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3-year-old is 'nearly dismembered' after using this popular potty chair
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This is what you need to look out for when selecting a potty-training device. - photo by Melinda Fox
Parents are encouraged to teach their little boys how to use the bathroom by sitting first, before standing. For this reason, many parents choose to use a reduced toilet seat with a splash guard to teach their little guys how to go to the bathroom. However, there are certain safety precautions you need to be aware of when choosing a training seat specifically regarding which seat you choose.

In June, a little boy in Riverside, California got his genitals stuck in the splash guard of the WeePOD Basix Potty Ring causing severe cuts and nearly dismembering him. The boy had to be taken to the emergency room to be glued back together. The family, who chose to remain anonymous, is suing Target because the store claimed the product was safe even though they were aware of prior claims that this toilet seat, manufactured by Prince Lionheart, mutilated a child.

For example, in 2015, a parent in Virginia reported a similar incident with Prince Lionheart's product. Allegedly, the parent left a comment on Target's website about the incident. The comment, which has now is no longer available, due to "Target's malfeasance" read: "My 4-year-old son was going to the bathroom on his wee pod basix potty seat and when he stood up he started screaming. He had a nasty cut on the base of his penis and it was bleeding a lot. My husband and I cleaned him up and took him to the doctor.

"When we got home I examined the seat and the bottom edge is actually very sharp and just sliced open the very sensitives in in that area. This has been horribly traumatic for him and could have been so much worse."

Attorney John Kristensen, who is handling the case against Target and Prince Lionheart stated, Target and Prince Lionheart knew there were problems with this defective potty-training device, knew of prior complaints but refused to take the product off the shelf. They had a duty to warn customers about the dangers of their WeePOD product. Their failure to do so was reckless and led directly to the mutilation of my client.

The product is still available on Target's website and currently has almost a 4-star rating. Both Target and Prince Lionheart maintain that product safety is a priority to them. On Dec. 22, 2017, a representative of Prince Lionheart commented to Good Housekeeping, "We take the safety and comfort of the children and parents who use our products very seriously, and all of our products have been subjected to rigorous third party testing to ensure their safety when used in a manner consistent with our instructions and warnings. We're a family-owned and operated business and have been making products for babies and young children for over forty years. Our practice is to design safety, quality and performance into every one of our products."

For the time being, we recommend that you check any potty-training device before allowing your kid to use it. Feel around the whole surface for sharp edges that might hurt sensitive body parts.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.