During the first weekend at our local public pool this year, one of the lifeguards at the mid-sized kid pool was nodding off in her chair. I pointed it out to a friend, which alerted the other lifeguard on duty. He came over and told the too-tired-teen guard to leave. “If you can’t stay awake, you can’t be here,” he told her. An undercover report by CBS showed there are other lifeguards out there without an eye on the water. Some guards were texting and reading magazines instead of watching the swimmers.

On average, 10 people die a day from unintentional drowning. But, drowning generally doesn’t happen like it does in the movies, where swimmers splash and scream for help. Swimmers in serious trouble slip under the water silently.

Mario Vittone, a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, wrote a sobering article on what drowning really looks like:

There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) — of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening (source: CDC).

Think your child is an expert swimmer and couldn’t ever get in to trouble? Watch this report from NBC and you might change your mind:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Mr. Vittone has these words of advice if you suspect a swimmer is in trouble:

Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck. One way to be sure? Ask them: “Are you alright?” If they can answer at all – they probably are. If they return a blank stare – you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them. And parents: children playing in the water make noise. When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

So keep your eye on your kids this summer when they are around water. There’s no substitute for vigilant parental supervision.

[Via MomLogic, and thanks to David S. for the link!]

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“I heard from a friend of a friend that…” How many times have you received an email with this sort of opening? Usually what follows is some sort of urban legend, offers of free money, or dire warnings about the health of your children. But, not everyone might spot an e-hoax as easily as the next person.

That’s why debunking sites, such as Snopes.com and Hoax-Slayer.com, are so important. If I hear a crazy Internet rumor, one of these sites is my first stop to verify what I’ve been told.

For example, “Man Hit by Lightening, Then Mauled by Bear” is true. However, the alert that several women have died from sniffing perfume samples sent to them in the mail is false. Way false.

So, check with reputable sources before you believe what you read. Even people you know and trust can be misinformed.

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There is a lot of talk these days about sugar in various forms. Whether it’s the raw stuff, high-fructose corn syrup, or agave nectar, people are debating what sugar is good for you and what sugar is bad for you. Guess what? It’s all sugar! And, it all has calories.

So what’s the difference between all the sugar products out there? Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart Magazine has a great breakdown in their July issue.

Raw Sugar and Natural Sweetners

Raw sugar, honey, molasses, and maple syrup are generally considered “natural” sweeteners. But, warning! You still have to use it in moderation. Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s good for you. These have just as many empty calories as the next sweetener.

Agave Nectar

This sweetener, made from plants, is usually marketed as a healthy alternative for sweetening. Sold in vitamin shops and carrying a “certified organic” label, you might think this product is actually good for you. Wrong! After testing, ShopSmart Mag said to skip it. Agave nectar costs way more than sugar and it’s mostly fructose.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup

Here is Public Enemy #1. HFCS is being blamed for the obesity epidemic in this country, mainly because,

It is a marker for junk foods. Cheaper than sucrose, it turns up in all kinds of processed foods, particularly soft drinks. And there is nearly as much of it in the food supply as sucrose – 56 pounds per year per person versus 62 pounds for table sugar.

But, your body can hardly tell the difference. Sugar is sugar. Watch this report from NBC’s Nightly News:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The Center for Consumer Freedom commented on this video by saying:

“High fructose corn syrup is one of the most misunderstood products in the food supply,” said Harvard’s David Ludwig last night on NBC Nightly News. That’s because sugar is sugar, whether it’s made from beets, cane, or corn. All are nearly identical in molecular composition, and exactly equal in sweetness and calorie content.

The average American currently consumes about 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. How much should we have? Well, the American Heart Association recommendations 6 teaspoons a day for women and 9 teaspoons a day for men. So, we consume way more than we should, no matter in what form.

The bottom line, according to ShopSmart, is to, “choose the sugar you like best, but use it in moderation and don’t fool yourself into thinking any of it (unless it comes in a shiny apple) is health food.”

So, we took a little break last week. What can we say…it’s summer!

But, here’s something to get you back into the common sense swing of things. This is a slideshow of The Worst Grammar, Spelling, Punctuation, and Malapropism Mistakes Ever, as voted on by the readers of the Huffington Post. Good tips!

WRONG: I could of been a great writer.
RIGHT: I could have been published.

I hate preemptive honkers.

You’re sitting at a red light, waiting for it to turn green. The split second that the light changes, someone behind you honks–as if you were holding up a long line of cars by not flooring it. Only, you weren’t. Are these the most impatient, annoying drivers in the world?

I don’t honk capriciously. I use the horn in extreme situations–such as danger or when another driver isn’t paying attention to the road. I don’t use it to hurry everyone else along at changing lights. Driver’s Ed Guru has written a guide to Horn Honking Etiquette. They say to wait at least four seconds after the light changes before you tap your horn lightly to alert another motorist to get a move on.

Calm down, you overzealous honkers. We’re all moving just as fast as we can. You’re not busier than everyone else, so be nice to your fellow motorists.

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If you think your kids don’t learn anything positive from TV, then these two stories may change your mind. Two young children recently saved the lives of others by using moves they learned on SpongeBob Squarepants.

First, a 12-year old girl performed the Heimlich maneuver on a choking friend. SpongeBob performs this move on Squidward when the squid chokes on his clarinet. Next, an 8-year old boy saved a younger boy from drowning this past April. The boy had seen Larry the Lobster save SpongeBob with a similar move on the show.

Not too shabby for a sponge.

So, your kids are learning from TV, whether you like it or not, and not all the lessons are bad.

Parking is something all drivers worry about at one time or another. You can never be sure that there will be a spot for your car at your destination…or, can you?

This woman just brings her own parking spot wherever she goes. Brilliant. Illegal, but brilliant.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXrG28pZXE8

[Via Huffington Post]

In a move that certainly does away with little trivialities like PROOF, the Ohio Supreme Court has given officers in that state the right to give speeding tickets based on their eyes–not a radar gun. In Ohio, if a police officer sees you speeding, he can write you a ticket even if you weren’t officially clocked as going over the speed limit.

This is troubling because the perception of how fast you’re going is subjective. It’s not like running a red light or making an illegal turn. What looks 45 miles an hour to one person could look 55 miles an hour to someone else. “Speeding, officer? Exactly how far over the speed limit was I?” In Ohio, they won’t need to answer this question before socking you with a hefty fine.

[Via The Consumerist]
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A woman is suing Google after being struck by a car on a busy highway. Why is this Google’s fault? Because she was following the Google Maps walking directions at the time. In the lawsuit, she claims Google provided her,

walking directions that led her out onto Deer valley Drive, a.k.a. State Route 224, a rural highway wit no sidewalks, and a roadway that exhibits motor vehicles traveling at high speeds, that is not reasonably safe for pedestrians.

This woman apparently left her common sense at home when she departed. Concentrating on her Blackberry, she forgot how to LOOK UP and notice her surroundings.

Google warns in their walking directions, “Walking directions are in beta. Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.” This may, however, have been missing on the Blackberry edition of Google Maps. Even still, if Google told you to jump off a cliff, would you?

[Via BoingBoing]

Alert: another wacky product idea! Here’s one that guarantees to help you “maintain your dignity” while you wipe. It’s called the Comfort Wipe, and it’s basically a long plastic wand you insert your toilet paper in to:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfGXmxJ1vM

Toilet paper is “archaic?” Huh? The ad says TP hasn’t been improved upon since the 1880s. I’m pretty sure the people at Charmin would disagree. In fact, there have been several improvements and variations in TP over that first version. These include a coating of wax or aloe to reduce roughness, two-ply paper, a slight texture to provide some durability and softness, and more. So, I think we can agree that toilet paper is as advanced as we’ve ever seen.

The CW is aimed at two groups of people: First, those who have a loss of range of motion, and second, those who hate to touch toilet paper SO much that they need a big ‘ol plastic stick to do it for them. If you’re in the first group, fine. I can see how you would not want to call a friend or partner for help with wiping every single time you do your business. A drag, for sure. But, if you fall into the second category, I can only hope I’m not nearby when you snap and head for a bell tower with a shotgun. Is there anyone who can’t stand to touch toilet paper? If your OCD is this debilitating, you have a whole host of bigger problems than wiping your behind.

So, if you’re in a cast or recently had surgery on your shoulder, this product may make some sense. If you’re anyone else ordering this, get help immediately!

[Thanks to Paul P. for the link!]