and body is broad but doesn’t enjoy wide consensus. Five nanograms per milliliter is perhaps a place for policy to start but it might be reasonable to expect changes to the law as scientific consensus is reached.
Driving while stoned is a crime in all 50 states but only some have set actual limits for THC in blood levels. It’s important to note that unlike blood alcohol levels, THC levels in the blood do not necessarily have anything to do with impairment. Marijuana is metabolized in the body’s fat cells and can be detected in the blood for as long as three months after last use in frequent pot smokers.
More than a dozen states have implemented “per se” cannabis driving laws that authorize a DUI conviction, without trial, to anyone exceeding the state’s THC blood limit. Most of those states have legal blood THC limits of zero. The federal government has not gotten on board with the decriminalization of marijuana and is still recommending that all states pass zero-tolerance “per se” driving laws.
The remaining/majority of states have effect-based laws that require evidence of impairment from recent ingestion of a controlled substance before a DUI conviction is authorized. See your state’s marijuana driving laws here.
“Per se” cannabis driving laws have not been shown to reduce traffic fatalities, and they may be inadvertently making criminals out of people who are using a controlled substance in a legal manner.
Washington State passed a “per se” driving law and more and more people are testing positive for marijuana since the substance was made legal for recreational use. It should be noted that the boost in numbers may actually be due to more blood tests rather than an increase in drug use.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
Read MoreIs it Safe to Drive While Taking Pain Medication?
There are so many Americans taking medication for pain and other ailments that we may not even think to ask whether we are safe to drive while on the prescription. In truth, it is safe to drive while taking most medication but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises that it’s best to be absolutely sure before you get behind the wheel.
Some prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines can cause reactions that may make it unsafe to drive.
Reactions to medications can include:
- Slowed movement or reaction times
- Fainting
- Sleepiness/drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Excitability or racing heart
- Dizziness
- Inability to focus or pay attention
- Nausea
Risk of DUI
In some states, driving while under the influence of drugs/medication, whether prescribed or not, can put you at risk for a DUI. If you cause an accident while taking medication, you may find yourself under scrutiny for any medication you were taking at the time of the collision.
Medications that could Cause Unsafe Driving
Keep yourself and others safe. Be cautious if taking any of the following prescription or OTC medications as they could cause a decrease in your driving abilities:
- drugs for anxiety
- pain relievers
- antidepressants
- products containing codeine
- some cold remedies and allergy products
- tranquilizers
- sleeping pills
- diet pills, “stay awake” drugs, and other medications with stimulants such as caffeine, ephedrine, or pseudoephedrine.
Never combine alcohol and medication before driving and be careful of taking more than one medication at a time unless you have been advised by a pharmacist or doctor that they do not combine to cause drowsiness. Be aware that pills containing stimulants may cause excitability or drowsiness.
Be Informed
If you need to drive while taking medication, get all the information you can to ensure the safety of yourself and others on the road. Continue to take your medication in the dosage and times you were prescribed but talk to your doctor or pharmacist about potential side effects so you are prepared. You can request a print-out of the potential risks and side effects for any medication. It is very important to provide a complete record of all the medications you are taking including OTC and herbal products so your doctor or pharmacist can advise about any dangerous overlaps or potential side effects.
With adequate information your doctor may be able to:
- adjust the dose of your medication
- adjust the timing of doses or when you use the medicine to work around key driving times
- add an exercise or nutrition program to decrease the need for medicine
- change the medicine to one that causes less drowsiness or other undesirable side effects that could affect your ability to drive
If you have spoken to your doctor and taken all reasonable precautions but you still feel unsafe to drive, it might be best to look into transportation alternatives. Consider asking for a ride from a friend or family member, taking public transportation, walking, taxi cabs, shuttles buses, or vans. Many senior centers and religious or other local service groups offer transportation services for older adults in the community.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
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