Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘child’

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

Close to 2,500 pull toys with wooden parts that can break or become dislodged and pose a choking hazard to a child were recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission this week.  These toys manufactured by the Manhattan Group have been sold nationwide in gift and specialty shops as well as online and in catalogues.    

 Approximately 14,000 umbrella strollers that might amputate a child’s fingertips as they’re unfolded were also recalled. While there have been no known related incidents reported in either case, there have been reports of injuries related to children’s lamps and wind chime toys recalled this past week.

The childrens’ lamps involved in the CPSC recall are  360,000 Discovery Kids Animated Marine and Safari Kids lamps with defects in the printed circuit board which could cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard to children.  There have been 9 incidents reported including lamps catching on fire, smoke inhalation injury to a child and minor property damage. 

The decorative lamps are silver colored and have rotating films with marine or safari scenes. “Discovery Kids” is printed on the front top left corner. Consumers have been instructed to immediately stop using the lamps and contact the company, Innovage,  for a ful refund.

 The best recalls are those where an awareness to a potential hazard is realized before any child has been injured. 

A recent article in our local paper about a 9 month old baby almost drowning in a pool while being watched by grandparents is a stark reminder of our need to be vigilant when having children around swimming pools.

Even though both grandparents said they had a eye on the baby, a brief period of distraction has the potential to lead to a heartbreaking consequence .

Child and Infant Pool safety information is important for every parent. From KidsHealth.org, the Dodson Law Firm  provides a list of pool safety reminders for adults and kids.

• Always have an adult watch you when you are in the pool — even in your own backyard. Never go in the pool if an adult is not  around.
• Gates are around pools for a reason — to keep kids away from the water when there isn’t a lifeguard or adult around to watch them. Never go through any pool gates when they are closed. Stay safe and stay out!
• Always obey pool rules.
• Swim with a buddy.
• If you’re learning to swim, ask your mom or dad to make sure your flotation devices are Coast Guard approved.
• Walk slowly in the pool area. Don’t run.
• Swim at a depth that is safe for you. If you’re just learning to swim, stay in the shallow end.
• Don’t push or jump on others. You could accidentally hurt someone or yourself.
• Toys to help you float come in many shapes and sizes (an inner tube, air mattress, or beach ball, for example). Although they are fun and can help you while you learn to swim, what they can’t do is save a life. They’re toys that can lose air or float away.
• Don’t chew gum or eat while you swim — you could choke.

Be safe around pools and other swimming sources. With Spring around the corner, these rules are important to pool safety for children and infants.

Case reports from the cancer study clearly reinforce the findings. 

 Lead researcher, Susie Pearce of London’s University College Hospital, stated that in one instance, a young woman “thought she was going mad” after three months of headaches and 12 visits to doctors.  Upon breaking down and crying at her doctor’s office, she was referred to a specialist.  She subsequently was found to be suffering from neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nerve tissue.

 In a particularly alarming case, a 22-year-old woman had a variety of symptoms.  They included frequent diarrhea, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding.  These continued for nine or ten years before finally she was diagnosed with colon cancer.  The cancer had spread to her liver. The woman has since died.

 Receiving prompt medical care is of utmost importance when we suspect that a loved one such as a teen, young child or even ourselves, are suffering from an ailment or symptom.  If you think your symptoms are being overlooked, see another physician or speak to a specialist.

Children playing with fire cause hundreds of injuries and deaths each year. Preschoolers and kindergartners often start these fires, usually  by playing with matches and lighters, and are most likely to die in them.

Facts & figures

• In 2006, children playing with fire started an estimated 14,500 structure fires that were reported to U.S. fire departments, causing an estimated 130 civilian deaths, 810 civilian injuries and $328 million in direct property damage.
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of all fatal victims of fires by playing are children 5 years old and younger.
• Nearly two out of every three child-playing fires — and four out of five associated deaths and injuries — involve matches or lighters.
• The items ignited by home fire-play are principally mattresses, bedding or clothing.

Source: NFPA’s “Children Playing with Fire“

 A child injury prevention fair is being held at Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers, this Saturday, January 23rd.   The Emergency and Trauma Services wing at Lee Memorial will be working in conjunction with The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida to provide activities and information to educate families on how to avoid childhood accidents. 

Some of the areas to be discussed include how to prevent child injuries such as fall accidents, child burn injury and car accident injury.  Healthy snacks will also be available. 

 Michele King, director of the Child Advocacy Program at The Children’s Hospital stated. “There will be so much good information for parents and kids.  It is very interactive.”

 To find out more information on the event, please contact Karen Krieger, Director of Public Affairs at 239-454-8765.

Last month, we reported over 2 million drop side cribs manufactured by Stork Craft had been recalled due to the danger of child entrapment and  strangulation.  Just this week, another manufacturer of drop side cribs, Dorel Industries, is being forced to recall 635,000 cribs due to hazards of infant and toddler strangulation, suffocation and even infant death.

 An online report was published this week suggesting that Dorel Industries may have been persuaded with the recall by actions the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission planned to take.  The report quotes a spokesman with CPSC as saying the commission would take unilateral action to recall 20 various models of Dorel cribs due to hardware issues in drop-side cribs as well as for slats that break.

The report continues to say that because of the potential embarrassment of not issuing a recall in the aftermath of dozens of incidents and the fatality of a baby — Dorel announced the recall with the traditional language of  “in cooperation with” the CPSC.

 In a written statement, Dorel said, “The recall is motivated by isolated reports of broken crib slats and drop-side hardware. In total, 67 incidents were reported and 10 children were bruised or scratched.”  The statement described the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death as highly unusual. 

For more details,  please visit CPSC or call Dorel Asia toll-free at  (866) 762-2304        

We all know how much children love to play.  It’s part of how they lead active and happy lives.  Falls among children are common, and at certain stages of their development happen almost every day.  However they can be serious…in fact falls are the leading cause of accidental injury for children. 

 Statistics from SafeKids.org  state children, 4 years of age and under, have the greatest risk for falls.  This age group accounts for 56 percent of childhood fall-related deaths and more than 40 percent of child injuries.

 Parents must be vigilant and keep a keen eye out in their home.  In fact, 80 percent of fall-related injuries among children ages 4 and under, occur right in their own house. 

 Knowledge is key to safety and injury prevention!  For tips on what you should know to prevent fall injuries and the steps to take, if your child does suffer a fall at home, please follow this link to an article posted in our Florida child injury website document library for more information.

A  recent article published by the Shreveport Times reminds us of what we need to do to protect our children when  riding on a escalator. It is all too common for kids to be injured on these machines in malls and shopping centers. The article outlines safety precautions for Parents to protect children on escalators.

Some  tips include having your child remain in the center of the escalator,  removing your child from his/her  stroller before getting on the escalator, in addition to other tips parents should be aware of to avoid a child injury involving a escalator.  As a public service, we provide you with up to date safety information in an effort to help you become more aware of unintentional injuries to children.

Read this article.

Reading a recent article in the St. Petersburg Times about a 7 year old child who was playing with a lighter setting off a house fire which took firefighters 15 mintues to contain, reminds us all of the need to educate our children about the dangers of  playing with fire.

Child fire safety education is important early in a child’s life. Playing with fire at a early age can lead to fires, burns, and severe scarring which can permanently injury a child for life.

A wonderful website for fire safety for children can be found at Kids Health. This website offers great safety tips on how you can educate your child while making sure your home is safe.  Adult supervision and education are important to  preventing a fire such as the one in the link listed above.

Additional safety information is available on our Florida Child Injury Lawyer website in the document library. Click here for a resource entitled  ”Fire Safety 101.”