- The ARC - California Edition -

Food for Preventive Thought

Bicycle Helmets — "If parents wear helmets when they bicycle, then about 98% of kids wear helmets. If parents don’t wear helmets, it drops to 30%".

(Quote taken from a study performed by medical researcher Fred Rivera, MD, of Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA.)

Dextromethorphan Alert — A recent study published in the journal Pediatric Research, has linked a key ingredient of over-the-counter cough syrups to birth defects in chicken embryos. The ingredient is Dextromethorphan and is included in a wide variety of cold and flu medicines, including Tylenol Cold, Tylenol Flu, Vicks Dayquil, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Sudafed Severe Cold Formula, Nyquil, and Dimetapp DM.

The researchers reported that the defects were so severe that the chemical should be avoided by children or pregnant women until other studies are conducted to verify it is safe for humans. The medication currently is required to include warning labels which urge pregnant women to consult their doctor before they use it.

(Pediatric Research, January 1998 issue)

Boating Safety – In 1996, there were 709 boating deaths nationally, and 500 of these deaths were from drowning. Of those who drowned, 88% of them were not wearing any type of life vest or life jacket. The US Coast Guard is currently weighing whether it should require recreational boaters to wear their life jackets, not just carry them aboard. According to the Coast Guard, most boating accidents occur very quickly and seldom does a person have time to put on a life jacket. They have no doubt that wearing personal flotation devices would save lives.
Most states and US territories already require some life vest use. Even some jurisdictions under the federal government mandate that recreational boaters wear life vests at all times.

There are seven jurisdictions which have no requirements: Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, South Dakota and Wyoming. American Samoa, on the other hand, requires boaters wear life vests at all times.

Tinnitus – Researchers reported in a recent issue of Neurology that they have identified the specific regions of the brain which are responsible for tinnitus. Tinnitus is a common hearing condition that affects millions in the United States. It is characterized by a constant ringing in the ears and most often causes a mild-to-severe high frequency hearing loss.

The researchers were able to pin point the origin of tinnitus activity by comparing Positron Emmission Tomography (PET) scans of various tinnitus patients with persons of normal hearing.

(Neurology, January 1998 issue)