Maine Injury & Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Auto Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Construction Injuries : Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Biddeford, Maine

A new website weighs the benefits and risks of medications.

Pfizer, a leading manufacturer for pharmaceuticals, developed a website to educate people on relevant information regarding a variety of medicine. The interactive website is designed to be in “plain English” with graphics and video clips to further educate consumers, as well as healthcare providers, public health officials, and caregivers. 

In addition to providing information on many different types of medication, the website also helps guide visitors through the process of speaking with their doctor, how to carefully fill out a prescription card to help minimize mistakes, and how to properly take the medicine. The website also provides information on many common diseases and conditions, and their respective medicines.

For information on medications, their risks and health benefits, please visit: http://www.pfizer.com/medicinesafety. 

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The twenty-seventh annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run took place September 14, 2008.  Motorcyclists from around Maine gathered at the Augusta Civic Center with new toys in tow and rode in unison to the Windsor Fairgrounds, where their toys were pooled together and donated to the Salvation Army.

Despite a steady rain, thousands of bikers took part in the annual Toy Run, as participants wanted to help less fortunate families by ensuring that their children would receive gifts during the upcoming holiday season.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein was also on hand to join in the festivities.  We donated two large trash bags full of toys, and gave away custom bandanas to those who braved the rain and went for a ride.

Each year thousands of toys are collected by the good deed of the United Bikers of Maine, and because of this, each year many less fortunate families have a happy holiday season.

So for all you bikers out there, join the fun and join the cause, and take part in next year’s twenty-eighth annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run. 

And for those who ride, be sure to keep Joe Bornstein by your side.

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Beginning October 1st, it is now illegal to let your vehicle idle for more than five minutes in the city of Portland.

The Portland City Council approved the ordinance on September 15, 2008, in an attempt to reduce greenhouse effects, car emissions, and wasted fuel. The ordinance follows a state law for commercial vehicles, however, fire trucks, ambulances, and other public safety and service vehicles are exempt.

Exceptions for the general public include:

·         If you are in a traffic jam

·         If it is below 32 degrees (you may then idle for fifteen minutes)

·         If you are ill

Violators will incur a $50.00 fine for breaking the ordinance, which critics believe will be a burden for police to enforce. The fine is scheduled to begin January 1, 2009.

For more information on the new idling ordinance and all other Maine state driving laws, please visit: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/law.html.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises parents to avoid dressing their children in clothing that have drawstrings around the neck of the garment, including sweatshirts, jackets, and other such items. The drawstrings have the potential to catch on playground equipment, fences, tree branches and school bus doors, and strangle a child.

In the past two decades, the CPSC has received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children’s clothing with drawstrings, and they recommend that parents remove or cut all drawstrings from their children’s clothing to eliminate the hazard.

Since 2006, children's coats, sweatshirts and jackets with drawstrings around the neck or waist have been considered defective and have been automatically recalled, however several companies overseas still manufacture these items that are being sold in the U.S. As recently as August 6, 2008, nine companies were fined for selling children’s clothes with drawstrings, and in May of 2008, a two-year boy of San Jose, California died when the drawstring of his jacket got caught on a slide at his daycare center.

So parents be wise and avoid dressing your children in clothing with drawstrings. Because doing so may save their life.

For more information on children safety and other consumer product safety news, please visit: www.cpsc.gov.
 

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The State of Maine is advising citizens to prepare and maintain a home emergency kit. With hurricane season in full effect and winter looming on the horizon, state officials recommend that now is the time to prepare for a natural disaster.

On September 9, 2008, Governor John Baldacci signed a proclamation to make September Preparedness Month in the State of Maine. He warned of flooding, road erosion, high winds, large snowfalls and widespread power outages, cautioned Mainers to be prepared for disasters year-round, and reminded everyone that natural disasters have caused millions of dollars in damage and taken the lives of residents across the state.

Items that should be included in an emergency kit include:

• Water (one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation)
• Non-perishable foods
• Battery-operated or crank radio
• Dust mask or cotton fabrics
• Whistle
• Important family documents
• Shake flashlight or flashlight and extra batteries
• Manual can opener
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape
• Garbage bags and plastic ties
• Small tool kit
• First aid kit
• Toilet paper
• Unique family needs (infant formula, prescription medicine, supplies for a pet, etc.)
• Extra warm clothing

Families should also have an emergency plan intact that includes emergency phone numbers and nearby meeting points.

Natural disasters are often unpredictable, but with some advance planning they can be mitigated. So be prepared and be safe.

For more information on how to protect you and your family, please visit: http://maine.gov/mema/prepare.

And remember: Get A Kit, Make A Plan, and Be Informed!
 

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A new statewide law made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with children.

Beginning September 1, 2008, it is now illegal to smoke in a vehicle in the State of Maine when children under the age of 16 are present. The law was passed in an attempt to cut down on the amount of secondhand smoke youths are exposed to, as Governor John Baldacci declared that it costs too many lives and too much money.

Violators will be warned during the first year and will then be subject to a $50 fine thereafter.

According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, children are most likely to be affected by secondhand smoke, as their developing lungs are susceptible to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections, and other damaging health effects. TheU.S. Surgeon General also warns of links between secondhand smoke exposure and cancer and heart disease.

The new law follows a city ordinance passed in Bangor in 2007 when they became one of the first cities in the U.S. to ban smoking in cars with children present, and follows the lead of California, Arkansas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and some Canadian provinces, who have passed similar laws.

For more information on the new statewide smoking law please visit: http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/law.html.

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Summer is officially over and that mean it’s time for school. The Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offer the following advice for all parents to help assimilate their kids back to school:

First Day Jitters:

• Remind your child that he or she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school: Your child will see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh his or her memory about previous years, when he or she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits after having fun.
• Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school or ride with on the bus.

Back Pack Safety:

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments and pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.
• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

School Bus Safety:

• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing.
• Do not move around the bus and always make sure to remain in clear view of the bus driver.

Eating During The School Day:

• Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
• Try to get your child's school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
• Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60 percent. Restrict your child's soft drink consumption.

Developing Good Homework and Study Habits:

• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Children need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy and inspiration.
• Set aside ample time for homework and establish a household rule that the TV stays off during homework time.
• If your child is struggling in a subject, speak with his or her teacher and seek out additional help. Teachers will be happy to assist those who take the initiative. 

School should be an enjoyable learning experience for children of all ages, and with proper precautions and preparation, the future of tomorrow will learn today. So teach your kids to enjoy school, because by excelling in school they will be setting themselves up to excel in life.

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Beginning September 1, 2008, eligible Maine residents may see an increase in the amount of food stamps they receive due to higher home heating and other utility costs.

Food stamps are distributed in the form of a rechargeable debit card called “The Pine Tree Card,” and individuals can currently receive up to $162 per month, while couples can receive up to $298 per month. 

To be eligible, recipients must meet two income guidelines set by the federal government:

·         Individuals cannot make more than $1,107 in monthly gross income or $850 in monthly net income. 

·         Couples cannot make more than $1,484 monthly gross income or $1,181 monthly net income. 

Applicant must also list their assets and personal property when applying, and the size of your family is also taken into consideration.

There are restrictions as to what food stamps can and cannot be used for. They cannot be used to purchase paper products, cleaning supplies, alcohol or tobacco products, and are meant to supplement a family with food, rather than feed them in full.

Approximately 180,000 people collect food stamps in Maine, with the number increasing monthly. For senior citizens and the disabled, food stamps eligibility is reviewed annually, for all others, every three months.

To find out more about eligibility requirements and restrictions, please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services, or the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to find a local district office near you.  

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While fatalities involving motorists in cars and trucks, bicyclists, pedestrians, and even alcohol-related accidents dropped dramatically in 2007, highway deaths of motorcyclists soared for the tenth straight year, accounting for nearly one out of eight highway deaths.

Experts expect this trend to continue as more and more people are riding motorcycles today for longer distances thanks in part to high gas prices and the near fifty miles to the gallon fuel efficiency motorcycles get.

A direct correlation to motorcycle fatalities is safety. While cars and trucks offer airbags, seatbelts, and improved fenders, motorcyclists are left exposed while riding, and therefore are at a much greater risk to be seriously injured when in an accident. And with the 1977 state repeal of the helmet law, motorcyclists over the age of 14 may ride a motorcycle without a helmet in the state of Maine, but do so at their own risk.

The median age of motorcyclists is also a contributing factor to the high number of fatalities, as many middle-age men who once rode motorcycles are returning to their youthful passion. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are seventy-five percent more registered motorcycles today than there were ten years ago. And while riding a motorcycle may be like riding a bike, over time one’s skills and reaction time decrease, often resulting in a learning curve that must be overcome for a rider to once again feel comfortable on a bike.

To a motorcyclist, there’s nothing more enticing then the open road. But at The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the dangers motorcyclists face every day on those very roads.

So ride safe! Because if you do, the only statistic you’ll have to worry about is how much fun you had!
 

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