Baby sleep products could be putting your child at risk, cot death charity warns
The Lullaby Trust has revealed that items such as,
“cushioned sleeping pods, nests, cot bumpers, pillows, duvets and anything that wedges a baby in place do not conform to safer sleep guidelines and could pose a risk to infants under 12 months of age.”
The risk rises from the overheating and possible obstruction to a baby’s airway if they were to roll on their face and be covered by loose bedding. A large majority of these products are available to purchase on the high street, making it difficult to know which ones are safe.
Evidence has shown that laying a baby on anything other than a flat, firm surface can increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), however, 41 per cent of new parents stated that they were planning to buy a sleep nest or pod.
Professor Viv Bennett, director of nursing at PHE has stated,
“Ensuring parents have the correct information to keep their baby safe is crucial, this resource will help parents when choosing equipment or products for their baby.”
Mother-of-two warns of the dangers of tanning beds
Mallory Lubbock, a mother-of-two recently had a skin cancer "spot removed from her top lip – the result of her days a teenager spent in tanning beds".
Lubbock has shared pictures of herself on social media after having the painful surgery and has criticised her younger self for indulging in tanning beds stating,
“Damn it 16-year-old Mallory that went tanning every single day for 2 years. I will try like hell to make sure my daughter will not be laying in a single tanning bed while she is under my roof and I hope her just hearing about and seeing Mamma go through this will be enough.”
Lubbock goes on to advise other parents to heed her waning and keep their children out of the ‘dangerous beds’.
Online porn age checks delayed in UK
The UK government has confirmed that a ‘controversial compulsory’ age verification check for online porn will no longer be introduced in April and has been delayed until “later in the year”.
A spokesman from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport stated that “We need to take the time to make sure we get it right.”
The new rule would mean online porn viewers will have to prove that they are over the age of 18 to watch the ‘explicit material'. This new protection precaution is part of the Digital Economy Act designed to prevent children “stumbling” upon inappropriate material online.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43370999
Muscle loss in old age linked to fewer nerve signals
New research has revealed why a natural loss of muscle occurs in the legs as people get older - the loss of nerves.
The study discovered that by the age of 75, men had lost 30% of the nerves in their legs which made muscles “waste away”. In older fitter athletes there was a “better chance of them being ‘rescued’ by nerves re-connecting.”
The reason behind nerves behind muscle ‘wasting away’ is due to “muscles need to receive a proper signal from the nervous system to tell them to contract, so we can move around.”
This new research could help scientists find ways of reversing the condition in the future.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43347409
Bill Gates: Cryptocurrencies have ‘caused deaths in a fairly direct way’
Bill gates – chief executive of Microsoft – has expressed concern over the recent wave of cryptocurrencies, stating that,
“Right now, cryptocurrencies are used for buying fentanyl and other drugs so it is a rare technology that has caused deaths in a fairly direct way.”
Gates argued that the government’s ability to track money laundering, tax evasion and terrorist funding is a good thing – tasks made more difficult when dealing with cryptocurrency transactions. Furthermore, unlike cash transactions, cryptocurrencies can be used remotely, “which removes another avenue of control” Gates added.
Industry ‘exaggerates plastics recycling success’
The packaging industry in England has been accused of exaggerating the quantity of the plastic recycled. Waste consultancy – Eunomia – estimates that the figures are overstated “by about a third”.
An industry spokesperson has responded stating that he was “very confident” of the accuracy of the data presented.
Official statistics say that in 2016 the UK produced 2.26 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste, and recycled almost 44.9 per cent. Dominic Hogg – Eunomia – stated that “No-one believes these figures”.
This article comes during the recent plastic waste discussions, with national charities and campaigns pressuring large supermarkets to reduce the amount of plastic waste they produce with the first supermarket in Amsterdam recently introducing the first ‘plastic free’ aisle.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-43293221