So Airborne doesn’t really work. Want a refund?

by Justin Glow on

I’ll admit: I use Airborne regularly. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the “medicine.” On one hand, I love that I had actually found something that seemed to starve off an impending cold, but on the other hand I was dropping somewhere near $6 for a small tube of the stuff.

And then I found out that it doesn’t really work — that it has no proven medicinal effect. But that’s OK — I had an idea that this might be the case anyway. For me, if nothing else, Airborne worked as a psychosomatic solution, as a placebo strong enough to trick my mind into thinking that, despite my runny nose or scratchy throat, I wasn’t getting sick thanks to the fizzy glass of herbal goodness. And you know what? It worked.

In all honesty, I began to wish that they’d start producing a ultra-cheap version made of dust or chalk, but still wrapped in the Airborne logo. That way I could spend less money on my placebo, and still keep my body healthy.

But now, thanks to a class-action lawsuit, you can get a refund on your Airborne purchases IF you’ve kept your proof of purchase. And I know you’ve got all of your Airborne receipts lying around the apartment just waiting for this day. If you feel gypped by the situation, claim a refund.

Me? I’ll pass. I threw away all my receipts anyway.

Air Transat makes emergency landing for sick passengers

by Anna Brones on

A plane flying from the Dominican Republic to Canada made an emergency landing Tuesday night in Florida when several of the passengers became ill. When the Air Transat Flight 477 landed at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International airport, eight passengers were wheeled off to the hospital as a precaution.

The Center for Disease Control stated that they were not sure what caused the illness but that it appeared to be something the passengers ate or drank. I was tempted to make a comment about the state of airplane food, but it turns out they were all family members who had eaten together before boarding the plane.

In a Jam with the Jellies

by Erik McLaughlin on

As the weather begins to get a little less wintery we are already beginning to discuss our summer trips. A beach trip is always a favorite. Laying on the shore with a bit of swimming and relaxation are just what’s needed after a long, cold winter. But there are a few hazards that can ruin a good trip to a dive spot or beach — best to start thinking about them now, so if there is a problem, you’ll be ready to deal with it.

One of my most favorite quotes on the subject of bites and stings actually comes from WC Fields. “Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake.”

Jelly Fish are beautiful creatures to watch swim and some of the most interesting marine life. They can also cause a lot of pain and problems if you get stung. Jellyfish sting with their tentacles that contain thousands of nematocysts. Thus, a single creature can produce many, many stings.

The first priority, for a jellyfish sting victim, is to make sure they are still breathing properly and not having a severe allergic reaction. Burning at the site, numbness, nausea and swelling are all common reactions. A topical decontaminant is what is next. Get those stingers to stop causing problems! The nematocysts can generally be ‘de-activated” with a solution of vinegar, rubbing alcohol or baking soda, poured over the wound. This will also help relieve the pain. Papain, found in meat tenderizer may also be helpful. Removal of the stingers can be aided by shaving the area, with a sharp razor and shaving cream. A local antibiotic/antiseptic cream can now be applied, with or without a low dose steroid cream. For those who just have to adventure in known jellyfish areas, a StingerSuit might be a good consideration. Oh, save the pee for the bathroom as it has not been proven to be of benefit and it is kind of gross.

There are a few famous jellies to know about. First is Chironex Fleckerii (Box Jellyfish), from Australia. This sting can be fatal to humans and extreme caution should be taken in waters where they live. The other bad-guy is Irukandji (Carukia Barnesi), also from Australia. This jelly is only about the size of a large coin and very deadly. Swimmers can often miss seeing them, until it is too close by to avoid.

Make sure to pay attention to life-guards and warning signs for the beaches you are visiting. The best advice is to avoid areas with abundance of jellyfish and head to another beach that is safer.

Dogs cracking down on bed bugs in New York hotels

by Anna Brones on

To avoid an infested hotel bed, the next time you visit New York, you might just want to ask if your hotel room has been inspected for bed bugs by… dogs??? Last year the city’s Department of Housing, Preservation and Development received nearly 7,000 bed bug complaints. The Department’s answer? A team of six dogs to sniff out bed bugs in hotel rooms and apartments across the city.

Radar the beagle and Taz the Australian kelpie are part of a new team called Advanced K9 Detectives. These hounds aren’t out to find drugs, they’re around to make sure you have a good, bug-free, night’s sleep. Although it might seem strange to use dogs to track down bedbugs, business is going well; according to Carl Massicott, the company’s mastermind, a lot of the company’s clients are top-end hotels.

The best part about using dogs for hotel inspection is that you can be sure they will never sell out. “A dog’s nose is cutting-edge technology,” Massicott said. “Our animals are 100% honest, and trained to work for food and love instead of profits.”

Better ask for the canine cleared room next time you are doing your New York bookings.

Deadly toxin found in Las Vegas motel room

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s a weird, scary motel hazard story. It goes way, way, way beyond contaminated water glasses. How about the presence of a toxin that is so powerful even a speck can kill you? That’s what was found in an Extended Stay America motel room in Las Vegas yesterday, two weeks after a man who was staying in the room was rushed to the hospital in respiratory distress.

Vials of the toxin ricin, made from castor beans, were found in the man’s room by a friend who went to pick up his stuff. The room had not been rented out since the man left. Once it was discovered what the substance was, the hotel was cordoned off and guests had to stay in their rooms until there was an all clear. Other people–the manager, police officers and the person who brought the vials of ricin to the manager’s office were treated for contamination, but all of them are fine and the motel has been cleaned.

Not much is known about the man, the friend or how the ricin came to be in the room. There were castor beans as well, and it’s illegal to make ricin. This is the stuff of spy thrillers and assassination–back in the 1970s in London, a Bulgarian dissident was assassinated when someone injected a ricin pellet in his leg with an umbrella.

This story sounds like one that could get more and more curious. It’s a page turner with the last pages missing. Hopefully, the man will be able to answer questions one day. And if you’re wondering, officials don’t think this is a terrorist plot. [via AP]