Amtrak Crash Near Philadelphia Kills 2, Injures 30+

Two rail employees dead, over 35 passengers injured in tragic Amtrak crash

AMTRAK CRASH – Safety practices are coming into question after an Amtrak train struck a backhoe, killing two rail workers who were on the wrong track at the wrong time.

Almost one year after Amtrak train 188 derailed near Philadelphia in the deadliest train wreck in Amtrak’s history, another fatal Amtrak crash occurred just outside Philadelphia on Sunday morning. The crash killed the backhoe operator and supervisor,  and wounded more than 35 passengers.

The train was headed from New York to Savannah. GA, when it encountered the equipment on the track. The engineer applied the brake but in not nearly enough time to avoid a collision, as the locomotive was traveling at 106 miles per hour (in a 100 MPH zone).

The train’s inward-facing and outward-facing surveillance video has been obtained and will be under investigation, […]

New Rules Give Patients Better Access to Medical Records

A recent article in the New York Times explains new guidelines issued this month that aim to give patients easier access to their own medical information.  In our view, this is an extremely important development, because having access to medical information allows people to take control of their own healthcare, and to find and fix potentially dangerous errors in their records.  After a car accident that results in injuries, or an illness requiring hospitalization, it is important that people be informed about their care.

As the article notes, patients have long had the right to view their own medical records, but they frequently face obstacles that prevent them from exercising that right.

“Jump Through Hoops”

One of the most frequent complaints received by the Department of Health and Human Services is the difficulty patients experience in obtaining copies of their medical records. […]

Poorly maintained fields increase concussion risk

When it comes to concussions, does it matter what type of field the athletes are playing on?

Head injuries and life-threatening conditions such as CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in athletes, especially football players, have been getting lots of (long overdue) attention in recent years. In an effort to help protect players,  we’ve seen sports leagues, coaches, trainers, medical professionals, and equipment manufacturers work to make the games safer — a better helmet design, teaching safer tackling techniques, greater enforcement of game rules, and earlier detection of head injury to avoid repeated blows. Little attention has been paid to the actual playing surface, even though 1 in 5 concussions involve a head-to-surface collision.

A recent study by the Concussion Legacy Foundation urges athletic organizations and groundskeepers to treat the field with the same care as they would any other piece of valuable equipment or safety technology, […]

How to stay safe on the scariest night of the year

Halloween can be one of the deadliest nights of the year.  Car accidents are among the biggest risks and children are the most vulnerable victims. Lots of adults going to and from Halloween parties and lots of kids on the streets and sidewalks after dark create an environment ripe for pedestrian accidents.

On an average day of the year, alcohol is a factor in about 1/3 of fatal car crashes. On Halloween, that percentage goes up to 1/2.

On Halloween, pedestrians account for one out of every four people killed in car accidents – double the average for the rest of the year.

In addition to car accidents, Halloween festivities can lead to a handful of other potential dangers that can ruin the fun of the holiday.

For parents and kids:

To help your child stay safe while trick-or-treating this year, […]

Use Your Head: Kids and Sports Concussions

School is in session, fall is on its way, and football season is upon us. Tonight is the first game of the NFL’s 96th season. It’s an exciting time of year.

If you have a child enrolled in youth sports programs, this is also a good time to educate yourself on the very real possibility of a sports-related head injury. We’ve been hearing of increasing evidence linking football to long-term brain damage, and there’s even a new movie coming out starring Will Smith as the doctor who first made that alarming connection.  But, the truth is that concussions can occur in all youth sports. We’re here to dispel some myths and share some practical knowledge on the subject so you can help keep your athlete safe.

What Are the Truths?

First, let’s address some common misconceptions. Think that only professional athletes who spend years playing contact sports are susceptible to sports-related brain damage? […]