Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Archive for the ‘Child Safety’ Category

McNeil Consumer’s Healthcare is pulling more than 40 over the counter children’s liquid medications off the shelf because they don’t meet quality standards.

 McNeil is the maker of children’s Tylenol, Tylenol Plus, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl.  They issued the recall after consulting with the Food and Drug Administration.  It’s reported that some of the products may have a higher concentration of active ingredient than what is stated on the label. 

 Parents are being advised that they should not be giving the medication to their children.  This is said to be a precautionary measure.  The recall has been issued in the United States as well as eleven other countries.

 For product recall information, please visit the McNeil Consumer Healthcare website. 

 The Dodson Law Firm supports recalls that take quick and decisive action reducing the risk of child injury. 

 Florida Child Injury Attorney, working to make safety every child’s reality for more than twenty-five years.

  For a free case review please call our office toll free at (888) 340-0840. 

Social networking giant, Facebook, has added a new Safety Center designed to provide information for teens and parents, as well as law enforcement and educators.  A number of best practices are offered in an effort to create a safer online environment. 

 Questions like “What should I do if my teen is being cyberbullied?” are addressed to parents concerned about their child’s well-being online.  Parents who might not understand their teen’s “connected world” should review the information and tips Facebook provides in this new offering. 

 Educators should also benefit from the new Safety Center page.  Instructions are offered concerning how to manage group pages so that teachers can use Facebook as another avenue to responsibly interact with students and parents.  Teachers will also be able to connect with over 270,000 other educators via the Facebook on the Education page.

Our Florida Child Injury Lawyer offers a wealth of  safety information articles and resources to protect children and families on our website, including: dog bite prevention, teen driver safety, drown proofing your child, bike helmet safety, car seat safety guidelines and more!  

Working to make safety, every child’s reality,  toll free number  @ (888) 340-0840.

The Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida is a not-for-profit organization that teaches children about the safety hazards they encounter in everyday life, in an effort to reduce preventable accidents and fatal injury.

What better way to teach young children than through hands-on exercises. The “city” includes miniaturized buildings complete with paved streets, sidewalks, a functioning traffic light, a railroad crossing and a water safety complex.  Each of these everyday life experiences help children see potential dangers and practice safety measures to protect themselves from accidental injuries. 

 Approximately 10,000 children are brought to the Children Safety Village facility of Central Florida every year to receive this hands-on education.  Our own children were frequent visitors to the wonderful facility in Clearwater, as they were growing up.

To find out more information or to schedule a tour, call (407) 521-4673 or visit their website. 

 Working to make safety every child’s reality, our Florida Child Injury lawyers have protected  the rights of  injured children and families for over twenty- five years. 

 Call our office toll free at (888) 340-0840 for a free legal consultation.

There is never any obligation to hire a lawyer.

The 2010 Florida’s Kids and Alcohol Town Hall Meeting will be broadcast on WEDU-TV, Thursday, April 22^nd at 9pm.

Teens, parents, educators, counselors, community activists and law-enforcement representatives will all join together in an open honest discussion related to the underage drinking and the effect that it has on all of our lives.

Prescription drug misuse will also be covered in this year’s meeting.  This is the 5^th year that WEDU has offered this forum.  This will be an opportunity to listen to the concerns and suggestions from all of the participants involved in the discussion.

The Dodson Law Firm applauds the efforts of WEDU-TV in producing this project to enhance the safety of children throughout the state of Florida.

Is there a flaw in the free Safebeat EKG testing being offered to Hillsborough County schools through All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg?

According to an online report, some local medical experts think so. 

Cardiologist, Jorge McCormack is exercising caution with the program.  In almost 20 years at Pediatric Cardiology Associates, McCormack says he has seen many children who have life-threatening heart conditions, but EKG’s have not revealed their problem.  The reason?  EKGs won’t detect irregularities of the coronary arteries, the second-leading cause of death in young athletes. Occasionally they’ll pick up on rhythm disorders.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

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.

A USA Today Greenhouse report states that a dozen states are moving forward in considering restrictions this year on bisphenol A, an estrogen-like chemical implemented to solidify plastics in products such as bottles and cups, and widely used in  baby bottles.  The chemical is also present in the linings of metal cans, including infant formula, in order to hold up to high sterilization temperatures.

 According to WebMD, millions of tons of BPA are made annually. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 90% of Americans have measurable levels of BPA in their bodies.  Children have higher concentration levels of the chemical than adolescents or adults. 

 Last month, the FDA which in years past had deemed BPA safe, expressed “some concerns” due to new studies regarding the chemical’s potential side effects on the brain development of fetuses, infants and children. 

 The Greenhouse report states that Connecticut and Minnesota passed the first state mandate on BPA in food and drink containers intended for those 3 and younger.  Bills are now pending in Oregon, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington, D.C. 

Here are a few things to know about BPA, as summarized from an advisory by the Department of Health and Human Services:

    •    Plastic containers have triangular recycling codes on the bottom. Some   numbered 3 and 7 may contain BPA. Those numbered 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 very likely do not.
    •    Do not put warm or hot liquids into BPA containers.
    •    Do not use them if scratched.
    •    Most baby bottles are BPA-free because of voluntary changes by major manufacturers. Pacifiers and toys use materials without BPA.

The Dodson Law Firm is dedicated to providing  consumers the latest information and news related to child safety issues and injury protection. For additional  resources please visit our Florida Child Injury Lawyer website @http://www.jwdodsonlaw.com/practice_areas/child-injuries1.cfm

Last week news came from the U.S. Product Safety Commission, as they announced that U.S. subsidiaries of Japanese retailer Daiso, had agreed to pay a $2 million  penalty upon accusations they imported lead-tainted toys and dangerous children’s products. The companies based in California and Washington will not be able to import children’s products until they prove them to be safe. 

 CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said, “This landmark agreement for an injunction sets a precedent for any firm attempting to distribute hazardous products to our nation’s children.  We are committed to the safety of children’s products and we will use the full force of our enforcement powers to prevent the sale of harmful products.” With this fine, Daiso has initiated a new product quality and safety program.

Lead is a dangerous substance for young children.  Young children and babies are more susceptible to the dangers of lead poisoning  because they frequently put their fingers and hands into their mouths. Young children’s bodies also absorb more lead because they are growing and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects. When lead poisoning is not detected early, children can suffer: brain damage  and nervous system damage, headaches, behavior and learning problems,  slowed growth and hearing problems.

If you suspect there is  lead in your home or that your family has been exposed to lead, have their lead levels measured with a simple blood test.

If your child suffered an accident or an injury because of the negligence of another person, contact our Florida Child Injury lawyer for a FREE consultation @ 1-888-340-0840.

Parents always have to be ready for the unexpected minor injuries children suffer as they grow.  A well-stocked First-Aid Kit is a good precautionary measure to  protect young ones from common childhood bumps and bruises and an essential to have at home. 

 Dr. Robert Steele is a board certified pediatrician, as well as an expert contributor to ivillage.com.  Here’s a list of 17 items he feels every First-Aid Kit must have.

•  Acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• An accurate measuring device
• Ice packs
• Elastic and adhesive bandages
• Gauze and adhesive tape
• Small sharp scissors
• Alcohol pads
• Thermometer
• Petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
• Calamine lotion
• 1-percent Hydrocortisone ointment
• Diphenhydramine (Benedryl)
• Antibiotic ointment
• Self-injectable epinephrine
• Tweezers
• Penlight
• List of important phone numbers 

 You can also find additional information on First-Aid Kits at KidsHealth.org.  Consider keeping one kit at home and one in the car.