Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Clearwater’

Child safety advocates in Palm Beach County have come up with an inexpensive idea to help parents and caregivers remember when there’s a baby in the back seat of their vehicle.

The Safety Council of Palm Beach County along with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and others will be giving out 10,000 blue silicone bracelet for caregivers to wear when a child is in the car; if the caregiver still has the bracelet on after leaving the car, the child is likely still there.

Two children have died this year after being forgotten in vehicles in Florida. Six such deaths were recorded in 2010.

Jim Dodson Law supports any and all efforts to prevent these tragedies. We  have reported in the past about a device that senses the child in the rear seat and gives an audible and persistent reminder to remove the child. Such a device should be mandated on new car models. Until that happens, drivers are encouraged to use any means at their disposal to avoid forgetting. The bracelets are a good first step in raising awareness of the problem.  To get your free bracelet call the Safety Council @ (561) 845-8233.

Florida child injury attorney Jim Dodson is a longtime advocate for child safety.  He provides information to the public on keeping children safe and has a free consumer guide on legal steps needed to recover damages when the worst happens and  child is injured or killed due to someone’s negligence at http://jimdodsonlaw.com/category/library/child-injury/.

For Immediate  Release

December 15, 2011

Clearwater, Florida – Jim Dodson Law and Chainwheel Drive have joined together to donate bikes to deserving children for Christmas.  Five children will have the joy of receiving a shiny new bike and helmet on December 21, 2011 at Chainwheel Drive, 1770 Drew Street, Clearwater. 

For the past two years the law firm has given 5 bikes to deserving children who are 12 years of age or younger for Christmas.  Several local agencies have helped to locate children who needed or would enjoy a bike but have not had the opportunity to receive one. This year Chainwheel Drive, a local bicycle store, has partnered with Jim Dodson Law to provide the bikes and helmets. 

The 5 children range in age from 5 year old twins to an 11 year old.  The children, along with their parents, will receive their new bikes and helmets in a presentation at Chainwheel Drive on Wednesday, December 21, at 5:30pm.  They will also receive safe riding literature and will be given general instruction on care of their new bikes.

Jim Dodson says, “This is always a pretty meaningful experience for all involved, particularly the parents and the children!” Tom Jessup, owner of Chainwheel Drive, added, “We are excited to partner with Jim this year to provide new quality bikes to children at Christmas   It’s a wonderful moment to see a kid’s eyes light up when they see their first new bike.”

More information about Jim Dodson Law can be found at
http://jimdodsonlaw.com/about-our-firm/

More information about Chainwheel Drive can be found at http://chainwheeldrive.com/articles/about-us-pg85.htm

 Studies have shown buses are the safest way for children to get to school. But due to funding cuts, some Florida school districts are limiting the number of students who will be able to rely on bus transportation this year.

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 .

Retinoblastoma affects about 300 children in the United States every year and 5,000 kids worldwide.

 In New York, a 2 year- old child had surgery to remove her left eye. Her mother first spotted the trouble while bathing her daughter. She noticed  her daughter’s eyes were “reflecting funny”  -similar to the glassy, glowing quality a dog’s eyes have in photographs. Her next pediatrician appointment, the mother asked the doctor to take a look. When a light was shined in the little girl’s eye,the doctor saw nothing. The mother prompted the doctor to look again without a light and this time, she spotted something abnormal.

 It was soon discovered the toddler suffered from retinoblastoma, a form of eye cancer affecting the retina, the layer of cells at the back of the eye that senses light.  As good as healthcare is today, unfortunately cases such as this still occur.  Could it have been caught earlier? How can parents protect their child from the same kind of tragedy?

 ”If we had known what we were looking for, it would have been easy to pick up. That’s what makes me upset,” the child’s mother said. “There are so many things that people warn you about, don’t buy this toy because it was made somewhere and it could have lead in it and don’t let your child use this stroller because the safety mechanism is off.”

 In yet another case, a jury in Chicago awarded an 8-year-old boy $7.9 million dollars in a negligence case against his pediatrician.  The child had been seen by his pediatrician up until he was about a yr. old. The doctor  had examined his retinas on 7 separate occasions.  On a subsequent visit to another pediatrician, the youngster was diagnosed with retinoblastoma. He lost vision in both eyes.

  Symptoms of retinoblastoma may include:

• A white or pink pupil and lazy eye
• Less common symptoms are redness in the white part of the eye
• Eye pain
• Vision problems and
• A pupil that does not get smaller with light

 Two thirds of the cases of retinoblastoma are the non-hereditary type in which the gene mutation develops after birth and is present in only one eye. As far as cancers go, the outlook is said to be good. More than 90 percent of kids with retinoblastoma can be cured.

Download a copy of a “Parent’s Guide to Understanding Retinoblastoma” by clicking here.

Always seek the advice of a medical specialist if you have concerns about anything related to your child’s health and well being. If you believe you may have the basis for a medical negligence claim, contact a Florida Medical Malpractice attorney who has experience handling child injury claims. But don’t delay, Florida has strict time limits for bringing a medical malpractice claim.

Clearwater Child Injury Lawyer, Working to Make Safety Every Child’s Reality.

As of June 2011, cribs will be  required to have fixed sides rather than the familiar drop-side crib models. The drop-side models are dangerous because their design places infants and toddlers at risk of serious and even fatal injuries.

 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.

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.

As a Clearwater child injury lawyer and an advocate for child injury prevention, I am committed to providing the public with health and safety resource information to reduce the risk of a child being needlessly hurt in accidents. Because car accidents are the leading cause of injury to children, I frequently provide information about car seat safety. So here we go!

Child Passenger Safety Week is observed every year nationwide. This year we observe it Sept. 19-25. The event sponsored by the “Safe Kids”  organization  is a time to remind parents and caregivers to keep children properly restrained in a car seat that meets their height and weight requirements – every time and everyday.

There still remains a lot of confusion particularly concerning booster seats. How do you know when your child needs one?  When can they ride without one? Booster seats when used appropriately greatly reduce the risk of  serious injury to a child  in a car accident.

 ”Boost” your knowledge about booster seats with the following info from Safe Kids:

Myth Number One

Myth: My child just turned 8 years old and I told him it was okay to not use a booster anymore. He is around 4 feet 3 inches.

Fact: Although this child is 8 years old, he is not tall enough to be out of a booster. A child needs to remain in a booster seat until a seat belt fits properly without the assistance of a booster, which is around 4 feet 9 inches. The purpose of a booster is to help position/raise a child so that the seat belt fits appropriately. If a backless booster comes with a separate shoulder belt positioning strap, use it to help with the proper adjustment of the shoulder belt. High back boosters have a factory installed positioning guide built onto the side of the booster to adjust up or down based on your child’s height. Be sure to use it for proper fit.

To determine whether your child is big enough to no longer use a booster, be sure you have him/her take The Safety Belt Fit Test . If he/she doesn’t pass all the steps, it’s not a big deal. Just be sure they continue using a booster with the seat belt, and retest in a couple months.

Myth Number Two

Myth: Boosters are not necessary for traveling short distances.

Fact: If a child meets the requirements to use a booster, then he/she needs to be in a booster at all times while driving in a car, even if you’re going around the corner to drop your child off at school or a friend’s house, or to pick up groceries at the local store.

Myth Number Three

Myth: Sometimes when I’m driving a lot of kids around (for example carpooling to a birthday party), I don’t have enough boosters for everyone. Since this only happens occasionally I don’t see it as a problem.

Fact: If a child needs a booster at any time, then he/she needs a booster ALL the time. If you don’t have enough boosters, never hesitate to borrow one from the families you are carpooling with. In fact, if all the children in the carpool cannot be properly restrained, then they shouldn’t be in the car.

Tune in tomorrow for Myths Number 4 and 5 and additional child safety seat information on our law firm’s Florida Child Injury Law blog.

Fire and burn injuries are the second leading cause of accidental death in childlren ages 1-18. Over 100 children a day are treated in emergency rooms for kitchen and scald burns alone.  Aside from the pain and suffering young burn victims must endure, the emotional and psychological trauma is often devastating.

The Children’s Burn Camp of Florida, in Umatilla  offers a safe haven for burn injured children to go for fun, friendship and a chance to see that they are not alone. It is the first statewide burn camp of its kind. Held at the Florida Elk’s Youth Camp, the second weekend in November, the camp is a wonderful opportunity for children who have suffered severe burn injuries to share their feelings.  CBF pays 100% of the expenses for children between the ages of 6-17 to attend the camp- including transporting, lodging, feeding and entertaining. The only restrictions are that the children be one year post burn and be comfortable being away from family members.

For more information  about this wonderful camp supported by volunteers and operated on private and corporate donations – with no paid staff, visit their website @ www.childrensburnfoundationoffl.com

Florida Child Burn Injury Lawyer in Clearwater, working to make safety every child’s reality.

In a Clearwater accident, a 2-year-old  child was injured when he was hit by a car Friday night. 

Reports say the boy had been standing with his mother at the corner of Cleveland Street and Frederica Avenue when he suddenly left the sidewalk and ran into the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Paramedics treated the child and he was then airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center due to serious injuries.  The driver of the vehicle has not been charged but the accident is under investigation.

Children, especially toddlers, are too often seriously or fatally injured as pedestrians. Toddlers (age 1 to 2) sustain the highest number of pedestrian injuries,  primarily due to their small size and limited traffic experience. Dangers for young children on the move include: darting out into traffic, playing in or near the street and riding a tricycle or bicycle in a parking lot, driveway or street. The news report states the child had been standing on the sidewalk with his mother prior to darting out into the street.

Young children are particularly vulnerable to injury around traffic because they can not judge distance or how fast a car is speeding toward them. They move quickly and run into the street without warning and are difficult  for drivers to see because of their small size.

Take these steps to safety:

Supervise, supervise, supervise!

Talk to them about street safety.

Set a safe example for children.

Find safe places for them to play.

 Florida Child Injury Attorney, working to make safety every child’s  reality.