In Pinellas County, the event is sponsored by the Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition and All Children’s Hospital. Its focus is to promote pedestrian safety, fitness, and community involvement, according to Cecilia Barreda with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department. Crossing guards, community police officers, firefighters, parents, and teachers accompany students walking and biking to school, helping them learn safe habits.

  The goal of the international event is to make the world more pedestrian friendly and to

• Encourage physical activity by teaching children the skills to walk safely, how to identify safe routes to school, and the benefits of walking 
• Raise awareness of how walkable a community is and where improvements can be made
• Reduce traffic congestion, pollution, and speed near schools

 Organizers of the event hope to raise awareness of the many benefits of walking and to make the world a safer place in which to do it.

  The National Center for Safe Routes to School of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center maintains a website with information about International Walk to School Day and International Walk to School Month at http://www.walktoschool.org.

 Florida has the worst record in the nation when it comes to pedestrian safety, according to the oft-quoted Transportation for America Dangerous by Design study. Jim Dodson Law is deeply committed to pedestrian, bicyclist, and child safety.  We encourage family members to get out and participate in this event during the month of October and beyond!

Nearly 400 of Lake Minneola High School’s 1400 students will be ineligible for bus service because they live within two miles of the school.

More than 70,000 students In Orange and Seminole counties and 7,000 in Lake County are ineligible for bus transportation because of a two-mile limit.

Orange County Public Schools has cut about $9 million from its transportation budget over the past two years and is reducing about 15 of its routes.

In Seminole County, the district is combining routes for budgetary reasons, forcing some students to walk farther to get to bus stops.

Volusia County will no longer transport about 800 students taking advanced or specialized classes to campuses outside their school zones, saving the district about $300,000.

With more students walking longer distances, having to cross more busy roads, and walking on shoulders without sidewalks, more pedestrian accidents involving a child are inevitable.  Other students who once relied on school bus transportation will be arriving at school by car, increasing traffic and creating further risk of injuries from car accidents as well as pedestrian accidents.

Parents are understandably concerned.  With financial resources severely strained, school districts need to make cuts somewhere. But is saving money worth the risk of having a school child hit by a car and suffering serious injuries?

If your child has been hit by a car or injured in an accident, it is important to contact a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible to assess the case, as the child may have a claim for damages.  Clearwater pedestrian injury attorney Jim Dodson has been representing accident victims for 25 years and offers a unique No Fee for Kids program. Read more at http://www.jwdodsonlaw.com/library/no-fee-for-kids-jim-dodson-law.cfm .

 Experts who understand dog behavior say teaching kids how to be safe around dogs can prevent a child from being bitten.

Here are basic tips for kids and adults to remember when around dogs:

•  Never disturb a sleeping dog, or a dog that is eating, or a dog that has puppies
•  Don’t pet a dog unless it sniffs you first, present a closed hand and let the dog check you out
•  When you do pet it, gently rub the shoulder or chest, not the top of the head
•  Avoid making eye contact with a dog
•  If you are approached by a strange dog, stand still and let it sniff you, then slowly walk away after the dog loses interest
•  If you are faced with an aggressive dog and are chased, put something between you and the dog – a backpack or a jacket. Let the dog have it while you escape
•  Children should never approach a strange dog or play with a dog unless an adult is present
•  If knocked over by a dog, a child should pull himself into a ball and remain motionless

 If a child is bitten by a dog, report the incident to animal control immediatley. Do not try to catch the dog. If the wound is serious, get medical attention right away. For additional information, request a free copy of  “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries,” by Clearwater Child Injury Attorney  Jim Dodson.  It is full of useful information about what to do after an injury – including answers to questions about insurance and dealing with an adjuster, how to get medical bills paid and much, much more.

 The ban on drop-side cribs was announced recently by the government after millions of recalls and the tragic deaths of more than 30 infants and toddlers over the past 10 years. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) voted unanimously to forbid the manufacture, sale and resale of the cribs which feature a side rail that moves up and down.

 Businesses, like hotels and childcare centers who use drop-side cribs, are prohibited to continue using the cribs and will be given a year to buy new ones. During the last 5 years, there has been a recall of 9 million drop-side cribs in the U.S. The cribs pose serious safety issues because of assembly problems and hardware that malfunctions causing the drop side rail to partially detach from the crib. When this occurs, a gap between the side rail and mattress is created in which a child can become trapped and suffocate or strangle.

The CPSC has ordered tougher safety testing for cribs and improved labeling on crib pieces to reduce assembly mistakes that can put children at risk.

This new crib standard is one of the strongest in the world and will greatly reduce crib-related hazards.

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson, author of the free consumer guide, “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries,” and your online resource for consumer health and safety tips, product recalls, and legal information related to child accident and injury prevention.

-Working to make safety, every child’s reality.

National Fire Prevention Week  is a good time to focus on fire safety in the home. Check or install smoke alarms in your homes, change batteries if needed, have an escape plan in the event there is an emergency fire and talk to your kids about fire safety – in language they can understand.

An excellent teaching tool for young children is “Brecker Bunny Asks for Help – A Lesson in Fire Safety,” by Hilary Bilbery and Safe Kids. “Brecker” helps out by teaching kids to tell an adult if they see matches or lighter or other things that might cause a fire around the house. Here are some startling facts about children and fire:

• 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 deaths and injuries — involve matches or lighters.
• The items ignited by home fire-play are principally mattresses, bedding or clothing (NFPA)

Fire Prevention Reminders:

1. Store matches and lighters out of children’s reach and sight, up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
2. Never use lighters or matches as a source of amusement for children; they may imitate you.
3. If your child expresses curiosity about fire or has been playing with fire, calmly but firmly explain that matches and lighters are tools for adults only.

Clearwater Child Burn Injury Lawyer James W. Dodson, child safety advocate and your online resource for health, safety and legal information.

We all know the importance of having our children/grandchildren safely secured in an age appropriate child safety device in our cars. But  if their restraint is not installed correctly or is not being used properly your child is at great risk of serious harm.

Did you know 4 out of 5 car seats are not installed properly? Could yours be one of them? Get your child’s car seat checked by a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Here’s some helpful info on an upcoming safety event:

Where: All Children’s Specialty Care of Pasco

                  4443 Rowan Rd.

                  New Port Richey, Fl

When: Friday August 27, 2010 9:00am – 12:00pm

Appointments are required: Call 727-834-5403 to schedule yours!

What Parents Need to Do: Provide the age and weight for each child under 8 when making the appointment. Bring the child to the fitting station appointment using the child’s current car seat. Allow at least 20 to 30 minutes for each seat to be checked. Be prepared to purchase a replacement child restraint if the current restraint is unsafe. There are no free child restraints at fitting stations. Seats are replaced AT COST. Provide the vehicle owner’s manual. Provide the child restraint instructions.

For additional locations, times and dates of more car safety seat inspection events, click here.

Reminder, you must make an appointment and it’s always best to call first to verify times and locations.

The Dodson Law Firm, Working to Make Safety Every Child’s Reality!

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer Jim Dodson is the author of  “When Kids’s Suffer Big Injuries,” available for free by calling 1.888.340.0840 or online at http://www.childinjurylawyerflorida.com/reports/florida-child-injury-consumer-guide-free-child-injury-book-must-read.cfm. If your child was injured due to the carelessness of another person, Jim provides answers to many of  your questions and concerns in his book or if you prefer, feel free to  call our office and speak to Judi to arrange a time to talk to Jim  directly.

 The one liter size bottles are being recalled due to malfunctioning child-resistant caps.  Proctor and Gamble also omitted an important message on that bottles in not stating, “This Package for Households without Young Children.” 

 One of the ingredients contained in the mouthwash, ethyl alcohol, is toxic.  Ethyl alcohol can cause serious injury or death if ingested by a child.   Every seven minutes a child under the age of 5 goes to the Emergency Room because of an unintentional poisoning.  Household products are responsible for 60% of the poisoning accidents with children under 5.   

 There have been no incidents or injuries reported.

 In the majority of the cases, infants were born with heart defects, the result of the mother taking Paxil while pregnant.  The most prominent case contended the child was born with no fewer than three cardiac defects, including a hole between the two chambers of his heart that disrupted the aorta.

 The news gets more disturbing.  It appears GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer, didn’t follow up with additional tests after initial animal testing indicated  the drug might cause problems.  In 1997, a memo from a company executive stated, “If neg, results can bury.”

 Plaintiffs have filed at least 600 cases alleging Paxil is to blame for congenital birth defects.  Paxil generates GSK nearly $3 billion in profits annually.

 7  Dangerous Childhood germs: 

 Rotavirus -This virus causes severe dehydration and diarrhea.  Since 2006, admissions have dropped 45% because of 2 vaccines, RotaTeq and Rotarix.  The makers of Rotarix hit some recent snags, but the FDA approved changes in May and have deemed the vaccine safe.

 Streptococcus Pneumoniae- This is a very serious infection that can lead to meningitis and deafness.  In 2000, a vaccine called Prevnar was introduced which decreased the infection  by 80% in children under the age of 5.  Just recently, Prevnar 13 was released and is aimed at protecting children under the age of 2.  

 H1N1- Also referred to as the “swine flu”.  H1N1 was identified in April 2009 and has proved to be deadly.  It’s estimated 1,300 children and adolescents have died because of this flu.  Experts recommend everyone older than 6 months should be vaccinated.   

 Neisseria Meningitidis- This germ is rarer than others on the list but extremely dangerous and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis. It has the capacity to strike fast before doctors can act.  These bacteria can live in a child’s mouth and nose.  People who live in confined spaces can pass this on to one another. 

 MRSA-Clinically known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA has resulted in 30,000 children being hospitalized in the last decade…and seems to be on the rise.  The bacteria often spread among kids playing contact sports. 

 Pertussis- Also known as whooping cough.  In infants, pertussis can be life-threatening.  A vaccine known as DTaP has long been effective but over the last 30 years cases are increasing. 

 RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus can be mistaken for the common cold.  75,000 to 125,000 infants are hospitalized every year because of RSV.  Currently no RSV vaccine exists, high-risk infants are being administered an antibody shot for preventive measures.

Keeping a watchful eye on your child and noting any distinct changes in his/her health is an essential step in protection. Regular check-ups and maintaining all of your child’s immunizations are vital to their health and safety. Your Clearwater St. Petersburg Florida Child Injury Lawyer, working to make safety every child’s reality.

An article published in U.S. News Health magazine recently, was a reminder of the dangers of a moments glance away in a fatal drowning. Just a quick distraction by adults can result in fatal consequences when supervising children around water. Whether a backyard swimming  pool, lake, pond, beach, child’s inflatable pool, bathtub, bucket of water or any body of water, a child must have a responsible adult with focused eyes on them at all times and the ability to jump in quickly.

The article on summertime safety, stated children can drown even in a swimming pool with a lifeguard on duty, and yes, even when they have had swimmming lessons – if they become fatigued. Often times, contrary to what you might expect, when a child slips beneath the surface of the water, there is no sound – no flailing or commotion.

Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-4 in Florida. The state’s drowning death rate among this age group (1-4)  is the highest in the nation. As a grandparent to two precious little girls, I urge all parents, grandparents and caregivers of children to be hypervigilant in supervising your children around water.

 It is my sincere hope, through education and heightened awareness of this young family’s tremendously sad loss, we can prevent this tragedy from happening again.

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