Gun violence in schools has been on everyone’s mind since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, and a new poll reveals the fears a lot of high schoolers are having about it.
A Pew Research poll finds that 57% of teens, ages 13 to 17, are worried about a similar shooting happening at their school, with 25% saying they are very worried, and only 13% saying they have no worries at all. As you can imagine, parents are equally worried, with 63% of parents saying they are somewhat concerned about a shooting happening in their child’s school.
As for what should be done about it, 86% of teens think we need to focus on mental illness, preventing those with mental illness from buying guns, as well as improving mental illness screening and treatment. In addition, 79% say metal detectors in schools would be effective, and 66% want a ban on assault-style weapons.
One thing that doesn’t get as much support is allowing teachers to have guns, with only 39% believing it would be an effective measure, and 35% saying it wouldn’t be effective at all.
Source: Pew Research
There are plenty of people out there who can’t start their day without a good shower, but it turns out you may want to rethink your daily scrub because it may not be healthy for you. A new report reveals that bathing every day could increase a person’s chances of getting infections.
According to Columbia University infections-disease expert,Dr. Elaine Larson, showering too much could dry out your skin, which will cause it to crack, making it susceptible to germs. Other experts add that excessive washing can strip the skin of its natural oils, which affects “good” bacteria, which helps people’s immune systems.
While some feel that bathing actually reduces the risk of illness, Larson notes that all it really does is remove body odor. So, how often should we be showering? Mitchell says just once or twice a week is sufficient, adding that those who want to shower daily should only do so if their skin feels healthy and hydrated.
And one other thing. Larson says we shouldn’t lather up our whole body, and instead use soap just on smelly areas. He notes that instead, folks should concentrate on washing their hands more frequently, and keeping their clothes clean in order to reduce the risk of getting sick.
Source: Daily Mail
There’s noting more important to parents than the health of their children, but it turns out where you live could be affecting the kind of care they get, especially because costs of health care can be astronomical in some states.
Well, WalletHub set out to discover which states are the best for children’s health care, comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key indicators of cost, quality and access. Factors included things like pediatricians and family doctors per capita, infant death rates, cost of a doctor’s visit, fast food restaurants per capita and access to healthy food.
And with all that taken into consideration, Vermont earns the honor of being the best state for children’s health care, earning a 73.40 out of 100, and ranking number one for kids' health and access to health care and kids’ nutrition, physical activity and obesity and ninth for kids' oral health.
Top States For Children’s Health Care
- Vermont
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- New York
On the other end of the spectrum, Nevada is the absolute worst state for children’s health care, earning a 36.60, and ranking dead last for kids health and access to health care, 50th for kids oral health, and 36th for kids’ nutrition, physical activity and obesity.
Worst States For Children’s Health Care
- Nevada
- Louisiana
- Texas
- Mississippi
- Arkansas
Click here to see where your home state falls on the list.
Source: WalletHub
Now that spring has finally sprung, some folks can hardly wait to get outside and get their hands back in the dirt. Gardening can pay you back for all the hard work by giving you a beautiful yard, but it’s also good for your mind, the planet and your wallet, too. And new research shows that gardening might also be good for your waistline.
According to a new study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, older cancer survivors who started a veggie garden at home ate more produce and kept pounds off. And another study found similar results with first-year college students. Freshmen who gardened ate significantly more fruits and veggies than those who didn’t. And the more they gardened, the more produce they ate.
Research shows eating more fruits and vegetables can help boost weight loss and improve BMI. And the fact that a half hour of gardening burns around 170-calories definitely helps, too.
No backyard? No problem. Lots of produce can be grown in big pots on your patio or balcony. Check to see which garden zone you live in so you know when to plant and then grow what you like to eat and you’re on your way to a healthier diet and you might shed some pounds while you’re at it.
Source: Cooking Light
Brace yourself, people. Apparently Barbie has a last name … and it’s not Doll. If you’ve been living your life this whole time thinking she was a one name gal, like Oprah or Cher, you’re not alone. But it turns out, our old childhood friend has a family name and we’re not sure how we missed this.
The news of Barbie’s last name sent many Twitter users into low-key freakout mode last week. It all started on National Siblings Day (April 10) when the @Barbie Twitter accounttweeted a brief message in honor of the holiday: “Happy #SiblingsDay, from the Roberts sisters,” along with a photo of Barbie and her three sisters.
And while some tweeted that they had no idea Barbie even had sisters, lots of folks were blown away that Roberts is her last name. Her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, in fact. The iconic doll was created in the 1950s by Ruth Handler, who founded the Mattel toy company with her husband, Elliot, and Harold Matson. She named the doll after her own daughter and a legend was born.
Source: Bustle
If you’re stuck at the office all day, every day, you’ve probably got a trusty mug you keep on your desk and use all the time. Skipping that Starbucks run to drink coffee you make at home or work can save you serious money, but it also means you’ve got a dirty cup to deal with.
Most people don’t really clean that thing each and every time they use it, because even though it only takes a minute or two, it’s an annoying task we’d rather avoid. And for the most part, pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine Jeffrey Starke assures us there’s not much to worry about with germs on your coffee cup, unless you’re filling your mug with coffee or tea and add cream and sugar. Those boost the chances of yucky bacteria lurking in your mug.
And Starke says nursing that buzzy brew for 45 minutes or longer doesn’t help because “standing liquid can encourage environmental pathogens, especially mold, to grow.” So you’re going to want to wash that thing before you drink in it again, but you probably should skip the office break room sink sponge because it’s probably nastier than not washing at all. Seriously.
Starke says “The sponge in the break room probably has the highest bacteria count of anything in the office.” So he advises washing your coffee cup using hot water, soap, and your hand, instead of the germy sponge. And be sure to take that thing home and run it through your dishwasher every chance you get.
Source: Business Insider