Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Archive for March, 2010

Recently, a 7-year-old boy from California received national attention and praise for his quick thinking in calling 911 during an armed robbery at his home.   

News reports state three men burst into the home with weapons and held his mother and father at gunpoint.  The boy, only identified as Carlos, hid with his sister in a locked bathroom.  There he placed the call.  “There are some guys that are gonna kill my Mom and Dad. Can you come, please,” Carlos said to sheriff’s dispatcher Monique Patino.

The suspects left without hurting anyone, upon discovering the 911 call had been made.  When interviewed, Carlos said his mother taught him how to dial 911.  “We practice it every day,” he said.

Teaching your children what constitutes an emergency is important.  Quizzing them on what they would do in the event of a fire, a serious medical problem (seizure, bleeding, serious wounds) or any life-threatening situation is vital training that will prepare them if the occasion ever arises.  A child is generally capable of doing so when they are able to communicate verbally,  about 3-4 years old.  It’s imperative  your child memorizes your street address and phone number so operators have that information as confirmation. 

The Dodson Law Firm is dedicated to the safety of your children and provides this blog as a service in doing so.  Additional information on how to use 911 can be found at kidshealth.org.

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

 Is Florida is need of a more stringent car booster seat requirement law?  AAA , the automobile people, think so. 

 Florida is joined by only 2 states, Arizona and South Dakota as not requiring booster seats for children under the age of 7 years old.   It’s been reported that the National Transportation Safety Board has criticized all three states for its lax legislation regarding the matter. Florida lawmakers have resisted however.

 Our current state law requires child restraint devices through age 5.  Exceptions are made to children 4 and 5 who can wear a seat belt instead of a specialized restraint. 

 A child who is properly restrained in a booster seat is less likely to be injured in a car accident. Children who are not properly restrained are at risk of being thrown from the car or inside the car and may seriously injure themselves or other passengers in the car.  Booster seats allow children to sit higher, so car seat belts fit them better and  protect them from head and abdominal injuries. 

 A bill sponsored by Rep. Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City) and Rep. Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach) would require booster seats for children ages 4 to 7. Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) is offering his support to this responsible measure in the Senate.

 The Dodson Law Firm offers its support for responsible legislation leading to increased safety for the children of Florida. 

For information concerning car seat safety inspection stations visit our Florida Child Injury Lawyer website, working to make safety a reality for every child.

A Wesley Chapel man saved a 15 month-old toddler’s life last week by remembering CPR training he received nearly 15 years ago.

 This tragic near-drowning accident unfolded last Thursday morning around 11am when Mike Wynperie heard screams from the father of a young child, who had ventured into a pond nearby their backyard.  “She drowned out there in the backyard. She drowned. She went to the water.”  Those were the frantic words captured on the 911 call. 

 The situation by all accounts seemed dire.  The little girl wasn’t breathing.  Her lips were blue.  Her family was in shock as they waited for paramedics.  Wynperie went into action.  “Everything just happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to think.”

 When paramedics arrived 5 minutes later, the toddler’s pulse showed signs of life.  She was then rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where her condition is improving. 

Almost 200,000 children die each year from accidental drownings.  Many of these horrible accidents happen with a momentary distraction  in  “good families.”   Learn more on our Florida Child Injury website about drown proofing your children and avoiding this unthinkable tragedy.

 The Dodson Law Firm lauds the efforts of Mr. Wynperie and his quick response in saving this toddler’s life from a near drowning.  For those interested in learning more about CPR training and a class near you, please visit americaheart.org.

Florida Accident Lawyer, protecting the rights of injured victims for more than 25 years.

In a Clearwater accident, a 2-year-old  child was injured when he was hit by a car Friday night. 

Reports say the boy had been standing with his mother at the corner of Cleveland Street and Frederica Avenue when he suddenly left the sidewalk and ran into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Paramedics treated the child and he was then airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center due to serious injuries.  The driver of the vehicle has not been charged but the accident is under investigation.

Children, especially toddlers, are too often seriously or fatally injured as pedestrians. Toddlers (age 1 to 2) sustain the highest number of pedestrian injuries,  primarily due to their small size and limited traffic experience. Dangers for young children on the move include: darting out into traffic, playing in or near the street and riding a tricycle or bicycle in a parking lot, driveway or street. The news report states the child had been standing on the sidewalk with his mother prior to darting out into the street.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to injury around traffic because they can not judge distance or how fast a car is speeding toward them. They move quickly and run into the street without warning and are difficult  for drivers to see because of their small size.

Take these steps to safety:

Supervise, supervise, supervise!

Talk to them about street safety.

Set a safe example for children.

Find safe places for them to play.

 Florida Child Injury Attorney, working to make safety every child’s  reality.

Research in the past  has shown child bathtime injuries have been related primarily to burns, scalding and even drowning. When a parent tells their child, “It’s time to take a bath,” they might expect some resistance but they don’t expect a serious accident to occur.

 But an estimated 43,600 bathtub and shower-related injuries do happen every year to children resulting in a trip to the emergency room.  According to a study conducted by Dr. Gary Smith of Ohio State University, 81% of those accidents are brought about by a child slipping, falling or tripping.   

More than half of the injuries occur in the under 5 years of age group. Child injuries usually are lacerations and soft tissue injuries.

 Dr. Smith is quick to point out the problem shouldn’t be blamed solely on lack of parental supervision.  “They happen so quickly that a parent simply can’t react quickly enough to prevent them,” he said. “Therefore, it is important to prevent them from happening by using a slip resistant mat inside and outside the bath and shower.”  

 To read more information about the results of the study, please visit medpagetoday.com.

For additional information concerning child safety and injury protection, please visit our Florida Child Injury lawyer document and resource library on our website.

The next year and a half Jared’s family would travel five states and seek out top specialists at leading hospitals as he battled to recover.  Today, Jared is still recovering but his condition has improved and his doctors say the chance of reoccurrence is very low. 

 The hard truth though, is  strokes are among the top 10 killers of children.  According to the American Heart Association, the risk of stroke in children 18 and younger is 11 per 100,000, or about 9,000 incidents a year.  Strokes also occur in about 1 out of every 4,000 births. 

 For more information on strokes and how they affect children, please visit know-stroke.org.

Our Florida Child Injury lawyers are committed to providing consumers with the latest child health and safety resources, product recall information and accident and injury prevention news available.

Earlier this year the New York Times published a story every parent should read.  It gives a detailed account of a 7-year-old boy who suffered a stroke.

 Two years ago, Jared Dienst and his mother were enjoying a summer day walking in St. Catherine’s Park in the Upper East Side of Manhattan.  What happened next was about to change the course of their lives. 

 Jared became dazed, had a droopy left eye, became stiff and his speech was slurred, when suddenly,  he couldn’t walk or stand on his own.  His mother rushed him to the hospital where late that night after undergoing tests, a neurological team determined the 7-year-old boy had suffered a stroke.  Please see, Part 2

Our Florida Child Injury lawyers have been representing  victims of  injury throughout  the state of Florida, for over 25 years. Please call us for a free case evaluation @ 1-888-340-0840. There is no obligation to hire a lawyer.

A study in Pediatrics Journal reports parents who set firm but  loving limits on their teen drivers will have teens that are half as likely to get into a car accident as teens with un-involved parents. Teens will also be 71% less likely to drink and drive, 50% less likely to speed and 29% less likely to talk/text on cell phones.

We all know teens’ lives are more in danger in the car. Fatal car accidents are the leading cause of death for 16-20 year- olds.

Car accident risks increase when a teenager has a passenger in the car, has been using drugs/alcohol and if they are speeding. Ken Ginsburg, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine recommends rules parents should set for teen drivers:

• no passengers during the first 6-12 months of driving
• Limit driving in bad weather
•  enforce curfews
•  maintain control of the car keys

 Finally reward your teen driver with a special privilege once they’ve been driving successfully and by your rules for awhile. –Just don’t buy them a car, studies show kids who do not have  their own car are 50% less likely to be involved in a car crash.

For additional information and safety resources to protect your teen driver, visit our Florida Child Injury document and resource library or contact our office for a free consultation @ 1-888-340-0840.

Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist and fitness consultant who works with organizations designing functional training programs.  Here are some important tips she supplies for parent’s whose children are involved with youth sports.

 Although some may appear to be common sense, sometimes  it’s the “smaller things” that are overlooked that could lead to child injury. Many children experience  minor bruises and injuries as they participate in youth sports. But there are some safety considerations for parents in the event an injury does occur and steps to take  to protect children from more serious injuries.

• Does the coach have first aid training and an emergency action plan?
• Is there a safety policy regarding injury, illness, and inclement weather?
• Does the coach have your emergency contact information?
• Do you have contact information for the coach?
• Is there a first-aid kit always on hand?
• Is there available water, hydration at all game & practices?
• Is there a scheduled warm-up and cool down at games and practices?
• Does your child receive guidelines and recommendations about proper safety equipment?                                                                                                                
• Is safety equipment required for play?
• Are children allowed adequate rest between games and practices?
• Is sportsmanship, and fair play a core value of the program and the coach?

 Unfortunately, tragic accidents can  happen on the playing field.   Children have the potential for suffering many kinds of  serious injuries while playing sports including: broken bones, concussion, trauma, torn ligaments, sprains and strains, eye injuries and more. If you are unsure  about answers to even one of these questions, make a point to find out. It’s in your children best interest and safety that you do.  The Dodson Law Firm protects the interests of families every day.  For a free consultation with our Florida Personal Injury lawyers contact our office @ 1-888-340-0840.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a great deal of information for parents concerned about Bisphenol A, also known as BPA.

 Here are some safety tips  the HHS lists for families to limit a newborn’s exposure to BPA.     

 *Follow Recommended Guidelines to Feed Your Infant – HHS supports the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendations for infant feeding and supports breastfeeding for at least 12 months whenever possible, as breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants.  

 *Discard Scratched Baby Bottles and Infant Feeding Cups -Worn baby bottles and cups are likely to have scratches that harbor germs and – if they contain BPA – may release small amounts of the chemical.

 *Temperature Matters – Be careful how you heat up your child’s breast milk or formula.  Studies have found there is a very small amount of BPA in plastics and other packaging materials that can transfer to food and liquids. 

 *Check the Labels On Your Bottles and Food Preparation Containers - As a good household practice, only use containers marked “dishwasher safe” in the dishwasher and only use “microwave safe” marked containers in the microwave.

BPA is one of the world’s highest production-volume chemicals and is used in making baby bottles, pacifers, sippy cups and baby toys.  Many states have passed laws banning the use of the chemical BPA in products intended for children under the age of three. Playtex and Gerber have announced they will stop using BPA in the production of their baby bottles. For more consumer information on child injury protection and child safety, visit our Florida Child Injury Lawyer section of our law firm website.