Alison Young Investigates

Carnival ride mishaps can injure, kill

Serious injuries and deaths involving amusement park and carnival rides are relatively rare, data indicate. Still, out of the millions of riders each year, federal regulators estimate that more than 2,500 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries involving amusement rides. In Georgia, recent incidents have included a man being thrown off a whirling swing into a fence; girls’ legs badly cut when a trailer awning was opened into the path of their whirling ride; a little girl who fell from near the top of a Ferris wheel; and a decapitation involving a roller coaster. Regulators monitor amusement rides

Most Georgia doctors violate vaccine reporting law

Every vaccination given in Georgia is supposed to be recorded in a state immunization registry. But only 26 percent of private health care providers are following the law, state data show. Nationally just 37 percent of private providers record immunizations in registries, which are supposed to make it easier to keep children current on their shots. Georgia's registry will play a critical role in monitoring the safety of the new H1N1 flu vaccine, and state officials are refusing to give the vaccine to doctors who don't participate. Vaccination reporting spotty

Pharmacy mistakes can injure, kill

An estimated 3 percent of prescriptions filled by pharmacies have potentially harmful errors: The wrong drug, wrong dosage or wrong directions. In Georgia, state regulators investigate dozens of prescription misfills each year. Patients have been given the blood thinner warfarin, instead of their prescribed diabetes drug; an Alzheimer's treatment instead of sleeping pills; an antidepressant instead of an allergy medication, according to a review of pharmacy board disciplinary records.    The harm in pharmacy misfills

Look to yourself to avoid trouble hiking in state parks

When hikers are injured, killed or have other incidents in Georgia's state parks, the trouble is usually of their own making, a review of Georgia Department of Natural Resources incident logs shows. While crime is rare, visitors find plenty of other ways to get into trouble. Dozens get so lost that park officials have to launch searches, according to search and rescue reports. Georgia state parks: How to avoid trouble

Swimmers at risk in public pools that lack chlorine

Does your neighborhood or apartment swimming pool contain germ-killing chlorine? It's supposed to, but many don't when inspectors test the water, inspection records obtained under the Georgia Open Records Act show. With waterborne disease outbreaks on the rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends swimmers test the water themselves before diving in. Local pool might be hazardous to your health

Investment scheme snares millions, prosecutors allege

The investments seemed like a good opportunity: Condos, a marina and a bank in Belize, and annuities that promised regular returns. But prosecutors allege that Frank Constantino was running an illegal scheme that collected millions of dollars from investors. Securities regulators in Missouri warned residents in their state about Constantino in 2003. Why did it take six years for Georgia regulators to take action against the Marietta financial adviser? Investors fight for their funds

Veterans battle parking logjam at Atlanta VA Medical Center

So many veterans are seeking care at the Atlanta VA Medical Center the line to park wraps around the building most days. The head of Georgia's veterans services department says it's further evidence the metro area needs a second VA hospital. VA hospital tackles persistent parking problem

Millions of dangerous baby cribs recalled

It used to be that safety watchdogs warned of the dangers of hand-me-down cribs made decades ago. But federal regulators are alarmed by threats posed by certain modern cribs, particularly those with drop sides. In the past two years more than 4.6 million have been recalled by multiple manufacturers. Experts say it's likely many of them are still in people's homes. Thirteen children have died in cribs and bassinets made by just one company; dozens have died in drop-side cribs involving multiple manufacturers.

Crib safety called into question

Cash-strapped Fulton County to repay $3.2 million

Officials at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are requiring Fulton County to repay $3.2 million and refuse to release another $3 million in grants. The federal agency is concerned about the county housing department's ability to manage the money. Despite these concerns, HUD is sending the county more than $13 million in economic recovery money. The county manager says there's no need to worry. Fulton repaying $3.2 million to HUD

(See related article from November 2008:  Fulton wasted HUD's money)

Full-price propane grill tanks may be only 3/4 full

If it seems that your grill is running out of propane more often than usual, it could be that you're buying tanks that now contain just 15 pounds of propane. While the metal tanks remain the same size, last summer two of the major tank exchange firms -- Blue Rhino and AmeriGas -- reduced the amount of propane they put in them. A full tank should contain 17-19 pounds of propane, experts say. To find out what's happened and learn about ways to get more propane for your money, go to: Propane users fear new tanks aren't full