School is around the corner - watch that backpack!

It's that time again! (Photo by Penny Mathews.)

If you're from the era when books were carried under your arm, you may not realize what kind of a load the kids are carrying these days. Educators and physicians are trying to get the word out about the dangers:

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that in 2003 there were more than 21,000 backpack-related injuries treated at emergency rooms, doctor's offices and clinics, with approximately half of these being children under the age of 18, according to a press release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. This number does include traumatic injuries related to tripping or falling over a backpack.

Moore said that musculature strain and headaches are some of the effects that can occur from improper backpack usage.

Sherry Shumaker, sophomore assistant principal at Cabell Midland High School, said students experiencing pain from backpacks is a common issue at the school.

"(They) complain all the time," Shumaker said. "Kids really need to learn how to use them properly."

Shumaker worked as the ninth grade principal last year and said there were numerous calls from parents who had to take their child to the doctor or chiropractor for back pain.

The National Safety Council says warning signs of backpacks being too heavy include change in posture when wearing the backpack, having to struggle to get the backpack on, tingling or numbness, pain when wearing the backpack and red marks on the skin.

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics on backpack safety:

Choosing the right backpack:

Look for the following:

*Wide, padded shoulder straps - Narrow straps can dig into shoulders. This can cause pain and restrict circulation.

*Padded back - A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort.

To prevent injury when using a backpack, do the following:

* Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.

* Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase curvature of the spine.

* Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.

* Use a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried upstairs. And they may be difficult to roll in snow.

For additional information, visit: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/backpack_safety.PDF

FDA Warns Against Red Yeast Rice Products Promoted on Internet as Treatments for High Cholesterol

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to buy or eat three red yeast rice products promoted and sold on Web sites. The products may contain an unauthorized drug that could be harmful to health. The products are promoted as dietary supplements for treating high cholesterol.

The potentially harmful products are: Red Yeast Rice and Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, sold by Swanson Healthcare Products, Inc. and manufactured by Nature’s Value Inc. and Kabco Inc., respectively; and Cholestrix, sold by Sunburst Biorganics. FDA testing revealed the products contain lovastatin, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Mevacor, a prescription drug approved for marketing in the United States as a treatment for high cholesterol.

“This risk is even more serious because consumers may not know the side effects associated with lovastatin and the fact that it can adversely interact with other medications," said Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

These red yeast rice products are a threat to health because the possibility exists that lovastatin can cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment. This risk is greater in patients who take higher doses of lovastatin or who take lovastatin and other medicines that increase the risk of muscle adverse reactions. These medicines include the antidepressant nefazodone, certain antibiotics, drugs used to treat fungal infections and HIV infections, and other cholesterol-lowering medications.

FDA has issued warning letters advising Swanson and Sunburst Biorganics to stop promoting and selling the products. Companies that do not resolve violations in FDA warning letters risk enforcement actions, such as an injunction against continuing violations and a seizure of illegal products.

The FDA warning letters state that the products Red Yeast Rice, Red Yeast Rice/Policosonal Complex, and Cholestrix, sold on the firm’s websites, are unapproved new drugs that are marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The warning letters are available on FDA’s Web site: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/wlcfm/recentfiles.cfm.

FDA advises consumers who use any red yeast rice product to consult their health care provider if they experience problems that may be due to the product.

Report adverse events related to these products to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; 800-332-1088; Fax: 800-332-0178; and MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852-9787.

Consumers Warned Against Eating Raw Oysters Southern Tip of Hood Canal in Washington State

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers yesterday not to eat raw oysters harvested from an area of the southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington after an outbreak of illness caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

Symptoms of the illness, called vibriosis, include watery diarrhea, often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion and last no more than three days. Severe disease is rare and occurs most commonly in people with weakened immune systems. Those who believe they have experienced these symptoms after consuming raw oysters should consult their health care provider and contact their local health department.

Raw oysters harvested from “growing area 6” in Hood Canal from July 3, 2007 and after, have caused at least six people to become ill in California and Washington. Additional reports of illness are being investigated by the states. To date, records indicate that raw oysters from the area were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The Washington State Department of Health has closed the growing area associated with the illness and has asked commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them. Consumers who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area.

Those with weakened immune systems, including people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease should avoid eating raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested.

FDA advises that consumers can continue to enjoy oysters in many cooked preparations by doing the following:

At Restaurants and other Foodservice Establishments:

* Order oysters fully cooked.

In the Shell:

* Purchase oysters with the shells closed.
* Throw away any oysters with shells already opened.
* Never allow raw seafood to come into contact with cooked food.
* Boil oysters until the shells open. Once shells open, boil for an additional three to five minutes.

To steam—add oysters to water that is already steaming and cook live oysters until the shells open, once open steam for another four to nine minutes.

* Use smaller pots to boil or steam oysters. Using larger pots, or cooking too many oysters at one time, may cause uneven heat distribution, which may cause the oysters in the middle to be under-cooked.
* Discard any oysters that do not open during cooking.

Shucked Oysters:

* Never allow raw seafood to come into contact with cooked food.
* Boil or simmer shucked oysters for at least three minutes or until the edges curl.
* Fry at 375 F for at least three minutes.
* Broil three inches from heat for three minutes.
* Bake at 450 F for 10 minutes.

Thomas & Friends, Curious George spinning tops to be recalled

More Thomas recalls in the works. From the Chicago Tribune:

Schylling Associates Inc., the Massachusetts toymaker that on Wednesday told the Tribune it planned to recall 24,000 lead-tainted Thomas & Friends spinning tops, on Thursday boosted that number to 51,000 tops from its Thomas, Curious George and Schylling Circus lines.

Separately, the company also confirmed that in 2002 it distributed to retailers 4,703 Thomas, Curious George and Primary Colors metal pails fitted with wooden handles covered in lead paint.

All of the products were manufactured in China.

The tops recall came in response to Tribune inquiries regarding a Thomas & Friends top made by Schylling and purchased on eBay. Tribune had the top tested twice by the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory, and results showed a wooden knob on the top contained 40 times the legal limit for lead.

Jim Leonard, Schylling's chief operating officer, initially said the company had tested the tops in 2002 and found them to contain lead. Asked why the company didn't recall them at the time, as required by law, he said he didn't know.

Read the rest here.

Formation Inc. Recalls Coca-Cola® Themed Drinking Glasses Due to Laceration Hazard

On August 10 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Drinking Glasses

Units: About 300

Importer: Formation Inc., of San Bruno, Calif.

Hazard: The inner wall of the double-walled glasses can break easily, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Formation has received one report of a glass breaking during normal use. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves clear double-walled soda glasses sold in a bell-shape. The drinking glasses were sold in two sizes: 16-ounces and 22-ounces, and have various Coca-Cola® graphics printed on the glass.

Sold at: The World of Coca-Cola® Store in Atlanta, Georgia exclusively from May 2007 through June 2007 for between $6 and $8.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using and discard the glasses immediately. Consumers can contact Formation for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Formation toll free at (866) 428-1176 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.formationinc.com

Toshiba Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries containing Sony cells used in Toshiba notebook computers.

Units: About 1,400

Computer Importer: Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., of Irvine, Calif.

Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corp., of Japan

Hazard: The lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Toshiba has received three reports outside of the United States of notebook batteries overheating. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled lithium-ion batteries were sold with, or sold separately to be used with the following notebook computer models: Satellite A100, Satellite A105 and Tecra A7. The battery model is printed on the battery.

Model	Computer Model Prefix Number (first 2 digits of serial number)	Model Prefix (first 6 characters)	Manufacturing Date Range	Estimated Retail Pricing (when sold)
Satellite A100	16, 26, 36, 46	PSAA0U	January 1, 2006 – April 30, 2006	About $1,300
Satellite A105	16, 26, 36, 46	PSAA2U PSAA8U PSAA9U	January 1, 2006 – April 30, 2006	About $1,000
Tecra A7	16, 26, 36, 46	PTA70U PTA71U	January 1, 2006 – April 30, 2006	About $700

Sold through: Authorized electronics retailers nationwide from January 2006 through April 2006 for between $680 and $1,300 for the computer systems and for between $90 and $120 when sold separately.

Manufactured in: China (battery packs)

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries and contact Toshiba to receive a free replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely, by turning the system off, removing the battery, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received. Consumers should use only batteries obtained from Toshiba or from an authorized Toshiba reseller.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Toshiba at (800) 457-7777 anytime or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bxinfo.toshiba.com