Florida Child Injury Law Blog

Posts Tagged ‘risk’

All-Terrain vehicles have been popular since their inception almost forty years ago. 

 Naturally, the risk for accidents involving children is high.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 16 be prohibited from operating ATVs.  State by state, regulations differ in terms of restrictions placed towards adolescents.    

 In 2008, 74 children died and another 37,000 had accidents related to ATV’s that required them to go to the emergency room.  These figures actually represent a drop from the previous year.  Rachel Weintraub, director of product safety for Consumer Federation of America isn’t certain what caused the decrease, but said more needs to be done.  “Is it because incidents with recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) were taken out of the report; is it because fewer children are riding ATVs that are too large for them; is it because of higher gas prices; or is it because educational efforts are becoming effective?” she asks. “We need to replicate what is going right and do more to reduce these numbers significantly.”

 In Part 2 of this report we will look at ATV safety tips that all families should  follow.

The cold and flu season is upon us. But as we know, cold medicine can potentially pose a risk for your child.  In recent years, the FDA has posted recommendations that parents should not administer over the counter cough and cold medicines to infants and toddlers under 2 years of age.  These medications can cause serious and potentially life-threatening side effects to young children in this age group.

 It’s important to remember that OTC cough and cold products do not treat the cause of the illness, rather it only combats the symptoms.    

 The FDA has not completed its review of information regarding the safety of OTC products in regard to children in the age range of 2-11.  However they do have reports of serious side effects from children in this group that have taken these medications.

The CDC recently made its own recommendations concerning OTC medications stating in response to safety concerns, the leading manufacturers of children’s cough and cold medicines are voluntarily changing the labels on these products to state that they should not be used in children younger than 4 years of age.

Previously, the labels stated that these medicines should not be given to children under age 2. Products with the old labels will not be removed immediately from store shelves but are expected to gradually be replaced with products bearing the new labels. Doctors and nurses should be aware of the new labels and alert parents and caregivers about this important change.

When in doubt always consult your pediatrician before administering  OTC mediations to your child.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an alert recently concerning the risks of window cords.

 This came after a two-year old Maryland child was strangled when he became entangled in the cords.  According to the CPSC, approximately 12 children a year die from this type of strangulation.  Manufacturers are heeding the warning.  5 million window treatments have been recalled in the last few months.

 The commission is recommending that any home where a child lives or visits, such as a grandparent’s or a daycare facility should use cordless window treatments. 

 It’s vitally important to remember that our children need adult supervision.  Make sure your home is safe for children.  Raise blinds or shades above children’s heads. Cut cords or make sure no dangling cords are within the reach of children. Move furniture and cribs away from windows to prevent toddlers from reaching dangling cords or falling fom windows.

Look for any hidden hazards that may put your  child at risk of injury or pose a serious threat to safety.

  Approximately 1 million strollers sold by Target and Babies R Us were recalled this month.  British stroller maker, McClaren and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the recall after twelve reports of amputation surfaced.

 A hinge mechanism is at the root of the problem.  The risk happens when a child’s finger is placed in the side hinge of a stroller while it unfolds. Upon opening, the stroller locks into place, and it can then cut off the tip of a child’s finger.

 Under federal law, companies are required to alert the CPSC if they find information about the safety of their products, according to the commission’s Web site. The commission can hold companies responsible for not following through on this action. The recall includes all Maclaren umbrella strollers sold in the U.S.

The recalled strollers include 11 different models, details of which can be found at the company website www.maclaren.us/recall or by calling  (877) 688-2326.