Pedal bikes are not the only form of transportation that received new law implementations on January 1, 2017. Updates to the Illinois Vehicle Code were also put into place—updates that some are calling the “blue light” bill.

Motorcyclists are now permitted to be equipped with a blue light or multiple lights. These lights can be located on the rear of a motorcyclist's bike as part of his or her rear stop lamp or lamps.

This new law—HB 4105—was put into effect as a means to try and lessen the number of motorcycle accidents that occur annually in the state of Illinois. Because riders are now allowed to add blue lights on the back of their motorcycles, a contrast of colors with the red and blue lights will occur. This variation of the contrasting colors will help to make the brakes more visible for fellow drivers on the road. When a motorcyclist pushes on his or her brakes with the addition of the blue rear light, those driving behind the motorcyclist will be more likely to notice the contrasting colors clearer and faster.

A recent study has revealed that thousands of children are treated in emergency rooms each year because of injuries they receive from strollers and baby carriers. In fact, between the years 1990 through 2010, 361,000 children who were 5-years-old or younger were treated in emergency rooms across the country for injuries received from these devices. This works out to more than 17,000 injured children every year, 50 children per day, or two injured children per hour.

The study was conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital using data which was collected by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System.

Common Dangers

The summer months are very enjoyable for most people. Warmer weather permits a number of fun outdoor activities—going to beaches, barbecues, hiking, and, of course, just playing outside for children during the school break. But for those who have to work outside, the heat of summer can cause serious illness and even death.

Potentially Fatal Heat-Related Illness

That is what happened to one man – a 23-year-old landscaper – who recently died after working in the heat all day. Officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) say the man was assisting with tree trimming work and his duties included flagging traffic, chipping limbs, and stacking brush. He began at approximately 7:00 a.m., but by 4:30 p.m., his body became overheated. He was rushed to the hospital, where his core temperature was measured at 108 degrees. He died the next day.

One of the most common accident injuries people suffered is a concussion. According to national statistics, approximately three million people are in some kind of incident that results in a concussion. Some, of course, are extremely serious and can have an immediate impact on the victim' life. Even a mild concussion can have long-term side effects, but those effects may be even more serious than previously thought. A new study has concluded that people who suffer from even one concussion may be three times more likely to commit suicide several years later.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto. The study’s organizers spent 20 years tracking the history of 236,000 victims of concussions. On average, the study found, 31 out of every 100,000 concussion victims eventually took their own lives. Interestingly, concussion victims who had suffered their injuries on a weekend had an even higher risk of committing suicide, at a rate of nearly four times the national average.

The lead researcher of the study warns family members of people who have suffered a concussion to be aware of the possible warning signs that their loved one may be struggling emotionally. Some of the signs to watch for include depression, extreme mood swings, feelings of hopelessness, substance abuse, withdrawal, or talk of suicidal impulses. These issues do not always occur immediately following the injury. In many cases, they do not develop until years later.

The activity of ziplining has soared in popularity over the past several years. Originally utilized by scientists and researchers exploring the dense jungles of Central and South America, ziplining has become fully mainstream, with many thrill seekers seeing it as a “safe” alternative to flying activities, such as hand gliding. As the cold weather sets in across the Midwest, many traveling to warmer destinations for the holidays may have the opportunity to clip on and try ziplining for the first time.

What is Ziplining?

Ziplining works like this: a person wears a harness which is then connected to by pulley system to a cable which runs high above the ground. According to statistics, there are more than 700 ziplines worldwide, and more than 200 of those lines are right here in the United States.