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?

As a result, much needed and  new mandatory safety standards for cribs might become a reality in 2011.

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 5-0 Wednesday in favor of the proposed regulations. The new rules would essentially ban the manufacture and sale of the very popular drop-side cribs. The announcement of the vote coincided with Pottery Barn Kids recalling 80,000 drop-side cribs that posed entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards. 

 It’s believed the new rules could come into effect next summer if a final vote in December is passed.

Clearwater St. Petersburg Child Accident and Injury Lawyer and author James Dodson, has written “When Kids Suffer Big Injuries, A Parents Guide to Child Injury in Florida,”  to provide parents and guardians with basic information to help them make informed decisions to protect their child’s legal rights. Request your FREE copy today.

What better way to teach young children than through hands-on exercises. The “city” includes miniaturized buildings complete with paved streets, sidewalks, a functioning traffic light, a railroad crossing and a water safety complex.  Each of these everyday life experiences help children see potential dangers and practice safety measures to protect themselves from accidental injuries. 

 Approximately 10,000 children are brought to the Children Safety Village facility of Central Florida every year to receive this hands-on education.  Our own children were frequent visitors to the wonderful facility in Clearwater, as they were growing up.

To find out more information or to schedule a tour, call (407) 521-4673 or visit their website. 

 Working to make safety every child’s reality, our Florida Child Injury lawyers have protected  the rights of  injured children and families for over twenty- five years. 

 Call our office toll free at (888) 340-0840 for a free legal consultation.

There is never any obligation to hire a lawyer.

This was troubling to Guice whose  three year old son, Rylan, enjoys playing with his friend at the park on equipment intended for older children (ages 5-14), not toddlers like Rylan.

A recent post to our Florida Child Injury website describes this young Mom’s determination and efforts to gather local community support  and to provide a safe and  developmentally appropriate  area for toddlers to run and play.

The two organizations collaborate in more than 150 cities to host walk to school events. In the United States, these events take place on International Walk to School Day. This event is slated for October 6^th later this year.  “Safe Kids Walk This Way” initiates year-round school safety committees in order for students to have safer pedestrian environments.

 Safe Kids has posted some invaluable pedestrian safety rules on their website.  Children can be careless at times, spending five minutes with you child(ren) to reinforce some good rules of common sense is well worth the time and will protect your child from unintentional injury or potential dangers!