InjuryBoard Local Blogs

Power Windows: Risk for Children?

Beth Janicek — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:26:29 GMT

Since the introduction of power windows in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, injuries and deaths have occurred due to safety hazards related to strangulation. The consumer group KidsandCars.org in Leawood, Kansas said in a press conference on November 2, 2009, that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is greatly underestimating the number of people injured or killed by power windows. They want the federal agency to require automakers to equip all power windows with an auto-reverse feature that would automatically stop and open if it encountered an obstruction while closing. However, the NHTSA says that several new safety requirements involving power windows show it is doing a good job tackling what it describes as “a small, but persistent problem.”

Despite the discrepancy over specific numbers, the agency has recently required automakers to make power windows safer. Starting Oct. 1, 2008, all passenger vehicles required power switches that are recessed, and by Oct. 1, 2010, power windows may be closed only by pulling up on a switch. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2008 requires the agency to consider whether to require an auto-reverse feature on all power windows.

After looking at several alternatives the agency has concluded that auto-reverse is not needed on all power windows and that the earlier changes to the switches will eliminate “50 to 75 percent of all power window-related fatalities.” In its deliberations, that agency is focusing on two possibilities. First, require all one-touch windows to have auto-reverse, and second, require those one-touch windows to meet a tougher United States standard that would stop the window more quickly.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Beth Janicek

Investigation Of Contaminated Heparin Syringes Highlights Medication Safety Issues

Wayne Parsons — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:44:50 GMT

Heparin is a biological compound often used as an anticoagulant, administered to patients through a pre-prepared syringe. It minimizes the danger of such diseases as deep-vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and NSTEMI. Since its commercialization in 1936, Heparin has saved countless lives; a recent investigation in the Archive of Internal Medicine, however, suggests that Heparin injections have been responsible for a recent outbreak of bloodstream infections.

To be fair, the problem doesn’t lie with the heparin itself – it lies with the manner in which it is packaged and prepared. Approximately a year ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began examining incidents of bloodstream infections in health care facilities around the country. The infections took the form of Serratia marcescens, a fairly common bacteria that can often be found it people’s bathrooms and can, in especially serious situations, cause illnesses like meningitis and pneumonia. It appeared that the infection incidences corresponded with the source of the needles; a subsequent factory investigation revealed that manufacturer was not adhering to FDA standards. The company (whose name has been withheld) closed down all medical production and issued a voluntary recall. The dangerous needles are no longer on the market, but their existence has taught us some important lessons about drug regulation.

The authors of the investigation conclude that “close collaboration among federal agencies, public health authorities and clinicians was critical to the identification of the cause of this outbreak.” Furthermore, they suggest several preventative methods for the future. First, original manufacturer should label all of their products; currently, intermediary companies put their names on medical merchandise, making it difficult to trace equipment to its starting point. Second, since not all batches of the syringes contained infectious material, investigations must contain both epidemiologic and laboratory components (in case laboratory tests happen to use uncontaminated specimens). Most importantly, we must support the FDA. With the current trend towards medical globalization and the dangers it holds, it is more important than ever to sufficiently staff and fund this safety organization.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Overdoses Prompt FDA to Suggest Conformity of Dosage Delivery Devices in OTC Liquid Drug Products

Paul Napoli — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:10:50 GMT

November 9, 2009

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had released a Guidance for Industry regarding the dosage delivery devices included in the packaging of over-the-counter (OTC) liquid drug products.

The Guidance, intended for companies manufacturing, marketing or distributing OTC liquid drug products such as elixirs, suspensions, solutions and syrups recommends that markings on the included dosage delivery devices such as calibrated cups, droppers, syringes and spoons must not be false or misleading and must be clear and consistent with the drug product’s directions for use. The delivery device packaged with these drug products has calibrated units of measure marked on the device intended to facilitate proper product dose dispensing by the patient, parent or caregiver.

The FDA has received numerous reports of accidental overdose attributed, in part, to markings on measured dosage cups for OTC liquid drug products that were misleading or incompatible with the labeled dosage directions for use and has issued this Guidance because of ongoing safety concerns about the serious potential for accidental drug overdoses, especially in children.

The FDA considers any written, printed or graphic matter, including measurements on dosage delivery devices packaged with OTC liquid drug products to be labeling and therefore must conform to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Products found to be in violation of the Act are considered misbranded and the FDA issues a Warning Letter to the manufacturer. Despite these efforts, through routine monitoring and surveillance programs, the FDA has become aware that an increasing number of liquid drug products have dosage delivery devices that are incompatible with labeled product dosage directions.

This Guidance for Industry does not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, Guidance documents describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.

If you or your child has suffered adverse effects or overdose of an over-the-counter (OTC) liquid drug because the dosage delivery device contained markings that were false, misleading or inconsistent with the drug product’s directions for use, please contact the attorneys of Napoli Bern Ripka Law Firm LLP at 1-888-529-4669.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Paul Napoli

Tort Reform Begins at Home with Maintenance

Steve Lombardi — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:01:00 GMT

According to the Cedar Rapids Fire Department the fire started on October 8^th 2009 was started by a 3 year old boy playing with matches or a lighter. What’s still unclear is how a 3-year-old obtained the matches or lighter. Another question all parents should ask is why the batteries had not been replaced in the smoke detectors making them operational. When was the last time you tested the detectors in your house?

Here is the link to the story. One-year-old Diarrana Lockett who was severely injured in the fire has since had her condition improve, but further details beyond that are still unavailable. Firefighters had originally responded to the townhouse at 3000 J Street S.W. around 4:33 p.m. Thursday and found the girl on the second floor next to a mattress. Her grandmother, Lesia Funchess had put the young girl to bed at about 3 p.m., sometime after that her grandson had gone upstairs then came back down reporting that there was a problem upstairs.

The grandmother and an unidentified neighbor tried to put the fire out, but were unsuccessful in their attempts. The fire department believes that the fire was started on the mattress.

Part of child-proofing a home is removing temptation. Another part is checking batteries in smoke detectors. Children have a natural curiosity that at times leads to danger. This appears to be one of those situations. House fires like this one should be a warning or an example for other families to get busy checking batteries and the location of matches and lighters. Make them inaccessible.

We wish the families well and if our law firm can be of any help to others with legal matters arising due to house fires, you can contact me through the Lombardi Law Firm website. House fires create legal issues with the insurance companies refusing to pay claims or offering less than the owners believe they are owed. Also in the case of wrongful death there can be claims involving insurance coverage. We assist with each type of claim.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

6 Dead in Oklahoma Car Accidents over the Weekend

Jeremy Thurman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:38:42 GMT

It was a deadly weekend in Oklahoma. According to the Tulsa World six (6) people died in Oklahoma car wrecks over this past weekend. Many of these collisions were the result of individuals simply failing to obey Rules of the Road that common sense teaches us. For example, these Oklahoma car accidents were the result of individuals failing to stop at stop signs, failing to pay proper attention to the roadway, drifting left of center and head on collisions from driving the wrong way.

The sad aspect of these Oklahoma car wrecks is that several passengers were killed. You the driver are responsible for those you transport. I can only encourage all Oklahomans to pay special attention to the road when you take the responsibility to transport others.

If you or loved one has been injured or a loved one killed in an auto accident, McIntyre Law, P.C. has the experience and knowledge needed to successfully handle your auto accident case. Contact us immediately after an auto accident and we will discuss the situation with you and come up with a plan of action to help you get compensation for your injuries, property damage or a loved one’s wrongful death. Visit www.mcintyrelaw.com or call toll free 1-866-917-5200 to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeremy Thurman

1 Dead, 4 Injured in Oklahoma City Automobile Accident

Jeremy Thurman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:26:38 GMT

One person is dead while 4 others are injured in an overnight automobile accident. About 11:15 p.m. Sunday a driver apparently lost control near NW 10th and Shawnee Avenue. The car veered off the roadway and hit several cars underneath an awning at an automobile repair shop.

According to newsok.com, one person died in the automobile accident while 4 others were taken to local emergency rooms. Our thoughts and prayers are with those injured and the deceased.

However, I do want to mention an important aspect of this type of automobile accident that many Oklahomans fail to realize. If you are a passenger in an automobile wreck that occurs in Oklahoma you have a right to recover from the negligent driver. Simply, that means the negligent driver’s insurance company owed the passengers for any negligence of its drivers.

So if you or a loved one has been a passenger in a car driven by a negligent driver in an Oklahoma automobile accident you have a right to recover from that driver. If you or loved one has been injured or a loved one killed in an auto accident, McIntyre Law, P.C. has the experience and knowledge needed to successfully handle your auto accident case. Contact us immediately after an auto accident and we will discuss the situation with you and come up with a plan of action to help you get compensation for your injuries, property damage or a loved one’s wrongful death. Visit www.mcintyrelaw.com or call toll free 1-866-917-5200 to discuss your case and find out the best course of action to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeremy Thurman

Burn Safely This Fall

Pete Mackey — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:17:04 GMT

Fire is an alluring medium. Kids love it - so do adults. Watching kindling slowly take flame is like watching magic. The Fall means leaf and trash burning in back yards all across the country.

While everyone knows to watch kids around fire, there's a hidden danger that many folks are unaware of - chances are the gas can in your garage does not have a flame arrester installed in the spout. A flame arrester is a small ball or pane of wire mesh material that fits in the spout of the gas can. It lets the fuel flow out, but lowers the temperature below the flash point for the vapors in the can, which prevents explosions.. These arresters cost less than a dollar to install.

Still, you ask, why would anyone put themselves in that situation in the first place? Well, consider the following scenario and see if it rings any bells. You have been working around the yard all day. The weather is crisp and cool and dusk approaches. You had been burning leaves and tree limbs, but the fire went out an hour ago. Your son wants to start a fire and the idea of the warmth it will provide sounds good to you. So you decide to pour some gas on the pile, not realizing that there are still some smoldering embers ... That is the recipe for an explosion.

A few tips to remember:

- When you buy a gas can, buy one with an installed flame arrester.
- Never use gasoline as an accellerant. There are many safer alternatives.
- Make sure that your burn area is clear (overhead, as well) of flammable debris.
- Use an enclosed space (like a 55 gallon drum) instead of a pile. Cover the top of the space with a heavy mesh cover to keep sparks in.
- Don't burn on windy days.
- Keep the water hose handy.
- Never burn aerosol cans.
- If children have access to the burn area (and they probably will), make sure that they understand the danger present and then assume that they will not follow your instructions.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Pete Mackey

Five More Die This Weekend From Collisions On Minnesota Roads

Mike Bryant — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:54:00 GMT

There has been some tragic weekends this year on Minnesota roads. It was warm again, so did people start speeding up?

Two people were killed Sunday morning when they were hit head on by a pickup truck in the southbound lane of I-35 at Hwy. 8.
A 27-year-old Minneapolis man died Friday in a one-car rollover crash on Interstate 35 in Pine County.
A South Dakota teen was killed in a one-vehicle crash south of Beaver Creek on Friday.
A 63-year-old man died Saturday after he suffered a broken neck and other injuries in the Oct. 12 single-vehicle crash in Chaska.

These deaths, like any other on Minnesota roads is particularly unfortunate considering it comes after the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (MDPS) reported that overall the number of highway deaths has been down for 2009 with more than 300 people having died this year in Minnesota traffic collisions. There were 458 deaths in 2008, which was a drop from 510 in 2007. Sorrow for the family of all of these people that were killed goes out.

It will be important to look back and try to figure out why there were certain clusters of highway weekend deaths in 2009.

Another Deadly Weekend On Minnesota Roads, Mike Bryant, October 10, 2009 8:28 PM

Worries On The Rise That This Is Becoming Another Deadly Weekend On Minnesota Roads, Mike Bryant | June 28, 2009 9:42 AM

Another Weekend Of Increased Minnesota Highway Deaths Continues To Cause Concerns, Mike Bryant | June 06, 2009 11:14 PM

Deadly Weekend On Minnesota Roads,Mike Bryant , May 25, 2009 12:12 AM

These are way to many deadly weekends. As with any death in a Minnesota motor vehicle collision, there are many issues that will need to be reviewed. My partner, Joe Crumley, addressed this topic in a recent article for the Minnesota Lawyers Trial magazine. I was interviewed last year on the same topic.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Hurricane Ida - does central Florida need to worry?

Bob Grode — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:52:10 GMT

Is it still hurricane season? We have been blessed with a very mild hurricane season but Ida is making her way across the Gulf of Mexico headed towards the panhandle. What does this mean for central Florida? Mostly it means taking stock of your insurance policies and making sure you have the right coverages. Nothing can be done about those policies when the storm is bearing down, but we in central Florida appear to be looking at maybe some rain and a little wind. So take the time to review your insurance policies and speak to your agent to make sure all is in order. After the storm takes your roof off is not the time to realize your policy is not providing the coverage you need.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bob Grode

4 Consecutive Suicides at Local High School Stuns Palo Alto Residents

David Mittleman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:47:40 GMT

Suicide is tragedy enough for one family, but what if it becomes the latest trend amongst teenagers? Unfortunately, this became a reality at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California where four students have committed suicide in the last six months. In fact, all four of the students committed suicide in the same way: by standing in front of an oncoming train.

According to psychology experts, “suicide clusters”, the name given to groups of suicides, account for 3-5% of all suicide deaths each year. However, they are almost entirely exclusive to teenagers and young adults. The reason suicide clusters occur, experts argue, is that adolescence is a time of great transition for most teenagers. Furthermore, modern teenagers live in a time period where it is possible to obtain instant information on their peers’ activities from networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. Therefore, it is easy to learn of the most recent suicide tragedies in any given area. Unfortunately, when there is so much publicity through networking sites, as well as the media, it is common to see copycat behavior from already vulnerable teenagers.

Nevertheless, networking sites can also be useful in suicide prevention. For example, in the wake of the most recent suicide tragedies in Palo Alto, students from Gunn High School started a blog called HMGGMH or Henry M. Gunn Gives Me Hope. The students also started a peer counseling group called ROCK (Reach Out. Care. Know) that encourages discussion and support amongst students. Experts state that groups of this type can help “demystify” teen suicide and take away from the sensationalizing of suicide as a viable solution to problems.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman