After reading of an automobile accident in which the driver and/or bystanders either suffered or did not suffer, subjects rated the driver's responsibility for the accident and sentenced him to a jail term. The purpose of this experiment was to contrast three theoretical models: defensive attribution, moral salience, and equity. (Author)

A tort is defined as a civil wrong, independent of breach of contract, that results in injury to another person who is entitled to collect damages. The array of cases handed down in 1977 indicates that the tort domain of education law remains heavily litigated. This chapter shows that student injury cases continue to dominate, although…

Recent energy-related accidents and growing attention to health problems resulting from the production and use of energy have heightened public concern about the effectiveness of government's role in energy health and safety. At least 20 Federal agencies are involved in energy health and safety, each operating independently of the other. A central…

This book is written for advanced courses in first aid. The content of the book is the combined work of contributing authors including health educators, an emergency medical technician, nurses, physicians, a lawyer, a community organizer, a social worker, and a sociologist. There are five major sections: (1) parameters for administering first aid…

Participation in high-risk sports appears to have increased in the 1970s. This article analyzes this trend from a sociological perspective, citing examples from a number of commercial and noncommercial sports. (DS)

This is part two of a series. It covers industrial vapor explosions and gives case histories of water-molten metal explosions. (BB)

Accounts from 205 persons who had encountered life-threatening danger were analyzed and among them 60 were found that included descriptions of panoramic memory. It involved vivid recall of significant past experiences often spanning a lifetime. This brief, life review appeared meaningful in terms of a perceived threat to life. (Author)

Discusses the relative instability of organic oxidants, citing early attempts at overcoming the solubility limitations in organic reaction systems. Describes the more recent introduction of new types of organic oxidant salts that have demonstrated more promising levels of stability, though unexpected explosions have still occurred. (TW)

This article reviews the history of Maryland's controversial requirement that school buses use single-piece wheel rims. The author suggests precautions for using explosion-prone multipiece rims. (MCG)

Five case studies illustrate evacuation decision making in a wilderness setting. The cases describe medical problems encountered during wilderness trips: (1) a hiker suffering from hypothermia; (2) a 49-year-old man with chest pains; (3) a 19-year-old woman with abdominal pain; (4) a young woman in anaphylactic shock; and (5) a teenager hit on the…

Current overview of tort liability and its relationship to suits against the state and individual. Includes the concept of negligence and common legal defenses against actions of tort. (SW)

Asserts that psychologists can contribute to a reduction in national health expenditures by focusing on such illness- and accident-causing behaviors as smoking, alcohol use, improper diet, and speeding and the nonuse of seat belts in cars. (GC)

Reviews recent court decisions revealing that, despite factual and jurisdictional differences, fraternities and institutions of higher education face increasing exposure to civil liability for accidental injuries, especially when alcohol is served to minors or intoxicated persons. (Author)