August 06, 2010

Kids and Cars

It’s perhaps the most tragic thing that can happen to a parent: the death of a child due to a parent’s own actions. We’ll talk to an expert for advice that could save a young life. Then, tens of millions of Americans take cholesterol lowering drugs. But the nation’s most respected consumer group is raising the red flag for some patients. We’ll tell you what you need to know.

Episode Segments:

InfoTrak: Kids and Cars Dozens of children across the US die every year in hot cars, often the result of an error by a parent. Janette Fennell, president of KidsAndCars.org, a Kansas-based group that compiles statistics and promotes safety measures regarding children and cars outlined some of the most common scenarios and how to prevent a tragic accident. She also discussed the criminal prosecution that many distraught parents face in the aftermath.
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InfoTrak; The Case for and Against Statin Drugs The medical profession is continuing a debate about who should take cholesterol-lowering drugs and who might be better off without them. Dr. John Santa, M.D., director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center, believes that women and children in particular should be cautious about a lifelong statin prescription. He talked about other ways to lower cholesterol before undertaking a drug regimen. He also explained how consumers should choose among the seven statin drugs now on the market.
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InfoTrak: Slowing Down Speed Readers In this age of emails, texts and information scrolling at the bottom of TV screens, Americans are reading faster than ever. Thomas Newkirk, PhD, Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire, believes this is a negative trend, and that readers get greater enjoyment and comprehension when they read slowly. He talked about the reasons why people tend to skim text, and techniques they can use to slow down.
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