Florida Child Injury Law Blog

As a Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer, some of the most difficult cases I handle are those which  involve injured children. Hundreds of thousands of children are hurt each year in preventable accidents.  The purpose of our law firm’s legal blog is to raise awareness of the increasing number of children who are accidentally injured  and to educate parents about  injury prevention/ child safety. Knowledge is power.  We can work together to  keep our children/grandchildren safe.

The folks at the Home Safety Council, Lowe’s and fire and life safety professionals from the community are big supporters of child safety too. They are kicking off National Fire Safety Month with a special, day-long safety celebration. Lowe’s is planning a  day of safety fun for the entire family and the chance to learn how to keep your family safe from fire and other home dangers.

When: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Time: 10:00 am until 2:00 pm
Where: Lowe’s store parking lot

To find a Lowe’s near you, visit the Lowe’s store locator.  Check the Safety Saturday Web site for more information as the draws closer. If you can’t make it to the Safety Saturday event at Lowe’s on September 25, you can still make any day safer for your child.

Use the Home Safety Council’s Safety Saturday starter ideas to take home safety in your own hands.

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson, author of  the No Cost consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries” available online or by calling toll free @ 1-888-340-0840.

Dodson Law Firm, “Working to make safety every child’s reality.”

In chapter  one of “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries: A Parent’s Guide to Child Injury in Florida,”  I discuss the tragic fact  that  motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of injuries to children. Almost 700 children are hurt in car accidents each day and 2,000 children die from injuries in car accidents each year.

We all know the importance of having our children/grandchildren safely secured in an age appropriate child safety device in our cars. But  if their restraint is not installed correctly or is not being used properly your child is at great risk of serious harm.

Did you know 4 out of 5 car seats are not installed properly? Could yours be one of them? Get your child’s car seat checked by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Here’s some helpful info on an upcoming safety event:

Where: All Children’s Specialty Care of Pasco

                  4443 Rowan Rd.

                  New Port Richey, Fl

When: Friday August 27, 2010 9:00am – 12:00pm

Appointments are required: Call 727-834-5403 to schedule yours!

What Parents Need to Do: Provide the age and weight for each child under 8 when making the appointment. Bring the child to the fitting station appointment using the child’s current car seat. Allow at least 20 to 30 minutes for each seat to be checked. Be prepared to purchase a replacement child restraint if the current restraint is unsafe. There are no free child restraints at fitting stations. Seats are replaced AT COST. Provide the vehicle owner’s manual. Provide the child restraint instructions.

For additional locations, times and dates of more car safety seat inspection events, click here.

Reminder, you must make an appointment and it’s always best to call first to verify times and locations.

The Dodson Law Firm, Working to Make Safety Every Child’s Reality!

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson is the author of  “When Kids’s Suffer Big Injuries,” available for free by calling 1.888.340.0840 or online at http://www.childinjurylawyerflorida.com/reports/florida-child-injury-consumer-guide-free-child-injury-book-must-read.cfm. If your child was injured due to the carelessness of another person, Jim provides answers to many of  your questions and concerns in his book or if you prefer, feel free to  call our office and speak to Judi to arrange a time to talk to Jim  directly.

Last month seven manufacturers recalled two million cribs.  In November, Stork Craft recalled 2.1 million drop-side cribs that were a danger to babies.  36 child deaths have been attributed to faulty cribs since 2007. 

As a result, much needed and  new mandatory safety standards for cribs might become a reality in 2011.

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday in favor of the proposed regulations. The new rules would essentially ban the manufacture and sale of the very popular drop-side cribs. The announcement of the vote coincided with Pottery Barn Kids recalling 80,000 drop-side cribs that posed entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards. 

 It’s believed the new rules could come into effect next summer if a final vote in December is passed.

Clearwater St. Petersburg Child Accident and Injury Lawyer and author James Dodson, has written “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries, A Parents Guide to Child Injury in Florida,”  to provide parents and guardians with basic information to help them make informed decisions to protect their child’s legal rights. Request your FREE copy today.

 35,000 bottles of Scope Original Mint Mouthwash have been recalled in a cooperative manner between U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the manufacturer, Proctor and Gamble.  The recalled bottles have the number 4 on the bottom.    

 The one liter size bottles are being recalled due to malfunctioning child-resistant caps.  Proctor and Gamble also omitted an important message on that bottles in not stating, “This Package for Households without Young Children.” 

 One of the ingredients contained in the mouthwash, ethyl alcohol, is toxic.  Ethyl alcohol can cause serious injury or death if ingested by a child.   Every seven minutes a child under the age of 5 goes to the Emergency Room because of an unintentional poisoning.  Household products are responsible for 60% of the poisoning accidents with children under 5.   

 There have been no incidents or injuries reported.

Summer is here.  Generally that means more families are traveling by car on day trips, long weekends and vacations.   Our daughter was in town recently with our young grandchildren. Her first priority was finding a car seat safety inspection station! Although our infant grandaughter’s new car seat appeared to be secured properly;  our daughter wanted to be sure. Did you know research shows 7 out of 10 car seats are NOT correctly installed?

 The American Automobile Association conducted a survey and found  76% of parents said safety is their main concern when buying a child safety seat but  the  majority of parents polled didn’t know the specifics in regard to placement, age and height recommendations. In a recent study of 3500 car safety and booster seat installations,  72%  of the safety seats were secured in a way that it could be expected a child would suffer injuries if  in a crash.

With all this in mind, here are some safe practices concerning child seat safety and a website to check the locations of child safety seat inspection stations in this area.

 Safety Checklist

•  Parents should ensure that children up to eight years old or four feet, nine inches tall should sit in a safety seat or booster.
•  All children 12 and younger should ride in the back seat of a vehicle.
•  The safest position for a single car seat is the center of the rear seat.

Florida law regarding safety requirements  for child car and booster seats  is more fully discussed in Chapter 1 of my free consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries: A Parent’s Guide to Child Injury in Florida”  available  on our Florida Child Injury Lawyer website.

Attorney James W. Dodson, working to make safety every child’s reality.

The makers of Paxil have settled almost 200 lawsuits in which the antidepressant is claimed to have caused birth defects.  The terms are being kept confidential.

 In the majority of the cases, infants were born with heart defects, the result of the mother taking Paxil while pregnant.  The most prominent case contended the child was born with no fewer than three cardiac defects, including a hole between the two chambers of his heart that disrupted the aorta.

 The news gets more disturbing.  It appears GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer, didn’t follow up with additional tests after initial animal testing indicated  the drug might cause problems.  In 1997, a memo from a company executive stated, “If neg, results can bury.”

 Plaintiffs have filed at least 600 cases alleging Paxil is to blame for congenital birth defects.  Paxil generates GSK nearly $3 billion in profits annually.

Are birth defects the leading cause of death in children and adolescents?   Is sunscreen the best defense against sunburn for babies 6 months and under?  Get answers to these questions and more by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

 Test your knowledge about kids’ health and safety. Unintentional injuries, not birth defects, are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents.  The greatest threats to child safety come in the form of the following accidents and injuries:

• Poisonings
• Playground Injuries
• Car Accidents as Child Passengers
• Fireworks-Related Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Fire and Burn Injuries in the Home
• Teen  Car and Motor Vehicle Accidents

 Our Clearwater /St. Petersburg, Florida Child Injury Law Firm has served the needs of  families for over twenty five years. If your child was injured due to someone’s carelessness or negligence, you may have unanswered questions and certainly, you have concerns. Request a copy of  Florida Child Injury Lawyer James Dodson’s free consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries, A Parent’s Guide to Child Injury in Florida” as a first step to understanding  your legal rights or call our toll free number (888) 340-0840 to speak directly with Attorney Dodson. There is  no obligation to hire an attorney.

U.S. News and Health Report recently published a report on protecting children against germs.  Every year, 4.5 million children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of infections.  Generally, vaccines and preventive measures such as your child regularly washing their hands with soap and water are good tactics to ward off infections.

 7  Dangerous Childhood germs: 

 Rotavirus -This virus causes severe dehydration and diarrhea.  Since 2006, admissions have dropped 45% because of 2 vaccines, RotaTeq and Rotarix.  The makers of Rotarix hit some recent snags, but the FDA approved changes in May and have deemed the vaccine safe.

 Streptococcus Pneumoniae- This is a very serious infection that can lead to meningitis and deafness.  In 2000, a vaccine called Prevnar was introduced which decreased the infection  by 80% in children under the age of 5.  Just recently, Prevnar 13 was released and is aimed at protecting children under the age of 2.  

 H1N1- Also referred to as the “swine flu”.  H1N1 was identified in April 2009 and has proved to be deadly.  It’s estimated 1,300 children and adolescents have died because of this flu.  Experts recommend everyone older than 6 months should be vaccinated.   

 Neisseria Meningitidis- This germ is rarer than others on the list but extremely dangerous and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. It has the capacity to strike fast before doctors can act.  These bacteria can live in a child’s mouth and nose.  People who live in confined spaces can pass this on to one another. 

 MRSA-Clinically known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA has resulted in 30,000 children being hospitalized in the last decade…and seems to be on the rise.  The bacteria often spread among kids playing contact sports. 

 Pertussis- Also known as whooping cough.  In infants, pertussis can be life-threatening.  A vaccine known as DTaP has long been effective but over the last 30 years cases are increasing. 

 RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus can be mistaken for the common cold.  75,000 to 125,000 infants are hospitalized every year because of RSV.  Currently no RSV vaccine exists, high-risk infants are being administered an antibody shot for preventive measures.

Keeping a watchful eye on your child and noting any distinct changes in his/her health is an essential step in protection. Regular check-ups and maintaining all of your child’s immunizations are vital to their health and safety. Your Clearwater St. Petersburg Florida Child Injury Lawyer, working to make safety every child’s reality.

A South Florida physician is facing allegations his actions led to the death of a Weston, Florida teenager in 2003. 

 Dr. Sohail Punjwani who was admonished by the Food and Drug Administration for his methods in prescribing drugs is the target in the lawsuit.  His decision to prescribe an anti-psychotic drug not approved for adolescents has the deceased’s mother  placing blame.   The lawsuit claims that Punjwani’s care “deviated and departed from the prevailing professional standard of care exercised” by most physicians.

 But there’s more to the case than just that.  Pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca which produces Seroquel, the drug Punjwani prescribed, was forced to pay a $520 million dollar settlement to state and federal agencies because of its marketing tactics.  The Department of Justice asserts that AstraZeneca encouraged medical practitioners to prescribe Seroquel for patients young and old for indications not approved by the FDA.

 Punjwani is expected to go to trial later this year.  All of the other parties and institutions named in this case have settled with the family. 

 If you believe you or a family member were harmed or injured as the result of negligent care by a doctor, keep in mind Florida has strict time limits in which a claim for medical negligence may be brought.  Do not delay in contacting a qualified Florida Child Medical Malpractice attorney to discuss your legal rights.

A three year-old child died this week in a drowning accident in the apartment complex pool where the family lived. News reports say the child’s stepfather was just a matter of feet away. This tragic death has led the family to reach out to other families and warn the dangers of distraction – to prevent this tragedy from happening to other families.

An article published in U.S. News Health magazine recently, was a reminder of the dangers of a moments glance away in a fatal drowning. Just a quick distraction by adults can result in fatal consequences when supervising children around water. Whether a backyard swimming  pool, lake, pond, beach, child’s inflatable pool, bathtub, bucket of water or any body of water, a child must have a responsible adult with focused eyes on them at all times and the ability to jump in quickly.

The article on summertime safety, stated children can drown even in a swimming pool with a lifeguard on duty, and yes, even when they have had swimmming lessons – if they become fatigued. Often times, contrary to what you might expect, when a child slips beneath the surface of the water, there is no sound – no flailing or commotion.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4 in Florida. The state’s drowning death rate among this age group (1-4)  is the highest in the nation. As a grandparent to two precious little girls, I urge all parents, grandparents and caregivers of children to be hypervigilant in supervising your children around water.

 It is my sincere hope, through education and heightened awareness of this young family’s tremendously sad loss, we can prevent this tragedy from happening again.

- Florida Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson, working to make safety every child’s reality.