VEHICLE & EVERYDAY SAFETY

Taser use is generally safe but officials say it should be regulated

A Wake Forest University study last year found that stun guns are "remarkably safe" compared with bludgeoning, weapons or hand-to-hand combat.

Stun guns are used by more than 12,700 U.S. law enforcement and military agencies, according to Steve Tuttle, spokesman for manufacturer Taser International.

The guns deliver a temporarily disabling burst of electricity for several seconds. The study of 1,000 cases by Wake Forest University showed 216 minor injuries, such as cuts and abrasions from falling.

Two deaths were reported, but they were the result of falls rather than the Taser itself. However, Dr. William Bozeman of Wake Forest says the Taser is a weapon that could cause death in some cases.

Critics say the devices are prone to misuse by police who fire them too readily on people who are not resisting arrest and who may be mentally ill.

In North Carolina, at least 13 sheriffs have adopted restrictions against using stun guns against passive resisters, those in handcuffs, and those near flammable material.

Florida state law limits use of stun guns to those who are actively resisting arrest. The law requires training for police in Taser use.

In the six-year period from 2001 to 2007, the most recent period for which statistics are available, 276 people died in the United States after police stunned them, according to Amnesty International. The report, however, did not consider whether the weapons were directly responsible for the deaths.

Until more regulations are in place, here's a word to the wise: Don't act up when police are present.

Trucking regulators warn on use of Chantix

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a warning on the anti-smoking drug Chantix, advising medical examiners “to not qualify anyone currently using this medication for commercial motor vehicle licenses.”

The FMCSA oversees the interstate trucking and bus industry. Its warning came after a nonprofit group called the Institute for Safe Medication Practices reported that the drug was linked to health problems including seizure and heart trouble. Previously, the drug was not allowed for pilots.

Pfizer, the maker of Chantix, says those issues are already addressed on the drug's label as "infrequent" or "rare" side effects.

For those who are not driving trucks, there is a risk-benefit question to be addressed, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Quitting smoking has a profound health benefit, so individuals must decide if Chantix is right for them. Many people have used it with success.

Slow down, live longer, and save gas

Driving the speed limit is always recommended, but if traffic allows, you'll save gas on the highway if you drive slower.

Driving 60 mph uses 9 percent less gas than driving at 70 mph. Going 50 mph can save up to 15 percent.

Avoiding a stop is another smart move. When there is no traffic immediately behind your car, you can stop accelerating and let the car's momentum take it up to a red light. It could turn green by then. Starting from a full stop takes more gasoline than starting while the car is still rolling.

Speaking of Safety

Older kids encourage siblings to buckle up

While children are safest when riding with an adult, a new study by State Farm Insurance and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia shows that their risk of being injured when a teenager is driving is reduced by 40 percent when the driver is an older brother or sister.

Kids are more likely to buckle up when an older sibling is driving, say study authors. But it can't hurt to remind the driver to have little passengers fasten their seat belts.

Storm? Don't trim the trees!

Your electric utility company wants you to call to report an outage.

What they don't want you to do is try to help them after a storm is over by trimming trees or clearing debris away from downed power lines or utility poles.

Always assume that the lines and poles are energized and potentially deadly. Never approach the wires, whether they are in trees or on the ground.

Let the professionals handle fallen or low-hanging lines. Always stay way from electric transformers.

Safer to use AC on the road

People are using all kinds of tactics to save gas. Turning off the air conditioner increases mileage by only 1 percent per gallon, according to Consumer Reports. If you drive with a window open, you'll burn gas more than you save.

At edwards.com they recommend using the AC on the highway. Keeping cool makes you a safer driver, they say.

© 2015 TLC Magazine Online, Inc.