Latest news with #100DeadliestDaysofSummer
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Blood shortage looms as summer demand surges
JOPLIN, Mo. — We're in the midst of the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer' a time when the demand for a life-saving donation spikes – but the supply drops. 'Do something for my fellow man,' said Phyllis Petty, blood donor. She says living in a volatile world makes her feel compelled to do something. 'You know, I feel like God blessed me with good health, and I might as well pass it on to someone else,' said Petty. Donations like hers could end up at one of 43 hospitals served by the Community Blood Centers of the Ozarks, like Freeman Health System in Joplin, where it'll be used by someone like Dr. Brock Carney. 'Summer months are busier, because of trauma,' said Dr. Carney. That's because: 'Accidents tend to happen in the summer.' Dr. Carney says that at Freeman alone, they average about 540 units of blood. 'We see quite a bit of blunt trauma, mostly, car accidents, falls, but also gunshot wounds, stab wounds, any kind of trauma, really, can cause hemorrhagic shock.' Meaning the need for a blood transfusion. Sometimes, they'll have to use what he calls a 'massive transfusion protocol.' 'Which means they need more than ten units of blood products in a 24-hour period,' said Dr. Carney. But there's a problem. 'We collect 40% of blood donations from high school and college students,' said Michelle Teter, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. And during the '100 Deadliest Days' the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day when schools are out – demand for those donations spikes. 'So, it's kind of a little perfect storm that creates the problem,' said Teter. The CBCO collects roughly 200 units of blood a day from 4 donor centers and 5 to 7 mobile blood person can donate one unit of blood; that has a shelf life of 42 days. 'And a person can donate every 56 days. You see the gap there, so that's why it's a constant need,' said Teter. A need that can become even more desperate in an emergency. 'Last month, one hospital alone used 200 units over a weekend.' A blood donation takes about an hour and can save up to three lives. Something Phyllis knows firsthand. 'My husband sadly isn't with me anymore, but he required several donations, and maybe he got some of mine. We never know,' said Petty. To help meet the summer demand CBCO runs several promotional campaigns like getting tickets to see the Springfield Cardinals in exchange for your donation. You can make a donation at their Joplin facility at 2318 E 32nd Street. You can learn more about their campaigns here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How to survive the ‘100 Deadliest Days of Summer'
WACO, Texas (FOX 44) – The 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are referred to as the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer'. This is nationally known as the most dangerous time for teen drivers. Daniel Armbruster of AAA Public Affairs dropped by our studio to share more about how we can all be safe on the roads. You can watch our interview in the video above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Do Teens Think Everything ‘Rhymes With Grug'? This Confusing Slang Explained
If you have a teen or tween at home, then chances are, you've probably heard some confusing things that 'rhyme with Grug.' And, lest you waste time scratching your head and trying to figure out if these things actually rhyme, we'll save you some time: they don't. No, your teens don't need a rhyming refresher — if they say everything 'rhymes with Grug,' there's a simple reason why. We'll do our best to break it down for you! Middle school teacher Mr. Lindsay (aka, our favorite 'student translator') attempted to explain Grug on TikTok. When kids talk about Grug, they are referring to one of the main characters from the movie The Croods, voiced by Nicholas Cage. More from SheKnows What Parents of Teens Need To Know About the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer' 'In the movie, the character Grug states that there's a bunch of things that 'rhymes with Grug,'' Mr. Lindsay says. (The exact line is, 'I call it a rug, rhymes with Grug. And this one, I call it a ride, rhymes with Grug.') 'Now, obviously ride doesn't actually rhyme with Grug, and that's kind of the whole point of the meme,' Mr. Lindsay explains. It's literally as simple as that. For some reason, that line from this 2013 movie went viral in recent weeks, and teens and tweens started saying, 'I call it a [blank]. It rhymes with Grug.' The more ridiculous, risqué, and silly, the better. According to 'The trend seemingly started with a video from TikToker @bryan..200, shared on May 3rd. The video showed him dancing to a Jersey Club remix of The Croods main theme, with a text caption reading, 'How I feel after using my own method to solve the maths problem (it rhymes with grug).' The video gained over 67,200 likes in three days.' Thus, it kicked off a mega-viral TikTok moment that has spread into tween and teen vernacular. 'There's some innocent ones out there,' Mr. Lindsay says, 'But most of them teeter on the edgy-slash-inappropriate category. For example, 'I call it a gambling addiction. It rhymes with Grug.' If this is shared with a meme, then a picture of the animated character Grug would be photoshopped over a casino background. For more examples, check out this thread on the Teenagers But Better subreddit, where someone asked what 'rhymes with Grug' means. One person summed it up, 'Grug at one point in the movie, while trying to prove himself a good father, tries 'inventing' things, and gives them various names, claiming that their names rhyme with his (which is why he calls them such). The joke is that none of them rhyme with his name until the end which is when he invents 'hug.'' Someone else wrote, 'I call it inside joke. It rhyme with grug.' Teen slang is confusing (and more often than not, kinda dumb), but at least this one has innocent origins. Don't worry, once parents start using it — 'I call it doing the dishes. Rhymes with Grug,' — then the trend will likely end pretty soon anyway. Before you go, check out these hilarous stories about . Best of SheKnows Michelle Obama's Best Mom Quotes — Because We Could All Use a Dose of Her Wisdom These Art Deco Girl Names Embody the Perfect Blend of Modern Elegance & Vintage Glam There's Something So Beautiful About the Bond Between Brothers
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What Parents of Teens Need To Know About the ‘100 Deadliest Days of Summer'
Being a parent means learning to live with part of your heart outside your body. It's hard enough when they are young enough to run out in the street or get lost in the grocery store. But watching them get behind the wheel of a car and drive away as teenagers brings another level of worry. Teen driving is even scarier when school is out in the summertime, which is why it's been dubbed as the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer.' AAA calls the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day (the unofficial start and end of the summer) the '100 Deadliest Days of Summer' due to the big increase in deadly crashes by teen drivers. More from SheKnows The Viral 'Senior Assassin' Game Comes With Some Risks: Here's What Parents Need To Know The National Road Safety Foundation says that teens are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash during the 100 Deadliest Days than they are during the rest of the year. The organization recommends talking to your teens about distracted driving (which they say accounts for up to 60% of teen crashes) and modeling good behavior yourself. 'Summer is a more dangerous time for teen drivers because of multiple factors,' Dr. Mandy Neeble Diamond, Ph.D., clinical forensic psychologist, senior clinical advisor at SOBRsafe, and mom of two, tells SheKnows. 'These include increased driving time because teens aren't in school during the day. This also means more social gatherings, more passengers since teens are usually with their friends and with more passengers comes more distractions.' She adds that increased traffic also plays a factor in more accidents. 'Parents need to prepare their teen for the responsibility of driving and create as many safeguards as they can,' Dr. Diamond continues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens ages 16-19 than any other age group. (Yes, this includes forgetful grandparents with bad eyesight.) Seriously, though, car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens — with approximately 3,048 teens ages 13-19 killed in the U.S. in car crashes in 2023 alone, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Newly licensed teens, males, and teens driving with other teens or young adult passengers are at even higher risk for a motor vehicle accident, according to the CDC. This is usually due to inexperience, not wearing a seat belt, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and driving while distracted. Zutobi, a driver's education app, released a Teen Driver's Report last year that found 3,082 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers (ages 15-20) in 2022 (the most recent year data is available). It's heartbreaking. 'When school's out, teens are on the road more often,' Lucas Waldenbäck, co-founder of Zutobi, tells SheKnows. 'They're driving to part-time jobs, social events, road trips — usually with friends in the car and often late at night. Without the structure of a school year, they also drive more freely and sometimes less cautiously. And because they're still gaining experience, all that added time behind the wheel comes with more risk.' A recent study by iSharing looked at teen driver fatalities, fatal crashes involving young drivers ages 15-20, and road quality across U.S. states. They found that New Hampshire ranks first for teen driver safety, with the lowest fatality rate per 10k licensed young drivers and minimal fatal crashes. Rhode Island and West Virginia (ranked #3 and #4, respectively) had varying road quality that impacted teen driver safety, despite their overall safety rating. And New Jersey, ranked #2 for safety, still had over 120 teen driver fatalities annually. 'States that prioritize teen driver safety typically share a focus on both education and road infrastructure,' a spokesperson from iSharing said in a statement. 'It's clear that a well-rounded approach, which includes effective driver education, better road conditions, and policies to reduce impaired driving, is essential to minimizing teen accidents. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, addressing these key areas consistently can help create safer driving environments for young people.' USAA conducted data from their SafePilot telematics app, which tracks everything from harsh braking to phone distractions, and found these states to have the highest distraction rates for teen drivers, per a May 2025 press release: Mississippi: 18.1% Louisiana: 15.6% South Dakota: 14.5% Iowa: 14.2% Alabama: 13.8% On the other hand, these states had the lowest distraction rates for teen drivers: Oregon: 9.0% Washington: 9.5% Connecticut: 9.6% Rhode Island: 9.6% Hawaii: 9.7% According to a survey conducted by USAA in 2024, the company's SafePilot app has effectively reduced poor driving habits in teens through real-time feedback and increased awareness. According to the survey, 87% of parents felt their child's driving improved since using the app, as teens were more observant of speed limits, less distracted by their phones, and had more awareness of other drivers. Inexperienced drivers are more dangerous on the road. A new study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) published in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found that there is 'statistically significant evidence' that increased driving practice for teen drivers can reduce the number of crashes and close calls. The study was done by analyzing in-car monitors over 22 months between 2011-2014 and found that those who practiced had 30% fewer accidents. 'Teens that practice driving, especially in a variety of environments, throughout their learner's permit stage help reduce their crash risk and improve safety outcomes once they are out driving on their own,' Charlie Klauer, research scientist at VTTI and lead author of the study, said in a statement. Additionally findings showed that teens who shared a family car had fewer risky driving behaviors than those with their own vehicles; teens who had more supervised driving in diverse conditions experienced fewer crashes when they began driving independently; and in Virginia, many of the teens didn't meet the required 45 hours of driving time during their permit phase. 'Open communication is key,' Dr. Diamond says. 'Teens don't want to feel that they are being preached to and many times disregard what their parents say when they feel it's just more rules, or their parents are just trying to scare them.' She recommends having 'short, to the point, direct conversations.' This might look like showing them news articles of teens who have been in accidents to express your concerns, giving them clear expectations of how you expect them to drive, and relaying the consequences that you'll implement if they aren't safe. 'Tell your teen that they have to not just drive for themselves but for everyone else on the road as well,' Dr. Diamond explains. Emphasize the importance of remaining alert and avoiding distractions. 'This includes looking at their phone, changing their music, and/or reaching for something out of their bag,' she continues. 'Remind them to always wear their seatbelt, don't follow other cars too closely, don't speed, and always be aware of their surroundings.' Remind your teen that there are legal consequences to reckless driving as well. 'Also, I think it's so important to tell your kids that no matter what, they are to never drink and drive,' she adds. 'Not even one sip. And if they do, to know they can always call you, and you will go get them no questions asked.' Utilize technology to help keep your teens safe this summer. Waldenbäck suggests using the Zutobi app that turns learning how to drive into a game. 'If your teen is more visual or tech-minded, tools like consequence simulations in the Zutobi app can really help,' he says. 'They show what happens when drivers make poor choices; a great way to teach without lecturing.' Dr. Diamond recommends using the Life360 app with your kids, which tracks their location at all times. 'It shows exactly where your teen is, how fast they drive, any reckless braking, accelerated starts, and what time they leave and arrive at locations. I use it with my twins, and it's amazing.' She also suggests getting the SOBRsure bracelet, which gives parents 100% certainty that their teen has had nothing to drink before they drive. 'Most teens experiment with drinking and during the summer there are more social gatherings, more parties, and more alcohol use,' she says, adding that the bracelet 'provides a peace of mind and security that all teens and their parents need.' 'I believe it's better to be safe than sorry,' Dr. Diamond adds. And when it comes to teen driving during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, you can never be too safe!Best of SheKnows Michelle Obama's Best Mom Quotes — Because We Could All Use a Dose of Her Wisdom These Art Deco Girl Names Embody the Perfect Blend of Modern Elegance & Vintage Glam There's Something So Beautiful About the Bond Between Brothers
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Memorial Day nationwide travel forecast: What to expect this weekend
Memorial Day weekend is nearly upon us, and while it's considered the unofficial start of summer, experts want to warn travelers to be safe because it's also one of the busiest travel times of the year. In fact, it's estimated that a record number of Americans are expected to head to the airport or hit the highway sometime this weekend. The American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts that more than 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles away from their homes between Thursday and Monday. That's roughly 1.4 million more travelers than in 2024 and surpasses the previous Memorial Day travel record of 44 million travelers in 2005. The AAA has always defined what it constitutes as the Memorial Day weekend travel period as the five days between Thursday and Monday. AAA's travel forecast for this weekend is primarily focused on people driving to their destinations, an estimated 39 million out of the 45 million expected to travel, while a much smaller percentage will take flights. It is certainly a popular time to travel, but according to Stacey Barber, the vice president of AAA Travel, it's not a travel period defined by 'extravagant and costly' vacations. 'While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends,' Barber said. 'Long holiday weekends are ideal for travel because many people have an extra day off work and students are off from school.' Orlando, Fla., tops the list of popular destinations for this holiday weekend, according to the AAA, likely because of its popular theme parks and nearby cruise port, Port Canaveral. AAA is projecting that over 39 million people will be traveling by car this weekend. For anyone who plans to rent a car, AAA's partner Hertz expects Friday to be the busiest day for pickups. Hertz also expects to see the highest demand for car rentals in cities like Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami and Seattle. INRIX, a traffic data analysis platform, reports that afternoons over the whole Memorial Day weekend will be the worst time to drive, especially in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. INRIX recommends driving before noon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at least before 1 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. For drivers, it's important to know that Memorial Day is also the start of what AAA and others call the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, a period that typically sees a significant increase in traffic fatalities. According to the National Road Safety Foundation, teen drivers are the most likely to be involved in fatal car accidents during this period, which runs until Labor Day weekend in September. AAA anticipates that there will be more than 3.5 million flyers this weekend. Most of the flights are to destinations like Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver and Seattle. For New York travelers, it's important to keep in mind that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued new temporary restrictions on flights in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Tuesday after multiple radar outages and staff shortages over the past few weeks caused significant flight delays and cancellations at the busy airport. The FAA said it expects higher than usual air travel for Memorial Day weekend, peaking on Thursday at an estimated 53,515 flights. It's also important for fliers to remember that the Real ID requirement for domestic flights went into effect on May 7.
