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New Day
Human Factor: The Williams Syndrome; New Developments in California Train Crash; Battling the Winter Blues
Aired February 25, 2015 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here we go with the five things you need to know for your new day.
At number one, a guilty verdict in the American so-called sniper murder trial. Eddie Ray Routh has been sentenced to life without patrol. It took the jury just two and a half hours to reach its decision.
ISIS terrorizing Christian villages in northeastern Syria, abducting 150 Syrian Christians in pre-dawn raids. They are expected to release a message today threatening to kill them.
London police say they have reason to believe three missing British teens are already in Syria with goals of joining ISIS. Police have been searching for these girls after they boarded an Istanbul bound flight last week.
Almost as soon as he got it, President Obama vetoed a bill passed by the Republican-led Congress that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The GOP will try and override that veto next week.
Well, the southern U.S. bracing for more winter misery. Georgia and Alabama have already declared states of emergency. Thirty winter- related deaths have been reported in Tennessee alone in just over a week.
We do update those five things to know, so be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the latest.
Alisyn.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Michaela.
Well, after a smooth pregnancy, one mom was shocked to learn that her baby was born with a rare genetic disorder. She reached out for help and could not find any. Now she's making sure other parents have the support they need. Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story in today's "Human Factor."
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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With each note, Alex Mody (ph) defies expectations. You see, when he was just five months old, doctors told his mother something was wrong.
CARRIE MCGEE, SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATE: He really didn't sleep at all and had very bad colic, cried 24 hours a day. Doctors discovered a heart condition and that he had lost weight.
GUPTA: And further tests revealed a devastating diagnosis.
MCGEE: We were told he has this thing called Williams Syndrome.
GUPTA: It's a rare genetic disorder which can cause heart problems, developmental delays, learning disabilities.
MCGEE: The information we were given is that the average I.Q. is 40, that he won't be able to function independently.
GUPTA: She quit her job as a hospital executive to care for her son. She enrolled Alex in a public school and made sure he had much needed speech, physical and occupational therapies.
MCGEE: I was seen as an unreasonable mother who couldn't accept reality.
GUPTA: But Carrie also knew her son needed something more, and so did she, a place where families could find support.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think they're friendly?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe so.
GUPTA: So with some other moms, Carrie created that place. It's called Whole Children.
MCGEE: We don't focus on disability, we focus on ability.
GUPTA: Alex will graduate from high school this year and wants to be a DJ.
ALEX MODY (ph): I want people to think of me as a guy who has faced his fears.
MCGEE: I see what he brings to the world, which is an incredible gift. I'm just so proud of him.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Mom should be proud. Thanks to Sanjay for that story.
So, a fiery collision between a truck and a commuter train in California. The big question is, would it have been even worse if it happened just a few years ago? What this situation tells us about the past and hopefully the future.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CAMEROTA: New developments overnight after that spectacular crash involving a Metrolink train and a pickup truck in southern California. The driver of that truck now arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run. Let's bring in Deborah Hersman. She's the president and CEO of National Safety Council. She is also a former chairwoman of the NTSB.
Ms. Hersman, nice to see you.
DEBORAH HERSMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, NATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL: Good morning.
CAMEROTA: This crash is remarkable on many levels. Primarily no one was killed in this crash, though the train was going 79 miles per hour. How do you explain it?
HERSMAN: You know, I think the good news is we had an alert operator. By all accounts, we have heard that the emergency brakes were applied prior to the collision. That probably had the most effect as far as slowing down that train and addressing the impact forces. Slowing the train is really important here.
CAMEROTA: Well, we should mention that you were the chairwoman of the NTSB during the time in 2008 during that Chatsworth, California, train crash, which is considered the worst train crash in 15 years. Twenty- five people were killed at that time. Since that time, Metrolink invested in new technology. What is that and did that make all the difference in the world?
HERSMAN: You know, Metrolink has actually invested in a lot of different technology since that Chatsworth crash. There are three things in particular. One of them is committing to implement positive train control. And that's to prevent train-to-train collisions like occurred in that collision back in 2008. The second thing is that they've equipped their trains with both inward and outward facing video. This is very helpful in reconstructing a crash. The third thing they've done is invest in crash energy management systems for their trains to protect the crew and the passengers.
CAMEROTA: This is the second train to collide with a car that was stuck on the tracks in just three weeks. One on the East Coast, one on the West Coast. Is this just a tragic coincidence or is something going wrong with safety measures that's allowing trains -- cars to get stuck on the tracks?
HERSMAN: You know, I think it really just brings home the point that we see over 2,000 collisions between trains and either pedestrians or cars every year resulting in about 250 fatalities. So just in the intervening weeks since we saw the crash in New York to this point, we've actually had more than 100 crashes all across the country. These really bring it home that -- particularly when passenger trains are involved, the results can be pretty catastrophic. I think certainly in New York we saw that with the post-crash fire. We were lucky in this case that there was no post-crash fire that engulfed the train.
CAMEROTA: But in both these situations, cars got stuck on the tracks. How does a car get stuck on the tracks? HERSMAN: Well, I think these two situations are very different. The
situation in New York, we had a car that got in between the gates as the train was coming and so that's really an issue of driver alertness and making sure that if you enter into the track area, that you have to be able to clear it if that train is coming, if those gates go down. You never want to be in between those gates.
In this case here in California, it appears that a driver was confused and actually turned onto the tracks instead of on a roadway. Whenever a car or a truck gets off the roadway, and particularly if it's on train tracks, that's really not what's intended. A very dangerous situation. We see that here.
CAMEROTA: So, as we said, we -- you credit this new technology, a lot of people do, with saving lives in this crash. Metrolink spent something like $263 million to update its technology, including these crash resistant cars. Should all railroad lines be doing that now given that it can save lives?
HERSMAN: You know, I think it's really too early to tell the effect of the crash energy management car designs on the outcome of this crash. One of the things that you want to see in a post-crash environment is that the cars stay in line and they stay upright and that the passenger compartment is protected, that they're fire resistant and that you have ability to emergency exit so you can egress off that train and that you have emergency access.
The good news here is we didn't have a post-crash fire, but I think the investigators really have to understand the injury mechanisms for all the passengers who were involved in the crash, we have some people who are in critical condition, and how the train performed and how that crash energy management system really attenuated the crash forces. So I think it's a little bit early to tell if those designs made a big difference. We've got to let them inspect those cars and document the damage.
CAMEROTA: Deborah Hersman, thanks for all the information.
HERSMAN: Sure.
CAMEROTA: Let's get over to Michaela.
PEREIRA: All right, Alisyn, I'm officially determining this the winter that just will not quit. But, you know, it's causing more than just headaches for snow weary cities like Boston. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will join us to talk about how we can all beat the winter blues.
Also a quick programming note for you. Be sure to watch CNN's new original series "Finding Jesus." It airs this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Want to give you a look at it right now, though.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An unprecedented CNN event. He didn't vanish without leaving a trace.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the first time in history, we're able to place these relics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And grasp something that changed the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is really the moment of truth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the story of Jesus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The rock upon which the church is built.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: An icon of scientific obsession.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is extraordinary to find an archaeological piece.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do we really have here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why did Judas betray Jesus?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody chose to write this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The science does matter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this the (INAUDIBLE) shroud (ph) of Jesus?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are the clues he left behind?
Faith, fact, forgery. "FINDING JESUS" premieres Sunday night at 9:00 on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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PEREIRA: It's been a long winter. We've all been stuck inside. Some of us are going stir crazy. So we asked our Dr. Sanjay Gupta to help us this morning with some advice on how we can beat the winter blues this morning, in today's NEW DAY New You.
The first thing, Sanjay, is to admit you've got a problem and I think I have one. How do we really know when the winter blues have set in? Is there a way?
GUPTA: Well, it can be challenging. And to your point, I think, Mick, sometimes you notice it in others before you notice it in yourself. People who you spend a lot of time with in the mornings, perhaps.
The idea that, all of a sudden, you start to feel a certain way and there's not a specific moment where you think the winter blues have set in. It sometimes can be a week or even a couple of weeks before you just say, look, I just haven't really been myself lately. You know --
CUOMO: Is this a clinical discussion, Sanjay, or is this just an emotional "how you feel" discussion? GUPTA: You know, it's a combination of both. And I think that's
important because sometimes these things are hard to pin down. It doesn't make them any less significant though.
Take a look at some of the symptoms of what they call Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a real disorder. I mean, this affects people. There are people watching right now who are affected by this. They say 14 percent of Americans. But look at the list of symptoms. Sad, anxious, or empty feelings. Irritability or restlessness. Again, why am I feeling this way? Sometimes hard to know exactly, but then you can start to piece things together. So you go down the list, I think the third one is one of the most important. Things that you typically enjoy doing, you just don't get the same joy out of those things.
Now the thing about Seasonal Affective Disorder, unlike clinical depression, it that it is related to the seasons. It is related to the time period of the year and there's all sorts of different reasons why. The good news is, for people out there -- and again, 14 percent of people -- is that it will get better. But, again, Mick, sometimes you notice it in other people; sometimes it's worth pointing it out to those other people as well.
PEREIRA: No, I haven't noticed it at all.
(LAUGHTER)
CUOMO: I'll always that way. I don't think it's seasonal. I check every one of those boxes.
PEREIRA: It is kind of a morning news affliction, though, isn't it?
CAMEROTA: (INAUDIBLE) touching it but you have the whole full migilla. So what's the answer, Sanjay? How can people combat it?
CUOMO: Help me!
PEREIRA: Help us.
GUPTA: Help me help you. One of the things is obviously to recognize that it's happening and recognize that there are a lot of things about both the season and the fact that a lot of people are stuck indoors that are causing this. So I think recognizing it is good because it gives people a little bit of hope, a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
Speaking of light, the more light you can sort of get, I think the better. And people have done all sorts of different things. I wasn't sure about the technology on the light boxes, for example.
PEREIRA: Yes, what do you think of those?
GUPTA: I think there's some virtue to them. And I think what they do, and it looks maybe a little silly to even watch it, but people who actually are getting some of that light can help convert Vitamin D in their body into sort of feel good byproducts. And people feel good when they're outside. The more you can get light on your skin, in your system, I think that's better.
CUOMO: What kind of light?
PEREIRA: I have an idea, Sanjay. Let's take out these lights in our studio and just put these lights in and we'll just be like covered in happy.
CUOMO: So the lights have to be a special light?
CAMEROTA: This works, right? Does it have to be a special light?
GUPTA: Yes, the UV light -- I'm not sure. We should actually measure the lights in your studio to see how much UV light you're getting. I think probably not as much as those light boxes give you, although my guess is people feel better with any kind of light whatsoever.
But also, you know, the types of foods that you're eating do make a big difference. You know, I found this really interesting when we were looking into this. People in Iceland who have many, many hours, if not 24 hours, of darkness have hardly any Seasonal Affective Disorder.
PEREIRA: What are they eating?
CAMEROTA: Yes, what do they eat?
GUPTA: They think it's primarily due to all the fish they eat. Probably no surprise there.
CUOMO: I thought the Scandinavians had high rates of suicide, though, Seasonal Affective Disorder? Did I hear that? Is that wrong?
GUPTA: I'm not sure.
CUOMO: We'll Google it.
GUPTA: I was focusing on Iceland. You're going to Google it while I'm talking?
But Iceland, I think that -- if you think about it, it's really the omega 3 fatty acids that seem to make a big difference, and just getting three ounces of the omega 3 fatty acids either through fish or through supplements does seem to make a difference. So, you know, it's hard to pinpoint these things down. There's all sorts of different things about the lifestyle, but there are certain foods that probably going to be particularly good for you. The fish, the milk, the eggs.
I should point out as well that a lot of people have a craving for "comfort foods".
PEREIRA: Oh, no, not at all. Ever.
GUPTA: Right, the carbohydrates?
CAMEROTA: Does macaroni and cheese help?
PEREIRA: Tater tots.
GUPTA: The reason is it releases a burst of serotonin into your brain.
PEREIRA: Right.
GUPTA: Serotonin makes you feel better. But the problem with eating comfort foods is that you get that serotonin lift and then you get the crash thereafter.
PEREIRA: All right.
GUPTA: So planning out those carbohydrate meals, I think, makes a big difference.
CUOMO: Greenland is the No. 1 suicide rate. I don't see a Scandinavian country until 21.
PEREIRA: You got that wrong.
CAMEROTA: Well, either way, we're taking you out to sushi. That will help.
PEREIRA: And kale smoothies.
Hey Sanjay, our thanks to you for sharing my personal session with everybody, because I think we all are getting a case of the winter blues. We want to tell the folks at home, we want to hear how you're trying to beat the winter blues and what kind of symptoms you're having. In fact, the three of us made a little video that we posted online telling the doctor our symptoms. You can tweet us @newday or go to facebook.com/newday.
Sanjay, always a pleasure.
GUPTA: Thank you.
CUOMO: Sanjay makes me happy. He's like UV light in nice little package.
All right. Here's something else that makes us happy, the Good Stuff. A Burger King franchise is about -- about the best you're going to hear. Listen to this, the guy who owns it wins this big prize because of how successful he's been. What does he do with the prize? That's the Good Stuff.
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CUOMO: Time for the Good Stuff. In today's edition, the Burger Kings in Arizona, they are great. They're so great the franchise owner won Franchisee of the Year. That got him a Corvette and a Rolex. Woo, that's the Good Stuff. No, it isn't. The family that owns those 24 winning Burger Kings took the Corvette, sold it. Took the watch, sold it. Threw in some of their own cash and then paid all of their employees bonuses. Few hundred dollars for some, few thousand for others.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I couldn't believe it. I was in shock.
ERIC TEJEDA, EMPLOYEE FOR 15 YEARS: It was great to have that extra money to make the family happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: Super size the Good Stuff. Very nice.
PEREIRA: All right, time for "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello. We love it, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEWSROOM": I love it too. Happy Wednesday to you. Have a great day.
"NEWSROOM" starts now.
