Fatal Crashes Involving Older Californians On The Rise
Older drivers' reduced ability to avoid accidents and their heightened physical fragility makes any crashes more dangerous.
KPCC:
California's Aging Driver Fatalities Are Increasing
Fatal crashes involving older drivers are increasing. According to a new report from the nonprofit transportation research group, TRIP, California has the largest number of licensed drivers over 65 and the third highest number of fatalities involving at least one of those drivers. (Carpenter and Patel, 3/15)
In other public health news —
Sacramento Bee:
He Caught A Rare, Crippling Virus At A State Park. His Dad Fears A Cover-Up
Citrus Heights resident Curtis Fry wants answers. After eight months of waiting, he doesn’t understand why Cal/OSHA can’t provide them. Fry’s 22-year-old son, Spencer Fry, contracted the deadly hantavirus in July 2017 while working at Bodie State Historic Park and living in state-provided housing. An avid runner and hiker, Spencer suffered permanent hearing loss in his left ear and partial leg paralysis as a result. Fry said he wants state investigators to report how he was exposed and hold State Parks accountable, but he fears investigators will water down criticism because Spencer submitted a form saying he intended to sue. (Anderson, 3/16)
Orange County Register:
5 Things To Ask When Looking For An Assisted Living Facility
Believe it or not, that day will come when you or a loved one will need additional care. But with almost 16,000 nursing homes operating in the U.S., how can you find the best facility for your family? The first step is searching Medicare ratings for facilities in the desired area. Then, schedule a tour. And while you have a staff member or administrator available, here are five questions to ask about the facility. (Osmond Cook, 3/15)
Los Angeles Times:
Move Over, Neanderthals: Our Ancestors Mated With Denisovans Not Once But Twice, Scientists Say
Humans weren't just making babies with Neanderthals back in the day. A new study that compares the genomes of different groups of modern humans has found that our ancestors interbred with another close relative, the Denisovans, more than once. The findings, published in the journal Cell, demonstrate a special method that scientists can use to find these hidden fragments of DNA from our long-gone cousins — and shed fresh light on the complexities of human evolution. (Khan, 3/15)