911 Driver

If you see a dangerous driver, should you call 911? 

That crazy driver is going to kill someone! If that thought crosses your mind, you should probably call 911. Lieutenant J. Paul Vance from the Connecticut State Police says it’s the responsible thing to do - but only if you feel that driver is a danger to the public and is placing other people in harm’s way. Do NOT use 911 for simple motor vehicle violations or less reckless, annoying drivers. 911 is for urgent assistance in true emergencies.

If you do feel the need to report a dangerous driver, pull over first. Be prepared to provide your dispatcher with your location, description of the driver and their direction of travel. If you can, make a mental note of their tag number and state and make and color of vehicle. Do NOT attempt to follow them or take a picture with your cell-phone.

Bad Books

Reading in bed is good - unless you read this.

It’s fine to read in bed - as long as you’re turning real pages. A new study says e-books are bad for bedtime and are seriously disturbing our sleep. Harvard sleep expert Charles Czeisler says technology is ruining our natural 24-hour day and forcing us to turn in later or experience disrupted sleep patterns.

Sleep disorders are on the rise and most experts agree that e-books and late-night technology are playing a significant part in that trend. Reading paper surfaces by traditional light is much less disruptive to our system than backlit, LED or blue-based light.

Danger Zone

You’ve childproofed your home - but what about the back yard? 

Most parents go to great lengths to safeguard young children in the home - but the back yard could be jungle of hazards. Consumer Reports has the significant danger zones to double check:

* Lawn mowers. 68,000 children suffer terrible mower injuries in the U.S. each year. Store your lawn mower indoors and keep the gasoline and oil OUT of reach. Older kids helping out are at risk too. They should be 14 years old to operate a walk-behind mower and 15 for tractors and riding mowers. They’ll also need eye and ear protection.

* Pesticides. They are toxic if inhaled or swallowed and must be stored safely. Before applying pesticide, be sure children, toys, and pets are away from the area--and keep them away for at least 48 hours after you're done.

* Plants. Believe it or not, plants are a leading cause of poisoning for children under five. Do your research and fence off or remove any toxic plants.

* Bugs. Ticks, mosquitoes and bees aren’t just annoying, they’re dangerous. Don't use scented soaps, perfumes, or hair sprays on children, and avoid dressing them in bright colors or flowery prints.

Grilling Cancer

Grilling causes cancer? So many summertime foods taste better barbequed or fresh off the grill. Unfortunately, some nutritional party poopers say grilling can be really bad for us because we’re searing cancer-causing carcinogens right into our food. Here are there tips for cutting our grilled cancer risk:

* Choose chicken and fish instead of steaks and burgers: Red or processed meats increase the risk of colon cancer. 

* Marinate before you grill: Marinating meat, poultry and fish for at least 30 minutes before you put it on the grill can reduce the formation of cancer-causing compounds that form when cooking over high heat. 

* Cut the grill time: Smoke generated by the grill deposits other harmful substances on your food. Consider partially cooking it in the microwave, stove or oven first. 

* Cook meat over a low flame: This will help reduce fat and juices from dripping onto the coals.

* If parts of the food are black and charred after cooking, cut or scrape them off.

* Add the veggies: Vegetables like onions, zucchini, eggplant and corn on the cob contain anti-cancer compounds.

Open-Plan Offices

Open-plan offices have a BIG impact on employees. 

More and more offices are going with an open floor plan these days - and those open plans are having a big impact on how we work. Unfortunately, it’s not for the better. New research says those open-plan offices are making employees less productive, more likely to get sick and generally miserable. Here are some more unproductive statistics from the study:

* Open-plan office workers are exposed to more germs and are more stressed.

*People who have their own office or cubicle take 62 per cent less sick days.

*People over the age of 45 are the most distracted by office noises.

When asked, open-office employees say they feel they lack privacy and are less motivated. These teams also report lower job satisfaction than those who either have a door to close or cubicle walls to call their own.