Tag: Safety
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Biohacking: Unveiling the Science and Ethics Behind Optimizing Human Performance
Many biohacking interventions lack proper scientific evidence that can support effectiveness or safety. Biohackers think that they have the tendency of manipulating various physiological and biochemical processes to achieve their desired outcomes. In the pursuit of achieving best for your body, the term biohacking has come to exist. Biohacking means the various tips and tricks…
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How to Stay Cool in the Heat: Safety Tip for Extreme Temperatures
Another pro tip: “A trip to the library, grocery store, local pub, or movie theater can be life-saving, especially if it is not cooling off at night,” William Roberts, MD, director of the sports medicine program at the University of Minnesota Medical School, tells SELF. Because heat-related illness can happen due to heat exposure over…
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How to Get Away From an Angry Flock of Geese That’s Harassing You
The humble Canada goose is many things: It’s one of the birds a person in North America is most likely to encounter while walking or hiking. It’s also a triumph of wildlife conservation and a species that can be an entry point for rethinking your relationship to the natural world, if you let it. It…
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Dry Swallowing Pills: Why Taking Meds Without Water Is Risky
You’ve probably found yourself in this scenario before: It’s the middle of the night, and you suddenly wake up with a pounding headache. You stumble around trying to find any kind of pill that will squash the pain fast, so you hopefully wake up feeling a bit better. Perhaps you “dry” swallow the medication without…
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Here’s How to Make an Emergency Hiking Kit
The start of the fall hiking season might find you browsing AllTrails or breaking in new hiking boots—but hopefully, you’ll also spend some time assembling a hiking emergency kit. And by that, we don’t necessarily mean a true kit that fits tidily in the front pocket of your backpack (although if you’re that good of…
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How to Stay Safe Before, During, and After a Flood, According to Experts
If you’ve tuned into the news lately, you’ve likely seen at least some coverage of the floods that are impacting various parts of the world. Over the summer, the devastating floods in Pakistan—which have killed more than 1,500 people in the area, including more than 500 children—have highlighted just how dangerous this type of natural…
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‘Brain-Eating Amoebas’ Are in the News Right Now, But They’re Also Very Rare
This summer, two people sadly died after being infected by Naegleria fowleri, an organism that is commonly referred to as a brain-eating amoeba. The first death occurred after a Missouri resident swam in a lake in southern Iowa; the second occurred after a child went swimming in an eastern Nebraska river. Naegleria fowleri is a…
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Here’s How to Stay Cool and Safe in Extreme Heat
And it’s really hard to get reasonably cool without A.C., especially when the weather becomes this stifling. Air conditioning, in addition to cooling your environment, helps take moisture out of the air, Dr. Pryor says. As a result, it supports your body in crucial temperature regulation. “We’re one of the few species on Earth that…
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The 10 Best First Aid Kits for Camping and Outdoors
We’ll admit it, first aid kits aren’t the most exciting piece of outdoor gear you could purchase. But the best first aid kits are essential for things like car camping, hiking, backpacking, road trips, and any other adventure you might find yourself on this summer. When you’re out of cell phone service or deep in…
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How to Choose the Safest Cookware and Bakeware
The safest cookware may be a matter of opinion, but those opinions always revolve around just a few different non-toxic cookware types. Every home cook needs a great set of cookware for preparing all those delicious creations. But even more importantly, the DIY chef needs to consider safety, durability, cost, and functionality when choosing which…
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CBD and other medications: Proceed with caution
Products containing cannabidiol (CBD) seem to be all the rage these days, promising relief from a wide range of maladies, from insomnia and hot flashes to chronic pain and seizures. Some of these claims have merit to them, while some of them are just hype. But it won’t hurt to try, right? Well, not so…
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The health effects of too much gaming
It is estimated that 164 million Americans — half of our population — play video games, also known as gaming. Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t just teens who play games. According to a recent survey, only 21% of gamers were under 18 years old. While gaming can be a fun distraction or hobby (and…
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Magnets, sound, and batteries: Choosing safe toys
The holidays feel more important than usual this year as the pandemic rages around us; we all are looking for something to enjoy. And a big part of holiday enjoyment for families is, of course, buying toys. As parents, friends, and family set out to buy toys for the children on their lists, here are…
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Be vigilant about bug spray
Ticks and mosquitoes don’t care about COVID-19 safety protocols. They don’t care that people are trying to squeeze out the last moments of this restrictive summer by getting outdoors, hiking, or just sitting on their decks at night and feeling something that’s close to normal. COVID-19 has commanded our attention and caused people to adapt…
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Healthy headphone use: How loud and how long?
As our society and culture become more connected through technology, the use of headphones has increased. Headphones allow people to enjoy music and have conversations from anywhere at any time. The ease of headphone use and the mobility that they afford cannot be overstated. This is particularly true currently, as our society spends more time…
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How risky is using a public bathroom during the pandemic?
Given the choice between using a public bathroom and doing anything else, some people will always choose the latter. Regardless of the urgency or however pristine it’s reported to be, the space comes with an ick factor, says Dr. John Ross, who practices hospital medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and is board-certified…
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When lockdown is not actually safer: Intimate partner violence during COVID-19
The first thing that came to mind when I heard about COVID restrictions and mitigation strategies was how exceptionally dangerous this time could be for women living with abusive partners. “Self-isolate,” “stay at home,” “practice social distancing,” and “recession” are all words likely to be terrifying to many women who are living with intimate partner…
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How risky is a hug right now?
“Can I get a hug?” It’s a simple question for a simple act that’s been especially missed because of COVID-19 distancing. “Human beings need social contact,” says Dr. Eugene Beresin, executive director of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital, and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. “We are not…