Thumbs DOWN…to harm caused by drug consuming parents. Young children who are not carefully supervised and unsafe storage has led to hundreds of cases of accidental opioid poisioning. Experts suggest harm reduction strategies by drug using parents and removal of children where possible. Hospital reports show hundreds of emergency cases and even death.
Source: Paediatric and Child Health
Thumbs DOWN…to Ozark Trail 64 oz water bottles with lids that can forcefully eject. After a number of facial and eye injuries 850,000 travel bottles have been recalled by Walmart.
Source: Yahoo
Thumbs UP…to Salt Spring Island Mounties for responding to an out-of-town family member’s request a well-being check on their elderly father. Attending police found unhealthy conditions and with much persuasion, got the senior to the hospital. Turns out he unknowingly had internal bleeding and according to doctors would have succumbed in the next 24 hours without intervention.
Source: Good News Network
Thumbs DOWN…to Big Brothers and Sisters waiting lists. The organization suggests ongoing mentor shortages are delaying supports needed for young boys and girls. Toronto alone has a waiting list of 400+.
Source: Toronto Star
Thumbs DOWN…to people riding e-scooters on sidewalks. A Mississauga man says his dog was plowed over by an e-scooter during a walk leaving her unable to walk.
Source: toronto.com
Thumbs DOWN…to Fitbit for unreported battery defects that caused burns. The company was fined 12.25 million US for allegedly failing to notify authorities. The defective Fitbit watches were made in Taiwan and China and sold from August 2017 and August 2020. Canadians are eligible for a $299 refund. Visit fitbitionic.expertinquiry.com
Source: insideHalton.com
Thumbs DOWN…to “Coffee Badging” an international hybrid work phenomenon where employees come into the office to show face and get credit for coming without staying long. They then return to work remotely. When the trend emerged in 2023, 58% of employees admitted to the behaviour. A year later 44% were still doing it. Interestingly 70% had been caught by their boss with little recourse. Of note: the French prefer to stay at work all day according to the same research.
Source: Owl Labs
Thumbs UP…to keeping your passport safe. Cybersecurity experts say hackers are stealing e-mailed copies of passports to sell on the dark web for anywhere between $600 and $3500.
Source: Saily
Thumbs DOWN…to wasted milk. Billions of litres are said to have been thrown out by farmers over the past decade while some families go without. Experts blame the outdated dairy supply management system (DSMS), false assumptions, imposed quotas, along with a lack of transparency and tracking. Concrete improvements are being called for.
Source: Troy Media
Thumbs DOWN…to Alberta and New Brunswick are the only two provinces that does not have an Accessibility Act.
Source: Vadsociety.ca
Images: iStock. British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Matt. CanStock. Heyho Visual, Unsplash.
