Latest news with #NicoleLee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Clean energy advocates concerned about how federal cuts and freezes could affect clean energy efficiency programs in the CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – State Senator Harold Jones and local clean energy leaders are speaking out about how those cuts could impact the funding of clean energy programs and what that means for the community. Programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and Solar for All help lower utility costs for some Georgia families. They also promote workforce development, home energy savings, and address climate issues. Georgia State Senator Harold Jones is opposed to those cuts. He says they'll raise costs and cut jobs. 'These are not buzz words about clean energy or weatherization,' said State Senator Harold Jones. 'These things actually matter to people. Actually, puts more money in their pockets. Also improves the economy and the environment. All of that is connected to actually having a better society.' Nicole Lee is a business owner who has seen how weatherization and solar power help low- to moderate-income families save hundreds of dollars in utility costs thanks to these programs. 'Just to see the widespread of ones solar as well as weatherization work in in multiple states and seeing the impact that it helps in LMI communities is astonishing, and so I'm hoping that you know bipartisan funding is able to be passed so that these programs can continue to exist,' said Nicole Lee, Owner of Be Smart Home Solutions. Paige Brockmeyer is part of the Citizens Climate Lobby in Augusta and wants to encourage people to continue reaching out to state and federal lawmakers and encourage them to vote against cuts to these programs. She says the health of Georgians depends on it. 'The more particulate matter that's in the air from burning fossil fuels, the more respiratory problems we have. So, that's kind of at one level, and at another level, you have events like Hurricane Helene,' said Paige Brockmeyer, Volunteer Group Leader, Citizens Climate Lobby Augusta. The speakers wanted to bring attention to Georgia's congressional delegation to protect these programs so that only the heat rises this summer and not utility costs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The 'mummy wine culture' leading to a surge in alcoholism among middle-aged Aussie women
Melbourne woman Diane Denton has warned against 'wine mum' culture after her sister died following a battle with alcoholism. 'My father was a dependent drinker and I lost my sister to alcohol earlier this year,' she told 7News on Saturday. 'From what I understand, her drinking was quite risky in the end. She was drinking all day, every day.' Ms Denton's sister died at the age of 49 and the loss has prompted Diane to quit drinking alcohol herself after years of partying. 'My general anxiety, and you know, these bouts of depression have been alleviated.' Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia, according to the National Medical and Research Council (NHMRC). But the phenomenon of 'mummy wine culture' is on the rise due to a growing reliance of women on alcohol to manage anxiety after having a child, the University of Sydney reported. One of the common factors is that women have been made to feel as though drinking wine to 'cope' with stress is 'normal', with memes and slogans pushing the idea. CEO of Hello Sunday Morning Dr Nicole Lee said her organisation, which encourages Australians to cut back on and quit drinking alcohol, has seen a rise in the behaviour. 'We're seeing a concerning increase, particularly in women in middle age,' she said, specifically citing among women aged 45 to 65. 'There's a real kind of mummy wine culture that's promoted as you know, alcohol is a great release for all of the hard work that we do.' Another issue she raised is that alcohol shops see women as an 'untapped market' and advertise drinks with slimmer bottles and colours viewed as more feminine. It is a concern echoed by global alcohol prevention group Movendi International, which has warned that companies have invested in marketing campaigns targeting women. 'There are alcohol products strategically targeting women by incorporating specific design elements that appeal to their tastes and lifestyles,' its website said. 'These products often feature special packaging that is smaller, pink, and designed to serve as fashionable accessories.'
Engadget
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Engadget
The best tech gifts for mom that she'll appreciate for the rest of 2025
When we think about gifts that moms will appreciate, the idea of "time" comes up a lot. If you can give the mom in your life a few hours back to do whatever — relaxing, creating, or getting things done— do that. The next best thing is a device that'll help mom make the most of her time. We've rounded up some clever gadgets and useful gear that we've tried out ourselves, so we can confirm they're worthwhile. Our favorite air fryer will save time in the kitchen, a quality style-dryer could make her morning routine more efficient, and one of our favorite smartwatches will literally mark the minutes for her. We also suggest a subscription to The New York Times Games, to help make the most of precious downtime. When I tested air purifiers for our guide, I found the best way to clear the air was by opening windows — but if the mom in your life deals with allergies or lives where the air quality can get bad, an air purifier can be the next best thing. The Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier was one of the quietest models I tested and performed on a level with models three times as expensive. It has a three-stage filter (including an activated carbon layer and particulate filter), and the internal particulate matter sensor can automatically adjust fan speed as air gets murkier. The companion app both shows historical air quality readouts and makes the unit itself easy to control and schedule. Plus, the replacement filters aren't overly expensive like they are with other units. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter Read more: The best air purifiers $220 at Amazon Take your mother's morning coffee routine up a notch with the Ember Mug, a self-heating smart mug that keeps beverages at just the right temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day if the mug is kept on its charging coaster. It has a temperature range between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which lets your mom dial in just how hot she wants her brew. There's also a companion app which lets her save preset temps for her favorite drinks, track her caffeine intake, customize the color of the LED light on the front of the mug and more. The latest version comes in a pretty rose gold color as well as white, black, gold, silver and copper. — Nicole Lee, Former Commerce Writer $180 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $180 at Target So many of us take hundreds of photos with our phones and then never do anything with them. They're left to languish in our camera rolls, only to be uncovered when you have to scroll back months to find that one image you're searching for. If you want to give mom a more polished way to look back at her favorite photos, an album from Mpix will do the trick. You can customize your photo book from the ground up, choosing the best images of her family and friends and laying them out on each page in a neat way. You can also pick from different types of cover options and paper weights, making the final product as premium as you want it to be. With options starting at $30 per book, it's pretty easy to make mom a gift she'll want to revisit again and again. – Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor $30+ at Mpix I'll be the first to say the Pura scent diffuser surprised me. Before testing it out, I didn't believe such a small device could really inject strong scent into my home. But it didn't take long before I was proven wrong. The one I have stays plugged in, resolute, in the family room of my home close to the front door, and as soon as I walk in when the Pura is running, I'm met with the lovely smells of Amalfi lemon, lavender fields or whichever other scent I decided to go with. The Pura can hold two different proprietary scent capsules at a time, so you can create very different vibes based on time of day, occasion or anything else you can think of. The Pura app makes it easy to set diffusion schedules per scent, too, and it can pause diffusion all together if you're away from home. Are you going to get whole-home diffusion from this CD-sized gadget? No (maybe try the new Pura Plus for that), but it'll make the part of your home that it lives in feel much more luxurious. — V.P. $50 at Pura The Aura Carver frame would make a great gift for any parent or relative with whom you want to stay more connected and share memories as you're making them. The top pick in our best digital frames guide, the Aura Carver has a super simple setup: plug it in, download its companion app and upload photos. One of its best features is its ability to continuously scan the albums you pair with it and automatically upload new photos in it to the frame. That means if you have a shared photo album between you, your mom and other family members and pair it with the frame, anyone can add new photos to the frame simply by adding them to your shared album. On top of that, the Carver has the best display we've seen on any digital frame and there's no limit to the number of photos it can show. — V.P. Read more: The best digital frames $149 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $178 at Walmart$150 at Target Tech touches everything now and the beauty industry has built a better mousetrap with the latest dry-and-style machines available today. One of the simplest I've tried, yet most effective, is the Calista StyleDryer Pro. It's a hairdryer and a brush in one, and it comes with two brush attachments that mom can swap between depending on her preference. Regardless of which is her favorite, both will make it easier for her to get a stellar blowout. Three temperature settings let her dial in exactly how hot (or cool) she needs to go for her desired style, and the attachments are infused with Tourmaline to better distribute heat. In my testing, I found the StyleDryer Pro not only dried my hair more quickly than my separate, aging hair dryer and brush duo, but it also got my hair sleeker and smoother than I ever have been able to get it before. (Note that we're now linking to the newer Vault StyleDryer Pro, which appears to be a bit larger but replaces the now-discontinued original version.) — V.P. $29 at Calista If mom's been feeling all in knots lately, a personal massage 'gun' like the Theragun Mini can provide some temporary relief by gently pummeling away her muscle aches. While not the most forceful device of its kind, this triangular massager is effective enough to ease soreness, yet small enough to carry around in and outside of the house. We've recommended older versions of the Mini in past gift guides; compared to the last one, this third-generation model is similarly compact and supports the same speeds and head attachments, but it lasts a bit longer on a charge. (Therabody rates it at 180 minutes.) Just be warned it's not exactly quiet. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter $179 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $179 at Target The Beats Fit Pro may be our favorite wireless earbuds for working out, but your mom doesn't have to be a regular running or pilates enthusiast to get a lot of use out of them. These buds have a comfortable, secure fit thanks to their flexible wing tips, plus a great sound profile out of the box thanks in part to Adaptive EQ technology. Active noise cancellation is solid as well, which will come in handy when she wants to block out distractions at work or while running errands, and she'll be able to quickly jump into any conversation she deems important by using Transparency Mode. If your mom has an iPhone, she'll benefit from the H1 chip inside the Beats Fit Pro, which enables things like quick pairing and switching between Apple devices and hands-free Siri. But Android toting mothers won't be left out either — the Fit Pros have their own Android app that supports many of the same features. — V.P. Read more: The best wireless earbuds $170 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $170 at Macy's$180 at Walmart Look, there's a good chance your mom plays Wordle, Connections, Sudoku and/or The Mini anyway — opening up the rest of the New York Times Games catalog with a subscription should only bring them a few more hours of gentle fun during their downtime. Few daily achievements are more satisfying than reaching 'genius' in Spelling Bee or finishing the full-size crossword. But even beyond that, the paid tier unlocks archived editions of Wordle and Connections, plus the ability to track game stats across devices. While not every game in the selection is a winner, your mom will probably be grateful for the harmless entertainment the next time she's bored. — J.D. $50/year at New York Times The Pixel Watch 3 is Google's best smartwatch yet, so much so that it took the top stop as our favorite watch for Android users in our best smartwatches guide. The Pixel Watch 3 has a slightly larger circular display than its predecessor, and it's brighter than ever which will make it easier to read in all sorts of lighting. In our testing, we found it to be an excellent activity and sleep tracker, and advanced features like auto workout detection and custom running plans make it even better for both those just starting a new exercise routine and seasoned athletes. Google Assistant integration comes in handy as well, allowing users to get questions answered, check calendar events and weather forecasts and more just using voice commands. Plus, the Pixel Watch 3 has the longest battery life of any Pixel Watch to date, with up to 24 hours of use before it needs a recharge. — V.P. Read more: The best smartwatches $300 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $300 at Walmart$350 at Google Store I've loved Withings' hybrid watches, which put all the health tech you could need in a far less geeky package, for more than a decade. The ScanWatch Horizon, its first using a diver's watch case, has been a permanent fixture on my wrist since 2021. Since then, Withings has updated the ScanWatch with even more features, and launched a Horizon successor, called the Nova. The one downside is that all the ScanWatches are, to be blunt, beefy enough that they only suit folks with strong forearms. If you prefer a smaller timepiece, you've been left on the sidelines until the company launched the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant. It shrinks all of the ScanWatch tech into a 38mm case and gets a two-tone strap that matches your bezel color choice. A cynic might suggest Withings is aping the style of Rolex's Datejust watches, even down to the two-tone strap choice. An optimist might wonder why that's relevant, given it costs an order of magnitude less money and does an awful lot more. If someone special in your life wants a smart watch but not a smartwatch, and wants to look luxurious while doing it, this should be top of your options. — Daniel Cooper, Senior Reporter $599 at Withings Last holiday season, after a month or so of me unsubtly and repeatedly mentioning how very cool and convenient and interesting Engadget's top air fryer pick seemed to me, one surprisingly appeared beneath our tree. For nearly a year now, my entire family has used the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer nearly daily to cook frozen french fries, crisp up dinner, reheat takeout or make extra stretchy nachos. This particular model comes with replaceable filters that keeps the fried-food smell down to a minimum and the glass front paired with interior light make it easy to peek on your potatoes without opening the drawer. The basket is easy to clean, preheating is fast and the touch controls are simple to understand — pretty much everything you want in a good air fryer. — A.S. Read more: The best air fryers $130 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $136 at Walmart$160 at Wayfair For most moms I know, sleep is a precious, unguaranteed commodity. I personally used to sleep like the dead until I had a kid, which then made every nighttime creak a reason to bolt upright, ready for action. I reviewed the Hatch Restore 2 and found it to be a delightful sleep companion, one that helped me get to sleep and woke me up less jarringly than anything else I've tried. The latest model, the Hatch Restore 3 actually improves upon the previous generation with additional onboard controls (something I'd wished for in my review). It still has a continually updated library of sleep aids including nature sounds, lulling stories, dreamy music and meditations. Waking up techniques combine a sunrise alarm with pep talks, stretching sessions, fun facts and more. The only catch is that the best content requires a $6-per-month subscription. But, so far it's been worth it for me. — A.S $170 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $170 at Target$170 at Best Buy I'm not the world's most organized person, but I do recognize that keeping the detritus of life more or less in its proper place makes a day far easier to get through. I've picked up a few of the storage and organizational designs from Yamazaki Home and each one has made my home feel more under control. The Rolling Storage Cart has a clean look with its white steel and a bamboo top. Just about any room in the house could benefit from the three hidden shelves it offers, but I've used mine as a place to store rolls of toilet paper and the bowl scrubber in the bathroom. Everything stays concealed behind the solid side panel until you roll it away from the wall to access what you need. To me, it represents low-effort tidiness, which is my favorite kind. — A.S. $145 at Yamazaki Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.
Engadget
05-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Engadget
The 14 best tech gifts for moms
If you're struggling to come up with just the right gift for your mom, you're not alone. Mothers can be particularly difficult to shop for, especially if your mom is like many we know who insist that they don't want or need gifts. Short of giving them some time back in their day to do what they want to do instead of things they need to do, the gift ideas we collected below can help you show the mother figure in your life that you care and want to spoil them a bit even when they claim it's not necessary — because they deserve it. When I tested air purifiers for our guide, I found the best way to clear the air was by opening windows — but if the mom in your life deals with allergies or lives where the air quality can get bad, an air purifier can be the next best thing. The Levoit Core 400S Smart Air Purifier was one of the quietest models I tested and performed on a level with models three times as expensive. It has a three-stage filter (including an activated carbon layer and particulate filter), and the internal particulate matter sensor can automatically adjust fan speed as air gets murkier. The companion app both shows historical air quality readouts and makes the unit itself easy to control and schedule. Plus, the replacement filters aren't overly expensive like they are with other units. — Amy Skorheim, Reporter Read more: The best air purifiers $220 at Amazon Take your mother's morning coffee routine up a notch with the Ember Mug, a self-heating smart mug that keeps beverages at just the right temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day if the mug is kept on its charging coaster. It has a temperature range between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit, which lets your mom dial in just how hot she wants her brew. There's also a companion app which lets her save preset temps for her favorite drinks, track her caffeine intake, customize the color of the LED light on the front of the mug and more. The latest version comes in a pretty rose gold color as well as white, black, gold, silver and copper. — Nicole Lee, Former Commerce Writer $180 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $180 at Target So many of us take hundreds of photos with our phones and then never do anything with them. They're left to languish in our camera rolls, only to be uncovered when you have to scroll back months to find that one image you're searching for. If you want to give mom a more polished way to look back at her favorite photos, an album from Mpix will do the trick. You can customize your photo book from the ground up, choosing the best images of her family and friends and laying them out on each page in a neat way. You can also pick from different types of cover options and paper weights, making the final product as premium as you want it to be. With options starting at $30 per book, it's pretty easy to make mom a gift she'll want to revisit again and again. – Valentina Palladino, Deputy Editor $30+ at Mpix I'll be the first to say the Pura scent diffuser surprised me. Before testing it out, I didn't believe such a small device could really inject strong scent into my home. But it didn't take long before I was proven wrong. The one I have stays plugged in, resolute, in the family room of my home close to the front door, and as soon as I walk in when the Pura is running, I'm met with the lovely smells of Amalfi lemon, lavender fields or whichever other scent I decided to go with. The Pura can hold two different proprietary scent capsules at a time, so you can create very different vibes based on time of day, occasion or anything else you can think of. The Pura app makes it easy to set diffusion schedules per scent, too, and it can pause diffusion all together if you're away from home. Are you going to get whole-home diffusion from this CD-sized gadget? No (maybe try the new Pura Plus for that), but it'll make the part of your home that it lives in feel much more luxurious. — V.P. $50 at Pura The Aura Carver frame would make a great gift for any parent or relative with whom you want to stay more connected and share memories as you're making them. The top pick in our best digital frames guide, the Aura Carver has a super simple setup: plug it in, download its companion app and upload photos. One of its best features is its ability to continuously scan the albums you pair with it and automatically upload new photos in it to the frame. That means if you have a shared photo album between you, your mom and other family members and pair it with the frame, anyone can add new photos to the frame simply by adding them to your shared album. On top of that, the Carver has the best display we've seen on any digital frame and there's no limit to the number of photos it can show. — V.P. Read more: The best digital frames $149 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $150 at Walmart$150 at Target Tech touches everything now and the beauty industry has built a better mousetrap with the latest dry-and-style machines available today. One of the simplest I've tried, yet most effective, is the Calista StyleDryer Pro. It's a hairdryer and a brush in one, and it comes with two brush attachments that mom can swap between depending on her preference. Regardless of which is her favorite, both will make it easier for her to get a stellar blowout. Three temperature settings let her dial in exactly how hot (or cool) she needs to go for her desired style, and the attachments are infused with Tourmaline to better distribute heat. In my testing, I found the StyleDryer Pro not only dried my hair more quickly than my separate, aging hair dryer and brush duo, but it also got my hair sleeker and smoother than I ever have been able to get it before. (Note that we're now linking to the newer Vault StyleDryer Pro, which appears to be a bit larger but replaces the now-discontinued original version.) — V.P. $29 at Calista If mom's been feeling all in knots lately, a personal massage 'gun' like the Theragun Mini can provide some temporary relief by gently pummeling away her muscle aches. While not the most forceful device of its kind, this triangular massager is effective enough to ease soreness, yet small enough to carry around in and outside of the house. We've recommended older versions of the Mini in past gift guides; compared to the last one, this third-generation model is similarly compact and supports the same speeds and head attachments, but it lasts a bit longer on a charge. (Therabody rates it at 180 minutes.) Just be warned it's not exactly quiet. — Jeff Dunn, Senior Reporter $179 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $179 at Target The Beats Fit Pro may be our favorite wireless earbuds for working out, but your mom doesn't have to be a regular running or pilates enthusiast to get a lot of use out of them. These buds have a comfortable, secure fit thanks to their flexible wing tips, plus a great sound profile out of the box thanks in part to Adaptive EQ technology. Active noise cancellation is solid as well, which will come in handy when she wants to block out distractions at work or while running errands, and she'll be able to quickly jump into any conversation she deems important by using Transparency Mode. If your mom has an iPhone, she'll benefit from the H1 chip inside the Beats Fit Pro, which enables things like quick pairing and switching between Apple devices and hands-free Siri. But Android toting mothers won't be left out either — the Fit Pros have their own Android app that supports many of the same features. — V.P. Read more: The best wireless earbuds $170 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $170 at Macy's$180 at Walmart Look, there's a good chance your mom plays Wordle, Connections, Sudoku and/or The Mini anyway — opening up the rest of the New York Times Games catalog with a subscription should only bring them a few more hours of gentle fun during their downtime. Few daily achievements are more satisfying than reaching 'genius' in Spelling Bee or finishing the full-size crossword. But even beyond that, the paid tier unlocks archived editions of Wordle and Connections, plus the ability to track game stats across devices. While not every game in the selection is a winner, your mom will probably be grateful for the harmless entertainment the next time she's bored. — J.D. $50/year at New York Times The Pixel Watch 3 is Google's best smartwatch yet, so much so that it took the top stop as our favorite watch for Android users in our best smartwatches guide. The Pixel Watch 3 has a slightly larger circular display than its predecessor, and it's brighter than ever which will make it easier to read in all sorts of lighting. In our testing, we found it to be an excellent activity and sleep tracker, and advanced features like auto workout detection and custom running plans make it even better for both those just starting a new exercise routine and seasoned athletes. Google Assistant integration comes in handy as well, allowing users to get questions answered, check calendar events and weather forecasts and more just using voice commands. Plus, the Pixel Watch 3 has the longest battery life of any Pixel Watch to date, with up to 24 hours of use before it needs a recharge. — V.P. Read more: The best smartwatches $300 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $350 at Google Store$300 at Best Buy I've loved Withings' hybrid watches, which put all the health tech you could need in a far less geeky package, for more than a decade. The ScanWatch Horizon, its first using a diver's watch case, has been a permanent fixture on my wrist since 2021. Since then, Withings has updated the ScanWatch with even more features, and launched a Horizon successor, called the Nova. The one downside is that all the ScanWatches are, to be blunt, beefy enough that they only suit folks with strong forearms. If you prefer a smaller timepiece, you've been left on the sidelines until the company launched the ScanWatch Nova Brilliant. It shrinks all of the ScanWatch tech into a 38mm case and gets a two-tone strap that matches your bezel color choice. A cynic might suggest Withings is aping the style of Rolex's Datejust watches, even down to the two-tone strap choice. An optimist might wonder why that's relevant, given it costs an order of magnitude less money and does an awful lot more. If someone special in your life wants a smart watch but not a smartwatch, and wants to look luxurious while doing it, this should be top of your options. — Daniel Cooper, Senior Reporter $599 at Withings Last holiday season, after a month or so of me unsubtly and repeatedly mentioning how very cool and convenient and interesting Engadget's top air fryer pick seemed to me, one surprisingly appeared beneath our tree. For nearly a year now, my entire family has used the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer nearly daily to cook frozen french fries, crisp up dinner, reheat takeout or make extra stretchy nachos. This particular model comes with replaceable filters that keeps the fried-food smell down to a minimum and the glass front paired with interior light make it easy to peek on your potatoes without opening the drawer. The basket is easy to clean, preheating is fast and the touch controls are simple to understand — pretty much everything you want in a good air fryer. — A.S. Read more: The best air fryers $130 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $136 at Walmart$160 at Wayfair For most moms I know, sleep is a precious, unguaranteed commodity. I personally used to sleep like the dead until I had a kid, which then made every nighttime creak a reason to bolt upright, ready for action. I reviewed the Hatch Restore 2 and found it to be a delightful sleep companion, one that helped me get to sleep and woke me up less jarringly than anything else I've tried. The latest model, the Hatch Restore 3 actually improves upon the previous generation with additional onboard controls (something I'd wished for in my review). It still has a continually updated library of sleep aids including nature sounds, lulling stories, dreamy music and meditations. Waking up techniques combine a sunrise alarm with pep talks, stretching sessions, fun facts and more. The only catch is that the best content requires a $6-per-month subscription. But, so far it's been worth it for me. — A.S $170 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $170 at Target$170 at Best Buy I'm not the world's most organized person, but I do recognize that keeping the detritus of life more or less in its proper place makes a day far easier to get through. I've picked up a few of the storage and organizational designs from Yamazaki Home and each one has made my home feel more under control. The Rolling Storage Cart has a clean look with its white steel and a bamboo top. Just about any room in the house could benefit from the three hidden shelves it offers, but I've used mine as a place to store rolls of toilet paper and the bowl scrubber in the bathroom. Everything stays concealed behind the solid side panel until you roll it away from the wall to access what you need. To me, it represents low-effort tidiness, which is my favorite kind. — A.S. $145 at Yamazaki Check out the rest of our gift ideas here.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Majority unaware of dangers of third rail
Nearly three out of five (59%) people do not know what the third rail is on train tracks, a new survey suggests. Network Rail, which commissioned the poll of 2,000 UK adults, warned that coming into contact with it can have 'catastrophic, life-changing impacts'. The third rail is positioned alongside standard rails and carries 750 volts of electricity to provide power to trains. Britain has the world's largest third rail network. The survey also suggested 38% of people believe electrocution from rail tracks will not cause serious injury. Network Rail and British Transport Police are aiming to raise awareness of the dangers around the railway through a campaign named You vs Train. This includes a series of films featuring first responders recreating the sights, sounds and impacts of dealing with life-threatening injuries caused by someone coming into contact with the third rail. Nicole Lee, NHS burns network manager for London and the South East, is part of the campaign. She said: 'As a burns nurse, I've witnessed the severe consequences of third rail injuries. 'The high voltage can cause profound burns, leading to long-term physical and emotional suffering. 'It's distressing to see individuals endure injuries that could have been easily prevented by staying off the tracks. 'These injuries not only affect the victims but also have a lasting impact on their families and friends.' Network Rail recorded a 20% increase in trespass incidents after British Summer Time began in 2024. Anthony Boyle, mobile operations manager at Network Rail, said: 'Warmer weather and longer days shouldn't lead to dangerous behaviour around the railway. 'Having witnessed the traumatic aftermath of railway accidents, I can tell you that the impact of these incidents is profound and lasting. 'It's heartbreaking to see preventable injuries devastate lives. 'That is why, when someone is on the track, trains must be stopped or slowed and electricity turned off, causing delays and cancellations for thousands of passengers.' BTP chief inspector Adam Swallow said: 'Our officers attend thousands of trespass incidents every year and see first-hand the traumatic and preventable consequences of stepping on the tracks. 'As police officers you never forget the scenes you are faced with, or the shattering grief of people's families as you turn up at their door to tell them their loved one has died. 'Every family is one too many and I would urge people to take notice of this campaign and stay off the tracks.' Anyone who witnesses trespassing on the railway is urged to contact BTP by texting 61016 or calling 999 in an emergency. – The survey was carried out by research company One Poll in February.
