Latest news with #prevention
CTV News
3 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Heartbeat sensors, automatic air conditioning, 911 robocalls: Tech could reduce hot-car deaths, study finds
A systematic review of hundreds of deaths among children left in hot cars has found a variety of opportunities to prevent them, with the right safety features. Conducted by researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHP), the study published last month examined 354 cases of hot-car deaths in the U.S. to determine whether a variety of technologies could have detected or intervened in 10 'exemplar' cases among them. An average of 37 American children die in hot cars each year, the researchers say. There have been more than 1,000 such deaths since 1998, and according to reports gathered by PETA, 82 pets have died in extreme heat conditions in 2025 alone, with another 216 rescued alive. 'We have a responsibility to children around the country for making sure these completely preventable deaths never happen,' study co-author Kristy Arbogast said in a release. In Canada, an average of one child per year dies in a hot car, according to research from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. In recent years, some jurisdictions have passed laws requiring safety measures and protocols to prevent hot-car deaths, but as the researchers note, those requirements aren't always specific, leaving the question of which solutions are most effective. Detect and prevent Safety features designed to prevent hot-car deaths come in many forms. Technologies under the CHP study's scrutiny ranged from basic alerts and reminders to check for passengers at the end of a trip, to sensors in seats and seatbelts, to detectors that track radar, breathing and heartbeats. If a passenger is detected, another set of safety tools can trigger, including warnings from the car's audio-visual system, alerts to emergency services or the driver's phone, and fail-safes like automatically turning on the air conditioning, opening windows or unlocking doors. Researchers say the effectiveness of these tools 'varied drastically' when reviewed in the context of prior cases of hot-car deaths. For example, a detector on the child restraints might only activate if the passenger is buckled in, and automatically notifying the car's registered contact number may not account for cases where a child is deliberately left in the car by a caregiver who doesn't recognize the danger. Honking the horn may alert passersby to intervene, but would be unhelpful in remote areas without other people nearby. What's more, the study authors acknowledge that their analysis was limited to the worst-case incidents that resulted in a death, leaving out what they estimate to be hundreds or thousands of non-fatal 'near miss' cases that may never be documented. While some safety measures appeared capable of detecting or intervening in all 10 exemplar cases, researchers say they found no all-purpose solution to ensure a death is prevented on its own. 'When we considered the variety of scenarios in our study, we found that no single technology would have prevented all cases we identified,' said Jalaj Maheshwari, co-lead author of the study, in a release. 'This tragic situation can happen to anyone, and we feel that multiple technologies working in tandem are the best way to reduce the number of vehicular heatstroke deaths that occur.' Highlighted among the measures were heartbeat sensors, which were found to be successful at detecting a passenger in all cases, automatic 911 calls, which would trigger a potential rescue in all cases, and emergency air conditioning, which the researchers say could have prevented about 80 per cent of the examined cases. Co-author Arbogast says that beyond the innovations themselves, more attention is needed among automakers and drivers alike to safeguard against tragic mistakes. 'In addition to technology, we need to continue to make sure caregivers are educated about the real danger posed to children by overheating vehicles, and how quickly that danger can build,' she said. 'We need to ensure these life-saving technologies have the support of the automotive industry, policymakers and a variety of stakeholders who can make a difference.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
EU regulator approves injectable HIV drug that experts say could help stop transmission
LONDON (AP) — The European Medicines Agency has recommended authorizing a twice-yearly injectable drug aimed at preventing HIV, which scientists say could help end the virus' transmission. In a statement on Friday, the EU drug regulator said its evaluations of lenacapavir, sold as Yeytuo in Europe by Gilead Sciences, showed the drug is 'highly effective' and 'considered to be of major public health interest.' Once the regulator's guidance is accepted by the European Commission, the authorization is valid in all 27 EU member countries as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Last year, studies suggested that lenacapavir, already used to treat people with HIV, was nearly 100% effective in stopping transmission in both women and men. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the U.N. AIDS agency, has said the drug 'could change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic' if it is made available to everyone who needs it. In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized lenacapavir to prevent HIV. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization recommended countries offer the drug as an additional option to people at risk of the virus. Condoms help guard against HIV infection if used properly. Other medication aimed at preventing HIV include daily pills that people can take and another injectable drug called cabotegravir, which is given every two months. Lenacapavir's six-month protection makes it the longest-lasting type, an option that could attract people wary of more visits to health clinics or stigma from taking daily pills. Critics have raised concerns, however, that lenacapavir may not be made widely enough available to stop global outbreaks of HIV. Drugmaker Gilead has said it will allow cheap, generic versions to be sold in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates — mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. But it has excluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are far lower but increasing, sparking concern the world is missing a critical opportunity to stop the disease. Last year, there were about 630,000 AIDS deaths worldwide and more than 40 million people are estimated to have HIV, according to UNAIDS. UNAIDS chief Byanyima has previously suggested the U.S. President Donald Trump make a deal with Gilead to produce and license its 'magical' prevention drug lenacapavir across the world to the millions of people who need it. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. The Associated Press
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
EU regulator approves injectable HIV drug that experts say could help stop transmission
The European Medicines Agency has recommended authorizing a twice-yearly injectable drug aimed at preventing HIV, which scientists say could help end the virus' transmission. In a statement on Friday, the EU drug regulator said its evaluations of lenacapavir, sold as Yeytuo in Europe by Gilead Sciences, showed the drug is 'highly effective' and 'considered to be of major public health interest.' Once the regulator's guidance is accepted by the European Commission, the authorization is valid in all 27 EU member countries as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Last year, studies suggested that lenacapavir, already used to treat people with HIV, was nearly 100% effective in stopping transmission in both women and men. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the U.N. AIDS agency, has said the drug 'could change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic' if it is made available to everyone who needs it. In June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized lenacapavir to prevent HIV. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization recommended countries offer the drug as an additional option to people at risk of the virus. Condoms help guard against HIV infection if used properly. Other medication aimed at preventing HIV include daily pills that people can take and another injectable drug called cabotegravir, which is given every two months. Lenacapavir's six-month protection makes it the longest-lasting type, an option that could attract people wary of more visits to health clinics or stigma from taking daily pills. Critics have raised concerns, however, that lenacapavir may not be made widely enough available to stop global outbreaks of HIV. Drugmaker Gilead has said it will allow cheap, generic versions to be sold in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates — mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. But it has excluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are far lower but increasing, sparking concern the world is missing a critical opportunity to stop the disease. Last year, there were about 630,000 AIDS deaths worldwide and more than 40 million people are estimated to have HIV, according to UNAIDS. UNAIDS chief Byanyima has previously suggested the U.S. President Donald Trump make a deal with Gilead to produce and license its 'magical' prevention drug lenacapavir across the world to the millions of people who need it. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
11 Tricks and Technologies to Keep Your Home Safe From Intruders
From summer vacations to evenings of play, you'll want to make sure your home is safe when you're away. And that certainly includes your yard and front porch, where CNET surveys have found that 1 in 6 adults have been victims of porch theft. But the right home security has a say about that, too. The right smart devices, tips and home practices can keep all intruders at bay and stop break-ins before they happen -- prevention, after all, is the best strategy. Here's what I suggest to stay one step ahead with your home security and keep trespassers from causing any harm. 1. Set motion detection lights to stun Floodlights can watch over backyards, driveways and similar spots. Blink Look for a security camera that's equipped with a spotlight or floodlights. You can set these lights to trigger via motion detection, and thanks to recent advantages, camera sensors are now smart enough to ignore cars and focus on people, among other useful tricks. The lights will let determined trespassers know that there's a security system, and even indicate that a camera is currently recording them. That's a powerful reason to get away if intruders have ill intent! Remember, apps from popular smart home brands like Arlo, Ring, Blink and many others allow you to set zones and control motion sensitivity so your security lights only turn on when a person gets close, instead of lighting up a dozen times a night. Read more: I Thought I'd Hate AI in Home Security. I Couldn't Have Been More Wrong 2. Put up a security system yard sign Security yard signs discourage many thieves. Kangaroo You may have already suspected it, but studies do confirm that burglars -- around 83% surveyed -- are scared off by signs that an alarm system is present, and one of the most straightforward is a literal sign or window sticker. We suggest avoiding cheap, fake signs, which are usually easy to recognize by someone already thinking about a break-in. Fortunately, real signs come included even with common DIY security systems like those offered by SimpliSafe. And if you're worried about a burglar using a sign to learn too much about your home security system, these sorts of hacking tales hardly ever actually happen. 3. Install a video doorbell for front door protection Kasa's very affordable doorbell can keep an eye on all kinds of front door events. Kasa It's hard to miss a video doorbell when approaching a front door or porch. From Google Nest to Arlo, Ring and Aqara, these doorbell cameras make it obvious that someone's watching. They come equipped with two-way audio and quick replies that can hold brief conversations, and if visitors recognize a video doorbell, they probably know it's already sent alerts to the owner about front door activity. Those qualities make doorbells an excellent method to deter porch pirates and other troublemakers. We also recommend planning for video storage so you have a way to save and download or share video clips when necessary. 4. Use alerts to call an audible Two-way audio features also let you call out trespassers. Ring/Amazon All the top home security cams now come with two-way audio features, which are one of the most effective deterrents if you notice something is wrong. Nothing can scare away a trespasser quite like the owner flipping on the speaker and calling out, "HEY! What are you doing?!" Plus, if it's just a very lost postman, you can always apologize afterward without getting the police involved. Two-way audio works well with timely camera alerts on your phone and object recognition so the alerts specify that a human was detected. 5. Set up sirens on home security devices Arming a system with a siren is a great way to scare off trespassers if they get too close. Kangaroo They aren't quite as ubiquitous as two-way audio, but many cameras and most home security kits also include sirens. On today's smart devices you have the option to turn on sirens with the app, or set the siren to sound off when certain kinds of motion are detected and the system is armed. It's a quick addition you can activate during setup, even for the smallest cams like the Blink Mini 2. 6. Position access sensors on windows and backdoors A full security system can watch over multiple access points at once. Abode/Amazon Access sensors enable a bunch of the tips we listed above if someone actually enters your home. They send alerts that allow you to immediately look through live views from cameras, use two-way audio in a shouty way or sound off a siren/flip on a floodlight. If you're worried about burglars breaching points like these (especially if you've had it happen before), the top home security system kits include sensors for exactly these reasons. 7. Set vacation modes with smart lights and more Smart lights and vacation modes make your house seem occupied even when you're not around. Ry Crist/CNET Smart security systems and home cams have an additional feature to help make vacations easier: They have vacation modes and customizable away modes. You can pair these modes with smart lights and set an activity schedule that makes it look like people are still home when you're away. Vacation modes like these will turn lights on and off to mimic people getting home in the evening, waking up in the morning and other everyday activities. They can discourage thieves looking for empty homes that make easy targets, and give you extra peace of mind on long vacations. These modes also pair very well with cams that let you take a peek as long as you have a reliable internet connection and access sensors that tell you when something went wrong. 8. Keep your garage closed and locked Smart garage doors come in many forms, including retrofits, but they're an excellent way to keep garage doors closed and uninviting to prowling thieves. Chris Monroe/CNET Many burglaries are crimes of opportunity, and one opportunity that can easily attract thieves (and racoons) is a garage door that's been left open. Consider equipping your garage door with a smart door system that can automatically close the door for you, secure it and remind you if the door is left open for any reason. These smart garage doors are frequently backward-compatible with existing garages, especially newer models, but you should always check how they work before you buy a new system. 9. Equip your door with a smart lock Smart locks ensure you never forget to lock the front door. Lockly Forgetting to lock the front door isn't quite as noticeable as leaving the garage open, but it can still attract thieves, who won't be shy about rattling doorknobs to see if entry is easy. A smart lock is a simple, incredibly effective way to monitor your main entry and make sure it's always locked at the right times. Today's smart locks can auto-lock after a period of inactivity, or send you reminders that they're open, so you can make a judgment call yourself. They also come with ways to give friends and family temporary passes to use the lock with their own phones, and options to review your access history. 10. Use an active professional home-monitoring service Professional home monitoring gives you extra eyes on developing situations. SimpliSafe Consider adding professional home monitoring to your security system for the most complete protection. Professional monitoring allows agents to view their alerts and contact emergency responders if necessary, so you don't have to rely on your own notifications. These monitoring plans don't have to be exorbitantly expensive: Arlo's Secure Premium plan offers full family monitoring services for $25 per month. Take a look at SimpliSafe's Fast Protect plan, which offers guides that look at cam live views and use audio to ask questions, for around $30 per month. Monitoring plans can take your home security to the next level if you don't mind the extra expense. 11. Add a delivery lock box to your porch Package lock boxes are a very old solution to a very modern problem. Felikuk A package lock box is a very simple, very effective addition to your home that shuts down porch piracy entirely. It works a lot like public package drop-offs, with one area where delivery people can drop in a package, and a holding area only accessible to the owner via key or keypad. Thieves can't get inside at all. Advanced models like Loxx Boxx also give you app control, remote access and alerts about when you get a delivery. This could be the perfect deterrent if you have porch-pirate problems in your neighborhood and get packages frequently. What about guard dogs as a security bonus? Many sources suggest getting a guard dog as a home theft deterrent. We do not recommend getting a dog specifically for security purposes, even if they're effective. It's not very fun for the dog, and it's difficult to train one to be wary of the wrong kind of strangers (and not, say, cousin Jimmy who's never been to your home before). Also, dog attacks regularly lead to trespassers suing homeowners for their injuries, and some states have liability laws that can encourage such lawsuits. Since staying safe is already on your mind, you can check out our recommendations for the top DIY home security systems, as well as ways to save money like turning an old phone into a security cam. And if you live with roommates, you'll want to peruse our guide on the best tech to keep your own room safe.
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
The NHS change that could prevent 6,500 cancer cases each year
A new study suggests that thousands of breast cancer cases could be prevented annually in the UK by expanding eligibility for risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM). The research indicates that approximately 6,500 cases could be averted each year if RRM was more widely adopted beyond current genetic predispositions. Currently, RRM is primarily offered to women with BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 genes, but the study proposes including those with other high-risk genes like ATM and CHEK2. The study also highlights that a combination of factors, including family history, parity, breastfeeding, and mammogram density, should be considered for RRM eligibility. Researchers from Queen Mary University of London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found RRM to be cost-effective for women aged 30-55 with a lifetime breast cancer risk of 35 per cent or more.
