Florida Child Injury Law Blog

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Information surfaced this week related to a diet study led by a team at the University of Washington.  The report shows that when restaurant menus list calories, parents limit how much fast food their kids eat.

In the study, close to 100 parents in two groups ordered food for their children and themselves from McDonald’s- type menus.  One group’s menu included the calorie content next to the price for each item.  Generally, parents whose menus did not list calories selected a meal of approximately 670 calories, while those who had access to the calorie information ordered a meal with 100 less calories.

Only a few states nationwide have passed mandates requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information.  But researchers insist its importance.   “One hundred calories may seem like a small amount, but over time it could make a significant difference,” said Dr. Pooja Tandon, a pediatrician at the University of Washington, who led the study. For example, she said, an extra 100 calories per day in adults can lead to 10 extra pounds in a year.

Schools and day care centers are a very important element in the care of children.  The well-being of  young children is often assumed.  The trust parents and guardians place in the day care facilities and schools is often rewarded with outstanding care.  However there are occasions where these environments don’t provide the proper supervision and safety that children require…and need.  Injuries can come as a result.  When a child is hurt, there are a number of potential legal suits that can be taken.  A  potential law suit would depend on the severity of the injury, as well as the incident that occurred.        

 Children need to be protected; their safety needs to be ensured.  When their well-being is not handled properly and they are injured, some of the possible legal claims include the following:  failure to provide a safe environment, failure to keep the child away from hazardous items, failure to prevent the child from being injured or bullied by other children, and failure to provide adequate supervision and monitoring.  

 Florida law offers grants of immunity to public schools from being sued.  An experienced Florida child injury attorney can determine if these legal obstacles can be overcome by studying the specifics of your case and advising you on the merits of your claim.

More than 30,000 children are struck by cars each year in the United States.  Additionally, Florida is home to 4 of the 5 most dangerous cities for pedestrians in this country.

Nothing is more precious than the safety of one’s child. As a Florida Child Pedestrian lawyer, undertaking the representation of an injured child in a pedestrian accident case is extremely difficult. Yet, the fact is that child pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5-14.  Why? Simply because children are exposed to traffic threats which far exceed their cognitive and developmental abilities. Children are impulsive and lack the ability to sense danger.

Their vulnerability  is  further compounded by Florida’s lack of adequate infrastructure to prevent child pedestrian accidents. More and better sidewalks, reduced speed limits, wider medians, adequate pedestrian signage, intersection signals and well marked crosswalks are all needed.

At the same time, let’s not overlook our need to educate our children about pedestrian safety, the dangers of the road and our responsibility to adequately supervise our children to prevent accidents from happening.

Athletics, for many children growing up, is a rite of passage.  For middle school  and high school student athletes, sports offers competition as well as opportunity.  But there can be risks, as well.  Many parents, as their children  become involved in competitive sports, share concerns about head injuries.

Fortunately, basic guidelines for recognizing minor concussions in scholastic sports have been developed. An understanding of these can prevent more serious injuries and consequences. Neurologists and neuropsychologists have recognized that the length of loss of consciousness is somewhat related to the severity of injury. The amount of time an adult or child fails to recall before the trauma  and the period of time not recalled following the trauma  are also somewhat related to the extent of injury.

 According to the CDC, a concussion is a brain injury that can be brought on by a bump, blow or jolt to the head and although not all bumps to the head involve a brain injury, concussions should never be taken lightly. They can show up right after an injury or take days or weeks to emerge.   Parents, student athletes and  coaches should exercise great caution, as the long term effects  of multiple concussions can be severe.

Additional resources:

ImPACT, a neuro-cognitive test  -A 20-minute computerized examination that  judges reaction time, memory and attention span through a progression of mental challenges.

www.AAN.COM- The American Academy of Neurology

During the holiday season we see reports of various toys that are recalled, as well as safety rankings evaluating children’s toys.  Obviously safety does not stop there.

 Last month Timberland Company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of 21,000 Classic Scuffproof Boots that were sold nationwide last year between June and October.  The hazard resulted from an excessive amount of lead found in the logo that was stamped onto the boot’s insoles. 

 Consumers who may have purchased the boot for a child are being advised to take the boot away from the child and contact Timberland for a free replacement insole.  For more information, please contact Timberland at (800) 445-5545 or visit, www.timberland.com.

All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg had a successful moving day! Eight hundred staff members moved 169 eager patients into its new facility. 

The new 10 story, $403,000,000 hospital has almost a million square feet of space dedicated to pediatric care, including 259 rooms, most of which are private.

The children were wheeled through an underground tunnel that connects All children’s to neighboring Bayfront Hospital.  The patients were then  transported  across elevated walkways which connect Bayfront to the new hospital. 

The new medical facility, took nearly 5 years to build.

The Dodson Law Firm  likes to acknowledge companies and organizations that are doing the right thing for children.  “Kids are Heroes” is a program  St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa has instituted since 1996.  Since that time, they have recognized more than 1,000 children, between the ages 5 and 18, from Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties who have accomplished heroic deeds, or displayed acts of selflessness. 

 Every year these young heroes are selected by a panel of judges comprised of current and past pediatric patients of St. Joseph’s.  The Tampa Bay Lightning is also affiliated with this worthwhile program. 

 In 2009 there were some very special individuals who were chosen as heroes.  To find out more about the program and the winners, please visit their website, or contact Amy Gall at (813) 870-4731.

The cold and flu season is upon us. But as we know, cold medicine can potentially pose a risk for your child.  In recent years, the FDA has posted recommendations that parents should not administer over the counter cough and cold medicines to infants and toddlers under 2 years of age.  These medications can cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects to young children in this age group.

 It’s important to remember that OTC cough and cold products do not treat the cause of the illness, rather it only combats the symptoms.    

 The FDA has not completed its review of information regarding the safety of OTC products in regard to children in the age range of 2-11.  However they do have reports of serious side effects from children in this group that have taken these medications.

The CDC recently made its own recommendations concerning OTC medications stating in response to safety concerns, the leading manufacturers of children’s cough and cold medicines are voluntarily changing the labels on these products to state that they should not be used in children younger than 4 years of age.

Previously, the labels stated that these medicines should not be given to children under age 2. Products with the old labels will not be removed immediately from store shelves but are expected to gradually be replaced with products bearing the new labels. Doctors and nurses should be aware of the new labels and alert parents and caregivers about this important change.

When in doubt always consult your pediatrician before administering  OTC mediations to your child.

 “Presents for Primates” at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa took an unexpected twist when a chimpanzee grabbed an orange and tossed it at a young girl watching the festivities. 

 Employees of the zoo immediately rushed to the girl and got her an ice pack.  The young girl luckily was not injured. 

 The incident unfolded when zookeepers tossed wrapped presents filled with food in the primate’s exhibit area.  ‘Alex’, the chimp who threw the orange was upset after another chimp had stolen his present.  According to the Lowry Park Zoo, events like “Presents for Primates” are intended to encourage physical and mental activity of the apes and monkeys, while energizing the animals’ senses and behaviors. 

 Parents Magazine rated Lowry Park Zoo as the best zoo in the United States last year. They are also accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Household injuries are one of the top reasons kids under age 3 visit the ER, and nearly 70% of the children who die from unintentional injuries at home are 4 years old and under. Young kids have the highest risk of being injured at home because that’s where they spend most of their time.

Supervision is the best way to prevent injuries, in the home and out, but even the most watchful parents can’t keep kids completely out of harm’s way every second of the day.

We’d like to share additional information with you on making your home safer.  We went over some tips in part 1, but here are a  few more.

 1) Child monitoring system.  These systems offer peace of mind and protection.  They come in audio and video configurations.  Monitoring your child when they are out of sight in another room provides a safe environment.

 2) Carbon Monoxide Detector.  Reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning by installing these detectors outside a child’s bedroom or other sleeping areas in your home.

 3) Safety Gates.  Children need to be diverted from dangerous areas, including   stairwells and places you consider off-limits.  Safety gates that can be attached to a wall offer more protection than pressure gates.

4.) Always keep guns, toxic items and choking hazards safely stored and locked up  and out of the reach of children.

5.) Keep a list of emergency contact phone numbers near your phones in the event of an emergency.

 Protect your child from unintentional injury.  Implementing safety devices and keeping a watchful eye will benefit your child.  An ounce of prevention goes a long way!