Top 10 posts here

I've been writing this blog for almost a year - covering topics ranging from spelling tricks to dealing with people who are dying. Quite a variety - don't you think? Very many of my visitors come from Internet searches and it's interesting to see what phrases they use to find what they're searching for.

Here are what seem to be the 10 most popular posts. The first one pops up at least once or twice a week, if not more often; I hope it's helpful to those who find it.

Spelling Tricks
Paintball - fun or danger?
Broken hips in the elderly
Cancers below the waist
Someone pull the knife out of my eye please?
Occupational therapy and physiotherapy
Shingles vaccine available
Trampolines - jump or dump?
Emergency room waiting times
Medication errors

Writing this blog is fun. I noticed that my posts are getting shorter - probably because I have a lot less time now than when I started it. But, as long as I'm getting the readers every day, I'll continue. I hope you get as much out of it as I get putting into it.

News for Today:
Drinking water may have little benefit: study

Obesity and pregnancy means more health care needed
Patients prefer to challenge nurses rather than doctors on safety issues
Anemia Increases Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence
Automated External Defibrillators and CPR Are Equally Helpful for Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Home
Medicines Regulator Approves A New Over-the-counter Medicine For The Treatment Of Period Pain, UK

Trampolines - jump or dump?

This past weekend, I saw (and read) several reports on the dangers of back yard trampolines. The Canadian Pediatric Society wants a ban on back yard trampolines, saying that there has been a significant increase in injuries, including paralysis because of back injuries. They have issued a joint statement with the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine.

While it’s true, trampoline can be dangerous and there has been in increase in injuries, the trampoline industry points out that thousands more trampolines are being sold and used now than there used to be and that the increase in injuries is merely a reflection of the increased number.

When I was in elementary school, we used a trampoline in gym – I remember having to stand along the sides as the class acted as spotters for the one person on the trampoline. I was not an athletic kid, so the trampoline wasn’t one of my strong points either. It was kind of fun, but if you jumped the wrong way, you could (and did) get hurt.

The manufacturers warn parents not to allow more than one person on the trampoline at a time and, I don’t know about you, but I see this rule broken a lot. On the news the other day, one child told a reporter that she wouldn’t want to go on the trampoline alone because it was boring and you can’t play games then.

So, do we ban them like the doctors want? Or do we accept these injuries as a part of childhood? Personally, I would never have a trampoline in my backyard. I wouldn’t want that responsibility, to me the risk of injuries is just too high. I don’t wrap my kids in bubble-wrap. I wrote a post a couple of months ago about how we have to allow our kids to grow and try things, including activities with some level of risk. But I think that trampolines are just too high risk.

News for Today:
Increase in polycystic ovary syndrome linked to obesity, environment: study
U.S. FDA proposes new labeling for sunscreens
Infection contributes to the high rates of oropharyngeal cancers
Smoking increases risks for head and neck cancers for men and women
EU Approves Roche's Avastin For Lung Cancer Treatment