Articles Posted in Injuries to Minors and Children

Boredom has never killed anyone – or has it? Many children at this time of year grow frustrated with the shorter days, long school days, and hectic schedules. It’s not unusual for children to wander out in the warmer weather and this, combined with boredom, can mean injuries. Here’s how to keep your kids safer and not bored, from spring break to summer:

1) Give your kids plenty of options. Enroll your children in good programs and activities that they enjoy. They’ll learn new skills, socialize with other kids, and stay in a supervised setting. Just make sure that any activities you sign your children up for are safe and are operated in a way designed to prevent injuries.

2) Set safety rules – and stick with them. Have a list of rules about bicycling, free time, and driving. For example, rules for your teen drivers will include no driving while texting and no driving after drinking. For younger kids who like to bicycle, set rules about wearing a helmet. If more children wore helmets each time they biked, there would be fewer Florida brain injuries in the emergency rooms. Along with each rule, ensure that you have penalties or consequences in case your children break the rules. Be sure to enforce safety rules.

3) Know what your kids are up to and who they spend time with. Supervising your children, spending time with teens, and listening can help you understand whether your children are worried about something or are taking part in something potentially unsafe. Spend more time together in order to ensure that everyone in your family is familiar with each other and each other’s activities.

4) Plan some fun activities for this time of year. Spending time together as a family helps keep everyone from getting too restless or too anxious. Plan a vacation, a day trip, or just some time together to reconnect. It’s a great way to find out what is going on.

5) Make sure your children know the consequences of dangerous activities. If you have a new driver in your home, ask your local police station or fire fighter’s association about their Florida drunk driving educational programs – show your teen driver the true consequences of drunk driving accidents. If your young children like to ride skateboards or bicycles without helmets, show them the impact of Florida brain injuries on other children’s lives. Local hospitals and police authorities often have informational materials you can use.

Continue reading →

It’s something that many parents do not consider, but a major cause of Florida injuries to children comes from tip-over accidents. These accidents take place when a child pushes or pulls a heavy object – such as a television – over onto themselves. Tip-over accidents often result in fatal Florida brain injuries for small children and serous injuries for older children.

In 2009, a young Florida girl was killed when a television tipped over on her. Most years, there are a few such tragedies – and in many cases they are quite preventable. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, tip-over accidents are quite common and cause serious injuries each year. The most common culprits are televisions, but shelves, bookcases, appliances, and dressers also mean a high risk of tip-overs. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of one child is killed every two weeks due to tip-over accidents.

The most common risk occurs when a child falls against, climbs up on, or pulls against an appliance or piece of furniture. It’s not just the pieces of furniture that are a risk, either. According to Safe Kids Inland Empire at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, objects which may be on top of a piece of furniture may also fall on top of a child, causing potentially life-threatening injuries. According to Safe Kids Inland Empire at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, objects falling on children is a leading cause of death among children. Tip-overs and falling objects are also a leading cause of Florida brain injuries among children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was informed of almost 200 tip-over deaths between 2000 and 2008. All incidents involved children who were 8 years of age or younger. In about 93% of cases, children were between 5 and 8, a time when experts note children are most actively exploring the world around them and may have the strength to tip over larger items. Between 2000 and 2008, over 16,000 children ages 5 and younger visited ER for injuries related to tip-over accidents.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are several things that parents can do to help prevent tip-over deaths. An important preventative action is to walk through the home and look for any tip-over dangers. All furniture and appliances should be attached to walls using screws, wall straps, and brackets. Televisions – especially older models – should be secured on low stands so that they cannot be tipped over. Some experts have suggested that newer flat televisions are in fact safer. They do not have the tendency to tip over as readily and are generally secured to the wall.

Continue reading →

During the holidays, childhood injuries and Florida personal injuries sustained by children are all too common. There are many hazards which can create dangers for younger children, especially:

1) Candles and burn hazards. At this time of year, many of us decorate our homes with holiday lights and even with candles. Unfortunately, candles, especially, do pose a serious risk. Children are admitted to emergency rooms during the holiday season in many cases because they have sustained a Florida burn injury after being drawn to a flame. If you have young children at home, you may want to avoid candles entirely. If you do use candles, keep them well out of the reach of children. While holiday lights are safer, they can still pose a burn hazard. Make sure that your lights burn cool and replace any worn or damaged lights promptly.

2) Toy hazards. For children, toys are a large part of the holiday season. However, all too often, they can also be a hazard. Each year, children choke on toys or are injured by dangerous toys. Make sure that any toys your children receive are in good condition, not on a recall list, and age-appropriate. Carefully review toys before allowing your children to play with them and dispose of toy packaging promptly, since plastic wrapping around toys does pose a choking hazard for small children.

3) Car accidents and drunk driving accidents. Unfortunately, Florida drunk driving accidents spike around the holiday season, as many people go to holiday parties and make poor decisions after drinking. It is not just vehicle drivers who get injured in these accidents. All too often, children are also injured as they are passengers in vehicles.

4) Choking hazards. The holiday season is often full of choking hazards for very small children. Loose toy parts, ornaments, wrapping materials, even candies and treats can all pose a choking hazard. It is important to keep all small items away from very young children and to practice good child supervision, even during the very hectic holiday season.

5) Food-borne illness and other illnesses. Children take some years to develop a strong immune system, simply because they have been exposed to far fewer illnesses than adults. Children are also more prone to have serious complications from even standard seasonal illnesses, such as colds and flu. Further, the holiday season means eating, and that can mean more food-borne illnesses, especially in cases where food is not cooked or preserved correctly.

Continue reading →

Fisher-Price, a giant in children toy manufacturing and children’s products, is recalling more than 10 million toys, high chairs, and tricycle amid concerns over product safety. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least two of the products which have been recalled have already been linked to injuries.

About 7 million Fisher-Price Tough Trikes and Fisher-Price Trikes have been recalled, and at least ten children have been injured by these tricycles. According to the information which the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received, at least six children injured by the products required medical attention for their injuries. The Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes reportedly have a plastic ignition key which protrudes near the seat. Children can easily sit on, strike, or fall on the key, injuring themselves. The tricycles are very popular with children and some feature Barbie or other popular children’s characters.

In addition to the tricycles, Fisher-Price is also recalling more than 1 million high chairs, including the Easy Clean, Healthy Care, and Close to Me High Chairs. There have been fourteen reports of injuries and problems with these high chairs and according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least seven children injured by the high chairs required stitches. A peg on the back of the high chairs is designed to help parents store the tray. However, children can strike or fall on this peg, injuring themselves.

In addition, Fisher-Price has recalled over 2.8 million Baby Playzone Crawl and Slide Arcade toys, Baby Playzone Crawl and Cruise Playground toys, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall toys, 1-2-3 Tetherball toys, Ocean Wonders Kick and Crawl Aquarium toys, and Bat and Score Goal toys. With these toys, three is a choking hazard because these toys feature a ball which has a valve which can detach. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 50 reports of such incidents. Fisher-Price is further recalling 100,000 Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand ‘n Play Rampway toys. These toys also pose a choking hazard because the wheels detach.

Parents who believe they may have the affected toys can visit the Fisher-Price website for more information. Fisher-Price has offered to replace or repair the affected products. This recall is also a good reminder that even toys on store shelves and toys with well-known brands can pose a hazard. Parents need to remain aware of Florida product liability laws and the hazards which can cause Florida injuries to children and minors.

Continue reading →

According to organizations such as World Against Toys Causing Harm’s (W.A.T.C.H.) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), summertime is a peak time for injuries to minors and children. As more kids and teens enjoy their summer vacation, they spend more time unsupervised and this can lead to accidents. In addition, many Florida injuries to teens and minors occur due to toys and recreation items. According to WATCH and the CPSC, there are several things that parents can do to help prevent these types of injuries:

1) Do not assume a product is safe. Parents should check for recalled items regularly. Some very popular and widely available toys are recalled each year, and this always tends to catch parents and kids off-guard. Register toys and electronic gadgets when you buy them – to be altered about warnings and recalls – and check the CPSC site regularly for recalls. Even if a product is not recalled, check its condition and use your common sense. A product may not be recalled but may still have unsafe sharp edges. A small child chewing on a toy may make that toy unsafe.

2) Ensure that children have correct safety gear for in-line skate shoes, scooters, skateboards, and in-line skates. Helmets, elbow pads and knee pads can help prevent many of the injuries emergency rooms see each summer. The CPSC notes that up to 90% of bicycle accident fatalities can be prevented with proper use of a helmet. Each year, thousands of Florida brain injuries are caused by bicyclists not wearing helmets correctly. Do not let this happen to your child.

Florida’s children are out of school and eager to take advantage of the summer. However, the summer – and hot Florida temperatures – can pose a number of risks to children:

1) Heat-related illness. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are a common problem in children, who tend to play outside in hot weather and may not take breaks for water. It is important to supervise children and take frequent rests for water or fruit juice drinks. Playing in a shaded area can also help.

2) Burn injuries. Many summertime Florida burn injuries involving children are caused by children touching hot playground equipment (such as slides) or other hot surfaces. Many sunburn injuries involving children are also reported each year. It is a good idea to apply sunscreen liberally and frequently and to test playground surfaces before letting children play on them.

Many Florida parents are concerned with preventing injuries to children and minors. Serious childhood injuries are the dread of every parent, but childhood injuries continue to be a major cause of emergency room visits each year in Homestead, Hollywood, and Miami. Worse, some childhood injuries – such as Florida burn injuries or brain injuries – result in life-long impairments. Since parents cannot supervise their children around the clock, a major part of parenting involves teaching children basic safety rules. The best way to do this is to:

1) Be specific. Children might not understand what you mean when you say “Don’t play near trucks.” Children need to know exactly what to do and what not to do in various situations. Role playing is a good way to teach children safety rules. For example, practicing a fire escape plan is better than explaining to your child what to do in the event of a fire. Most communities and emergency response departments have educational material for parents and teachers that makes learning safety rules fun.

2) Make and enforce consequences. Children should know that when they break safety rules, they will miss out on special treats or fun. This will help enforce the importance of the rules and will ensure that children are motivated to follow them.

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: a phone call from summer camp, announcing an injury. Fortunately, serious injuries at camp are relatively rare. However, if your child has sustained an injury at summer camp, there are a few things you need to do:

1) Focus on your child’s medical attention first. While you may be angry or upset, stay calm and find out where you child is right now, what medical attention he or she is getting, and what the prognosis is. Then, contact the doctor or hospital in charge of your child’s care. Make sure the staff have all information about your child’s allergies and any existing medical conditions your child has. You do not want a medical error to complicate your child’s recovery. As soon as you can, you will want to travel to see your child and help him or her through the injury.

2) Start getting answers and gathering documentation. Once you are calmer and have ensured that your child has had proper medical care, contact the adult in charge of supervision at the camp and ask for details about what happened to cause your child’s injury. Make sure that you find out – and write down – who you spoke to, the details of the conversation, and the time and date of the discussion.

Suffocation and strangulation are two risks that cause many fatalities and injuries to children each year. Since children and infants have smaller airway passages, they are not prone to suffocation. As well, young children and infants simply have not developed enough to know what to do if they suddenly cannot breathe. An infant does not have the motor skills to move and gasp for air, while a young child who is suffocating will often panic. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are several things that parents can do to help prevent suffocation and strangulation:

1) Watch out for plastic bags. Plastic bags from consumer product packaging or from the grocery store can pose a serious hazard for small children and infants. If you have small children in your home, dispose of all plastic bags and wrapping materials at once. Be sure to remove packaging and wrapping material from all children’s toys and products as well.

2) Watch out for small toys and objects. Marbles, coins, and a dozen other smaller items around the house can pose a choking and suffocation hazard for infants and small children. Children who are just learning to crawl are especially vulnerable, as their curiosity may lead them to sample any small items found under furniture or on the floor. It is essential to be vigilant to avoid any small items from falling into the hands of small children.

A new study by a group of US researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus, Ohio’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital has found that accidents and injuries involving children occur often during holiday times, but most holiday injuries are not related to the holidays. Most injuries during these times of year actually are related to common incidents, such as sports injuries or slip and fall injuries in the home.

Traditionally, many people have assumed that the majority of childhood injuries during holidays such as Memorial Day or Independence Day include burn injuries from fireworks or other holiday-related injuries. In fact, sports injuries, play-time-related injuries, and bad falls were the most common injuries reported for children during various holiday seasons during the year.

The study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Ohio’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that children’s injuries were most likely to occur around Labor Day. The second most likely holiday for a childhood injury or accident was Memorial Day, followed by Independence Day and Halloween. The study will be published in the May issue of Pediatrics journal.