Author: Amy Koczera

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech’s Department of Environmental Toxicology released a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on the effectiveness of mask mandates during the pandemic.

Tech Professor of Advanced Materials Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar worked with doctoral student James Ayodeji for approximately seven months to examine how COVID-19 data trends in states that implemented mask mandates throughout the pandemic in 2020. 

“In that time of the severe pandemic, this was one of the first lines of defense,” said Ramkumar. “The simple things which we take for granted – a face mask – made out of cotton, can save lives, nobody knew.”

Their research backed up just how effective masks can be as a public health tool. 

“We have looked at the efficacy of facemask mandates on curtailing the COVID infection rates in 32 states from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020,” said Ramkumar. “The whole three quarters where the surge was ongoing after WHO declared this pandemic in March of last year.”

The majority of states in the study saw a reduction in COVID-19 cases within three to four weeks after implementing the mandate. 

Read the full article on everythinglubbock.com, published April 5, 2021.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Following the tragic mass shooting in Boulder, CO earlier this week, and the others before that, Lubbock officers are reminding us of being prepared in the event that we find ourselves in an active shooter situation.

“We can’t just naturally be expected to know how to respond to a mass shooting, somebody does have to come and teach you about it,” said Lubbock Police Corporal Chris Paine. “What we like to promote is, is that you visit the mindset of awareness on occasion.”

Paine has traveled all across the country providing active shooter trainings that are designed to teach the average, unarmed citizen what they should do to protect themselves wherever they might encounter an active shooter.

“Odds are overwhelmingly in your favor already to survive a mass shooting incident,” said Paine. “But then when you add training, and preparation and specifics in planning, chances, chances for us to be overwhelmingly successful, they increase a hundredfold.”

He said that avoiding, denying and defending are key components of staying safe. Avoid means finding an exit plan – look at your surroundings and keep in mind an escape route when you’re in a new place.

“Avoiding, obviously, you would want to be away from the trouble from any physical harm, but it’s more than just getting away it’s identifying avenues of escape it’s taking micro-actions,” he explained.

Read the full article on everythinglubbock.com, published on March 25, 2021.

LUBBOCK, Texas — It was a petrifying morning for Brynn Stewart – who escaped an attempted kidnapping at 9 o’clock this morning right down the street from Rush Elementary School.

“I was just in doubt, like, you always see them on Facebook, but you never think it’s actually gonna happen to you,” said Stewart.

Stewart was walking on 17th and Salem when she felt like a man wearing a hat and a mask was following her. She crossed the street to get out of his way, but then followed her.

“You don’t ever know how you’re actually going to react in one of those situations until you’re in that situation,” said Stewart.

It wasn’t long after that he quickly approached her and said ‘Are you scared?’ before grabbing her from behind. Stewart kicked and screamed to get away from him — and luckily she did. 

She saw a Ring doorbell on a nearby home and ran there to make sure the situation was caught on camera. 

Read the full article published on everythinglubbock.com on March 16, 2021.