Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘child injury’

Imagine this scenario: In a pleasant subdivision in Florida, where everyone knows everyone else and people feel secure allowing their kids to play outside with friends, the neighborhood kids, ranging from five and up, all seem to be having fun. One of the younger children tries the door to her mother’s car, parked in the driveway. It is unlocked, so she climbs in and starts playing around with the controls.  There is no key in the ignition, and the parking brake is on.  She leans her head out the window to wave at her older brother, and in doing so presses on the automatic window button. The window begins to rise.  She can’t stop it, and in seconds, her neck is trapped.  She tries to call for help, but can’t get enough breath to speak, and so she groans.  The other kids laugh, thinking she’s just fooling around, pretending.  Within minutes, she’s dead.

Does this seem farfetched? It isn’t. Injuries and deaths from power windows are not uncommon. The story above is true. Since 1990 over 50 children have been killed by power windows, and the number of child injuries caused by these windows is in the thousands—serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and amputations of fingers—and most  of the victims are three years old and younger.

How could this terrible tragedy have been prevented?  What if the automatic windows in the car had reversed when coming into contact with the child, much the way elevator doors do if they close on someone? 

Consider these facts about automatic reversal technology:

• ARS technology would only cost around $6 per car window. 
• Eight out of ten new vehicles sold in Europe and most American cars sold overseas include ARS technology, but fewer than half of the vehicles produced by major US automakers and sold in the United States have this technology.

 In 2009, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration conducted a study aimed at deciding if they should require automatic reversing systems (ARS) technology in cars manufactured or sold in the United States. NHTSA decided ARS is not necessary. At the time, the information now available had not been completely assembled.

 Not necessary? If even one child injury or death is caused by a power window, we contend that preventing this unnecessary harm is absolutely necessary.  And one might ask how it is that European children deserve this protection more than our own.  Who among us would be unwilling to pay an additional $24 when buying a car to assure that our nation’s children are safe from these devastating injuries?

We keep our little ones safely ensconced in the back seat of the car, belted and padded, out of harm’s way. But what happens if while a busy mom is running errands, dashing here and there, with so many things on her mind, the child in that nice, safe seat falls asleep? And the unthinkable happens—Mom, distracted, gets out of the car and forgets the sleeping child in the back. The closed car becomes an oven. As the sun shines through the glass, the greenhouse effect pushes the temperature higher and higher. Hyperthermia—heatstroke—sets in, and the result is death.

“What kind of parent allows such a thing to happen?” you ask. Tragically, the answer is good parents, according to a University of South Florida professor of neuroscience, the St. Petersburg Times reported in a July 29^th article. David Diamond studied 50 of the cases of child death from hyperthermia as a result of being left in cars, and in every case, he found that otherwise good parents experiencing a combination of sleep deprivation, stress, and change in routine had suffered a memory lapse.

Children here in Florida are at a greater risk because of our intense summer heat. Children should never be left in cars, even for a moment. KidsAndCars.org, an organization dedicated to preventing child injury and death in cars, suggests that when you first get in, put something you absolutely must have—like your purse—on the back seat next to the child, to avoid forgetting to take your child with you.

Our child injury blog includes this very difficult subject to raise public awareness and because we are committed to keeping children safe. One child injury or one child death is one too many.

More common situations to help reduce the confusion over booster seats:

 Myth Number Four

 Myth: I have a 4 year old son and he weighs 33 lbs. I recently switched him to a booster because he is now 4. He still fits into his forward facing 5 point harness car seat, but I switched him anyway.

 Fact: In this case, the child is 33 pounds and has not outgrown his harness in the car seat even though he is 4 years old. He can and should continue using his existing 5 point harness car seat until it is outgrown. His harness may cover him until he weighs 40, 60 or even 80 pounds, depending upon the limits for his specific car seat. Parents should always check their child’s harnessed car seat to learn what the upper limits are for that particular seat. Do not rush to remove a child from the harnessed car seat into the booster seat just because he turns 4. The harness and car seat shell afford a child much more protection as long as it is not outgrown.
Signs that a child has outgrown his forward facing harness car seat include: Surpassing the height or weight requirement for the seat, the ears have reached the top of the seat, and/or the child’s shoulders are above the top harness slots. When a parent notices any of these things, it is necessary to obtain a new, properly fitting seat.

 Myth Number Five

 Myth: My daughter is 10 years old and some of her friends are still in boosters, and others are not. I’m overwhelmed by this entire car seat situation and there is no one formally trained to take a quick look at how she fits in the booster and help me figure out what is best for her safety.

 Fact: You’re in luck. There are over 34,000 certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians throughout the country who can help. These qualified individuals can assess your individual situation – whether you have an infant or an older child – and help guide you. It’s always best to bring your child and the car seat/booster when you see the technician to evaluate the fit and decide what steps to take. Remember to also bring your car seat instruction book and the vehicle owner’s manual to the inspection. (courtesy of Safe Kids)

As a personal injury lawyer, I know that child safety seats when used properly, are the most effective tools available to prevent death and child injury in a car crash.  Get involved in Child Passenger Safety Week and prevent child injury by making sure your child is properly restrained in an appropriate safety or booster seat.

Check below for more helpful information about child safety seats and online websites to visit this week:

www.AAA.com/SafeSeats4Kids

www.HealthyChildren.org

www.SeatCheck.org

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer, your child safety advocate and author of “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries.” Available at No Cost to parents of a child injured in a Florida accident. Law Office of James W. Dodson  @1-888-340-0840   – Working to make safety every child’s reality.

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.

 The Wall Street Journal recently published an article which examined a new study on vaccinations and children.  Due to child health and safety concerns, children today are receiving twice as many vaccinations as they did twenty-five years ago. 

Although some parents are requesting alternative immunization schedules because they fear that their children are being exposed to too many vaccinations, the study indicates there are no advantages in delaying the vaccines, only disadvantages.

 Two years ago in Minnesota during a shortage of the Haemophilus influenza Type B vaccine, which babies receive at the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, five cases of illnesses were reported.  In one instance a child died because they could not ward off the disease.  In three of the cases, the babies hadn’t received the Hib vaccine, and the other two babies hadn’t been fully vaccinated.

 Recommended vaccines are designed to prevent infection with 14 diseases.  Babies can receive up to 26 vaccines in their first year of life, a doubling since the mid-1980s.  

The topic of childhood vaccines  is discussed  in Chapter 4 of  Clearwater Florida Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson’s newly released consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries: A Parent’s Guide to Child Injury in Florida.”  

Request your FREE copy  of  “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries”  by clicking here  or email your book request to judi@jwdodsonlaw.com

A study by the Florida Dept. of Education revealed too many drivers have limited understanding of  Florida laws governing the passing of school buses stopped to load and unload school children. The safety of children in and around school buses is tragically compromised by irresponsible and negligent drivers. Public service announcements to increase awareness and educate drivers and increased law enforcement and engineering measures to increase safety are beginning steps to reduce the alarming number of children who are injured or killed at Florida school bus stops. This is only a partial list posted by Bob Eubanks on February 26, 2010 on this website, to increase public awareness of those who have been injured or who have been killed  between 1981-2010.

Read the rest of this entry »

Parents have been advised to stop using 4 children’s cough and cold medications manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in a recent recall of Pediacare medicines.

Read the complete news article and get details on our Clearwater Florida Child Injury Lawyer consumer news website, click here.

Thank you for choosing our website as your resource for legal, health and safety information for your family.

Over 200,000 drop side cribs made by LaJobi, Inc have been voluntarily recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

 The hazard is found in the drop side hardware.  It can break or fall and create a wedge in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped.  There have been 99 reports of drop side malfunctions.  A total of 8 children have been affected, either becoming trapped in the wedge and suffocating or being strangled, or falling from the crib.  There has been one report of a concussion.  Consumers should stop using these recalled products immediately. 

 For more information on this recall, please visit the U.S. Production Safety Commission website. 

 As a Florida Child Injury Attorney, we understand the emotions involved when a child is injured or hurt.  If your child has suffered an injury due to the negligence of another person, call our toll free number (888) 340-0840 for a free case review.  There is never any obligation to hire a lawyer.

Read our No Fee Promise.

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.

Officials have reported three girls have admitted to harassing a 10-year-old classmate reportedly at Lockhart Elementary Magnet School.

Tampa police say  the alleged bullying transpired when the three girls slapped their classmate and threw her into a fence.  There have been other episodes, as well.  Investigators believe on another occasion, the victim was threatened while a rope was wrapped around her shoulders.

 The three youths have not given a reason for the abuse.  A case of bullying on a Tampa elementary school campus could lead to arrests.  Criminal charges are expected.

Bullying is tragically, a problem for thousands of school children each day.  For a comprehensive look at how to handle bullying ,  please visit KidsHealth.org.

The Dodson Law Firm provides this Florida child injury blog as a resource for families in an effort to educate parents and “to make safety every child’s reality.”

Call our Florida Personal Injury Law firm for a free consultation about your injury case @ 1-888-340-0840.