According to an article in the Hometown News (03/28/08) the driver of a dump truck failed to notice a fire hydrant when dumping a load of dirt. The driver of the dump truck, Mr. Wynn, of Palm Bay, FL, struck the fire hydrant while preparing to dump dirt onto a residential lawn, located at the 400 block of Fiske Boulevard, in Cocoa, FL. According to Barbara Mathews, a spokesperson for the Cocoa Police Department, the top of the fire hydrant broke off, causing the water to rush out, washing the loose dirt into the street. Resulting in the closure of Fiske Boulevard, from West Highland to School Street, as Cocoa City workers attempted to cap the ruptured waterline. The damage was estimated at more than $10,000.00.
According to an article in the Florida Today Newspaper (03/29/08) at least one person was flown to the hospital after a string of crashes caused by a single driver. Brevard County Florida Highway Patrol responded to three crashes the first of which occurred just after 8:00 a.m. in Merritt Island and continued into Cape Canaveral. The first crash occurred on Courtenay Parkway (SR 3) and Lucas Road. Next, according to Brevard County Sheriffs=s dispatchers, the subject driver caused a crash at Courtenay Parkway and Pioneer Road. From there, the driver, who was described as an older male, continued to Cape Canaveral where he crashed, yet again, at SR A1A and Central Boulevard. Although it is not clear how many people were injured in each of the crashes, at least one of the parties was taken to Cape Canaveral Hospital. The subject driver was flown to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Apparently, he had critical injuries.
A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistic (2005) points out that motorcyclists are eight times more likely to be injured and thirty time times more likely to be killed than a car driver, per vehicle mile traveled. According to the same reference, that is an increase of approximately 13% from 2004. Despite this knowledge, I ride motorcycles because with proper training and safety equipment the risk involved can be minimized to the point that riding can be accepted as relatively safe. As we all know the enjoyment of safely riding a motorcycle in Brevard County or elsewhere outweighs the risks involved. Obtain the appropriate training to safely operate a motorcycle and wear protective riding gear. These two factors along with a reasonable risk expectance will lead to an enjoyable motorcycling experience.
According to Motorcycle Consumer News (Volume 39 Number 3, March 2008) more than 25,000 2006-2007 CBR 1000 RR motorcycles were recalled because of an improperly welded vent pipe in the bottom of the fuel tank. Apparently, due to vibration, the improperly welded tanks may crack and drip fuel. As we all know, fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire. According to the article, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank. The campaign reference is 07V-576. Hopefully this recall will avoid product failure injuries.
I recently read a story where a motorcycle rider filled out an application for a new health insurance policy with a large insurance company. When the policy finally arrived, by mail, the rates charged to the insured motorcycle rider were approximately 20% higher than those originally quoted. When the motorcycle rider questioned the health insurance company, it was explained that the rates were substantially higher simply because he rode a motorcycle rider. The motorcycle rider did what many of us would do, in a similar circumstance, and canceled the policy. Further, the motorcycle rider let the insurance company know why he had canceled it. Apparently, there are companies such as Blue Cross/ Blue Shield that do not discriminate against motorcycle riders. Make your voice heard.
According to Stacy Merritt, Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator-Department of Elder Affairs, aging adults are integral to Florida’s growth and success. Elders are tax payers, volunteers, voters, and are active in making Florida a great place to live overall. However, according to Ms. Merritt, seniors who remain in the community are also in danger of becoming isolated which can foster elder abuse as well as neglect, both of which are harmful and can lead to horrific outcomes. Elder abuse in Florida and, in particular, in Brevard County is not rare. Ms. Merritt points out that elder abuse is becoming an epidemic. According to her one way to prevent elder abuse is to reach out to socially isolated elders. Those of us who live in Titusville, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Melbourne and Palm Bay should check on our neighbors, friends and family, and do so often. As citizens of Brevard County we should make sure seniors are living in clean surroundings, have fresh food, and enough of it. Make sure your elderly neighbors have their utility services on, have access to prescription medication and that no one is exploiting their finances. One resource that could help connect Brevard County seniors with life-sustaining services is the Florida Elder Help Line at 1-800-96E-LDER (1-800-963-5337). As stated by Ms. Merritt, “our seniors are Florida’s greatest national treasure. Let us love and honor them. Do not allow them to fade away into isolation.” It is the responsibility of all of us in Brevard County to care for our elders as well as ourselves.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is urging Congress to allow States to divert federal money now used for motorcycle training and awareness to, instead, promote the use of motorcycle helmets.
According to an American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) report Peters sent a letter to House and Senate leaders this week asking for the change. Ed Moreland, AMA Vice President for Government Relations, expressed concerns that diverting federal motorcycle safety funds to promote helmet use could harm rider training courses and motorcycle awareness programs that are already under funded in many states. Moreland specifically points out that “funding for rider-training courses is frequently under threat in cash-strapped states, and cutting the same pie into thinner slices is not the comprehensive, thoughtful national motorcycle-safety strategy we need.” The American Motorcyclist Association strongly advocates the voluntary use of helmets by adults along with other appropriate safety gear, and does not oppose laws requiring helmet use by minors. However the American Motorcyclist Association believes adults should be allowed to make their own decisions about when to wear a helmet.
I urge all motorcycle riders in Brevard County to take rider safety courses at every opportunity and at every level.
According to a Tampa Tribune article (03/11/08) when the florida legislature passed nursing home reforms in 2001, it promised to protect the care and dignity of nursing home residents. According to the article the state should keep its promise. Times are not so tough that those who live in nursing homes should bear the brunt of state budget cuts. Yet in January 2008 Florida cut 75 million dollars from the Medicaid fund that supports nursing-home care for the poor. Now law makers are considering a 139 million dollar cut. To make matters worse, the article points out that at the same time, the federal Medicare program wants to cut 24 billion dollars from nursing home budgets nationwide. According to nursing home administrators these cuts will have to come out of what’s spent on social services, building maintenance and personal care items such as dentures, hearing aids and glasses. However, the Florida health care association pledges not to seek a reduction in state-mandated staffing levels. Currently, Florida requires nursing-home residence (this includes Brevard County) to have at least 2.9 hours of attention from certified nursing-home assistant, in addition to care from a nurse, per day. This staffing standard-the highest in the county was negotiated in return for legislation making it more difficult for residents to make it more difficult to sue nursing homes. Brevard County legislators should stand strong for the most frail and vulnerable among us- those in nursing homes, children in need of protection and the severely developmentally disabled. If our Brevard County legislators cannot do that, Florida doesn’t just have a fiscal crisis, it has a moral crisis as well.
According to an article in the March 2008 issue of A.A.R.P. Bulletin (Katharine Greider), experts advise taking precautions to hire the right home care agencies and aides. These precautions include the following: Check them out - According to the article some agencies are Medicare-certified. For agencies not Medicare-certified, individuals should check to see if they are licensed which is required in certain states. The article also suggests obtaining referrals from generic care managers or doctors. Finally, one should meet the aid before he or she starts, and talk to other families who have worked with the aid.
Ask questions – Does the agency do background checks on its employees? How does it handle turnover? Are the aides salaried? Do they get benefits? How are they monitored?
Stay in touch - The article goes on to say that family members should make unannounced visits at different times of the day or week. The patient should be asked about the care they have received and observations should be noted.
Complain – Finally, the article says that for problems with a Medicare-certified agency or aid one can call their state=s home health hotline or the Medicare hotline at 1-800-633-4227.
The A.A.R.P suggests an interested party should go to www.medicare.gov and search Ahome health.@ to learn more.
Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling 16,365 motor vehicles due to an error in software programing with Air Bag Control Units (ACU). If you receive a notice for a Nissan that you or a loved one owns, please take it to your Central Florida Melbourne, Cocoa or Titusville Nissan dealer immediately.
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