St. Cloud Personal Injury Lawyer - Child Safety

There Are Far Too Many Bullies In School

Mike Bryant — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:48:00 GMT

I've written before about the school assault bill that got passed on the last day of the legislative session, but was later vetoed. It was the anti-bullying bill. It's intent was to add sexual orientation and physical appearance to the sorts of bullying not allowed in schools.

With the veto the Governor did say that he would direct Department of Education Alice Seagren to review the existing anti-bullying policy and to contact school districts to ensure they are meeting the requirements of the current law, which was implemented in 2005.

The Minneapolis Tribune recently had a real life story that is heartbreaking. Their 12 year old son:

an honor student who faced merciless teasing on the school bus, came home on the afternoon of Feb. 8, 2006, went into the family's barn and hanged himself.

Numbers from the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs suggest that something needs to change. In Minnesota, there were 73 cases of hate crimes committed in 2008, a 48 percent increase. There was a 185 percent increase in the number of incidents involving violence, and a 20 percent increase in the number of incidents involving more than one assailant.

The Children's Exposure to Violence: A Comprehensive National Survey, was published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that:

More than 60% of youngsters had either direct or indirect exposure to violence within the past year
Nearly half the children surveyed were assaulted at least once in the past year, and more than one in 10 were injured as a result.
Nearly one-quarter of the children were the victim of a robbery, vandalism, or theft.
About 10% were victims of maltreatment (including physical and emotional abuse, neglect or a family abduction), and one in 16 were victimized sexually.

There is a debate as to if these increased numbers are due to better reporting, but the numbers are so big, it is imperative that this issue be revisited this next session.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Stork Craft Recalls 2.1 Million Drop Side Cribs

Mike Bryant — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:16:03 GMT

Today, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of British Columbia, Canada recalled 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs. drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform, or parts can become missing. In addition, the drop-side can be installed upside-down, which can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts. All of these problems can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

CPSC, Health Canada, and Stork Craft are aware of 110 incidents of drop-side detachment; 67 incidents occurred in the United States and 43 in Canada. The incidents include 15 entrapments; 12 in the U.S. and three in Canada. Four of the entrapments resulted in suffocation: a 7-month-old in Gouverneur, N.Y.; a 7-month-old in New Iberia, La.; a 6-month-old in Summersville, W.Va.; and a 9-month-old in Bronx, N.Y. Included in these incidents are 20 falls from cribs; 12 in the U.S. and eight in Canada. Fall injuries ranged from concussion to bumps and bruises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2JehETgNjc&feature=player_embedded

The cribs involved in these incidents had plastic drop-side hardware that had broken, missing, or deformed claws, connectors, tracks, or flexible tab stops; loose or missing metal spring clips; stripped screws; and/or drop-sides installed upside-down.

The cribs were sold at major retailers including BJ’s Wholesale Club, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Meijer, Sears, USA Baby, and Wal-Mart stores and online at Amazon.com, Babiesrus.com, Costco.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com from January 1993 through October 2009 for between $100 and $400.

This recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. This recall also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo that have manufacturing dates between October 1997 and December 2004. The Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo were first sold in the U.S. in July 1998 and in Canada in September 1998. The cribs were sold in various styles and finishes. The manufacture date, model number, crib name, country of origin, and the firm’s name, address, and contact information are located on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board. The firm’s insignia “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” is inscribed on the drop-side teething rail of some cribs. In Stork Craft cribs that contain the “Fisher-Price” logo, this logo can be found on the crib’s teething rail, in the manufacturer’s instructions, on the assembly instruction sheet attached to the mattress support board, and on the end panels of the Twinkle-Twinkle and Crystal crib models.The cribs were manufactured in Canada, China and Indonesia.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side. Stork Craft can be contacted at (877) 274-0277or through their website www.storkcraft.com

If you or a family member is injured by a product, you need to get immediate medical care. If there is a significant affect or injury, you should contact an attorney concerning the problem. Early investigation can include the collection of product, checking recall alerts, and the proper notifying of those who caused the problem.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Car/Bus Accident In Rochester

Mike Bryant — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:08:38 GMT

Wednesday night, there was a car/ school bus collision in Rochester. On the school bus were 22 students from Wabasha-Kellogg school district which collided with a U-turning vehicle. Eight students were taken to Saint Marys Hospital. The two people in the vehicle were also taken to the hospital. One occupant of the vehicle was air lifted by mayo one and the other was taken by ambulance. The incident is still under investigation.

In covering a past collision the Pioneer Press had an extensive list of bus accidents in the State:

March 19, 2009: An 81-year-old woman dies after crashing into a Northfield, Minn., school bus. She had failed to stop at a stop sign.

May 23, 2007: A 6-year-old boy waiting for his bus in downtown St. Paul is crushed to death after he falls under the wheels of a school bus carrying fellow students.

May 17, 2007: A 14-year-old Scandia girl and the man driving her home from school die when their minivan crashes into the back of a school bus stopped along a northern Washington County road. Eleven students riding the bus are uninjured; the bus driver suffers minor injuries.

Jan. 31, 2007: Seven people are injured, including five students, when a St. Francis school district bus crosses the center line, colliding with a car and flipping onto its side.

Dec. 8, 2006: A school bus loses control at Minnesota 65 and Constance Boulevard in Ham Lake. The bus clips a station wagon and broadsides an SUV before slamming into a traffic-signal pole, injuring 24. The bus driver said the accident was caused by brake failure.

Sept. 15, 2006: A St. Paul elementary school bus lands in the middle of Interstate 94 in rush-hour traffic. A low gas tank caused the bus to stall and roll backward. A child is taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

June 2, 2006: An empty school bus strikes and kills a boy crossing a street on his way to school in Rice Lake, Wis.

March 30, 2006: Two Chaska High School students are injured when the car they are riding in collides head-on with a school bus.

While the collisions all could have been worse, it is always scary for any parent to hear that a school bus is involved. The most resent research indicates that 17,000 children end up in the emergency room each year after being injured on the bus. Hopefully, more consideration will be given to adding seat belts to these buses.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a nice handbook that all children should review and parents should talk to them about. Each of my boys seemed to get something from it. I want to make sure on those days they take the bus they get back safely.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

One Million Baby Strollers Recalled By Maclaren

Mike Bryant — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:47:21 GMT

The first week of November, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Maclaren USA, Inc., of South Norwalk, Conn., recalled 1,000,000 Maclaren Strollers. The stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. There has been 12 finger amputations as a result of the problem.

This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

The strollers were sold at Babies“R”Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. The products were made in China.

Consumers should immediately stop using he recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit Consumers can contact Maclaren USA at (877) 688-2326 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Time For Arizona, Florida, and South Dakota To Protect Those Kids

Mike Bryant — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:23:00 GMT

The safety of booster seats for 4 to 8 year olds is beyond question. As was pointed out by my partner Joe Crumley, there are many advantages to extending the protection. The Minnesota Legislature went through the issues and with very little opposition, went for protection over the doubters. It's a group that needs to be protected. I was reminded of this last week when a mother called me and had two kids who were all shaken up after a rear end collision destroyed the back of the car. Thankfully, that's all they were and I would suspect that it was the safety of their being wrapped in booster seats that made the biggest difference.

Right now 47 states and the District of Columbia require booster seats for kids who are too big for child safety seats with harnesses, but too small to properly wear a regular seat belt. The hold outs are Arizona, Florida and South Dakota. The National Transportation Safety Board is working to change that. "If they use a booster seat and a seat belt, rather than a seat belt alone, they reduce their risk of injury by 59 percent," Deborah Hersman, head of the NTSB says. "And what the data and the facts tell us is that it's much safer to be in a booster seat that restrains your child properly in the event of an accident."

I'm a big fan of Mad Men on AMC. It was interesting last year when they showed the mother driving down the road and suddenly having to stop. The daughter, who was standing up in the back seat, went flying off the seat and ended up in the foot area on the passenger side. A different time and while a very simple scene, was indeed a scary moment. Hopefully, these states will come up to speed and join in the protection of these small children.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Seatbelt Use Is Up In Minnesota

Mike Bryant — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:11:56 GMT

I sat through the primary seatbelt law debate that went on the last day of the 2009 legislative session. It was interesting to hear the different views on the issue. But, in the end it passed and it is now the law of Minnesota. The Police can stop you for simply not wearing your seat belt. Did it have the intended effect with the recent report that overall use of seat belts in the state are up? It couldn't have hurt.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reported this week that 90 percent of people are now using seat belts. This is up from 87 percent in 2008. This is coupled with the report that highway deaths are also down this year. In 2009, 239 motorists have been killed on Minnesota roads as compared to 246 at this time last year. The two numbers do seem to run at least in part together. In the last five months, the number of unbelted traffic deaths dropped 10 percent compared with the same time period in 2008.

Looking closer at the numbers seat belt use is lowest among 16- to 29-year-olds, at 88.5 percent, and highest among 11- to 15-year-olds at 96 percent. Hopefully, the highest group will continue this practice for life. The state patrol and local police are working to increase the numbers by working overtime and using roadside spotters to help crack down on unbelted drivers and passengers this month.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Onamia Homecoming Canceled Due To Car/Bus Crash

Mike Bryant — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:56:21 GMT

Friday afternoon, a 2003 Ford Taurus, was crossing Hwy. 169 from west Curley Avenue in Coleraine, when it pulled out in front of a school bus carrying the Ely High School football team. In the car were three teenage girls. Two were taken to the hospital in critical condition and one passenger was killed. As a result of the tragedy, school officials canceled Friday night's homecoming game and dance scheduled at Onamia High School.

It is clear that a large number of family and friends will be affected by this event. Sympathy goes out to all involved for their losses. As a parent, it is always scary to hear that a school bus is involved. While there were no major injuries reported on the bus. The most resent research indicates that 17,000 children end up in the emergency room each year after being injured on the bus. It is important that we continually protect such a large group of traveling young adults.

The State patrol is still investigating what happened. It will be interesting to see if speed and inexperience driving will play a role, as it does in so many highway deaths.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Car/Bus Accident In Mendota Heights

Mike Bryant — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:53:31 GMT

Tuesday morning, there was a chilling sight of a car/ school bus collision in Mendota Heights. On the school bus were 26 students from the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy in Inver Grove Heights which collided with a Grand Prix just before 9 a.m. at Minnesota 110 and Charlton Street, west of Mendota Road. Six students were taken to the hospital and later released. The incident is still under investigation, although the heavy rain and speed may have contributed to the collision.

In covering the collision the Pioneer Press had an extensive list of bus accidents in the area:

March 19, 2009: An 81-year-old woman dies after crashing into a Northfield, Minn., school bus. She had failed to stop at a stop sign.

May 23, 2007: A 6-year-old boy waiting for his bus in downtown St. Paul is crushed to death after he falls under the wheels of a school bus carrying fellow students.

May 17, 2007: A 14-year-old Scandia girl and the man driving her home from school die when their minivan crashes into the back of a school bus stopped along a northern Washington County road. Eleven students riding the bus are uninjured; the bus driver suffers minor injuries.

Jan. 31, 2007: Seven people are injured, including five students, when a St. Francis school district bus crosses the center line, colliding with a car and flipping onto its side.

Dec. 8, 2006: A school bus loses control at Minnesota 65 and Constance Boulevard in Ham Lake. The bus clips a station wagon and broadsides an SUV before slamming into a traffic-signal pole, injuring 24. The bus driver said the accident was caused by brake failure.

Sept. 15, 2006: A St. Paul elementary school bus lands in the middle of Interstate 94 in rush-hour traffic. A low gas tank caused the bus to stall and roll backward. A child is taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

June 2, 2006: An empty school bus strikes and kills a boy crossing a street on his way to school in Rice Lake, Wis.

March 30, 2006: Two Chaska High School students are injured when the car they are riding in collides head-on with a school bus.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

12 Year Old Bicyclist Hit And Killed In Faribault

Mike Bryant — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:10:00 GMT

Yesterday, a 12 year old bicyclist was hit and killed by a car in Faribault. A vehicle was traveling eastbound vehicle on Seventh Street Northwest when it struck the boy. The collision is still under investigation.

As I have discussed before, the number of incidences with bikes has continued to grow over the last year. It's important that bike riders follow rules and that vehicles watch out for the bikes. Our condolences go out to the boys family and all of those involved.

AVOIDING BIKE-VEHICLE CRASHES Cyclists and drivers:
• Reduce distractions and watch for bikes or cars.

• Follow all stop signs and traffic signals.
Drivers:
• Give cyclists the entire lane if there's not enough room for a bike and vehicle.

• Give bikes 3 feet of clearance when passing.

• Look ahead and behind for cyclists when turning.

• Yield to bikes on sidewalks and halt before crosswalks.
Cyclists:
• Ride just right of center in a lane rather than along curbs

• Stay away from doors of parked cars.

• Bike with the flow of traffic unless there's a contra-flow bike lane.

• Use hand signals for turns and switching lanes.

• Wear helmets and use lights and reflective gear at night.

Source: City of Minneapolis

If you are in an bicycle accident, make sure to get the names, license plate numbers and insurance information of the cars involved. Get the names of anyone who indicates they saw what happened. Save the bike in its wrecked condition. Take photographs of the mva scene and the vehicle that hit you. If you witness an accident, check to see if everyone is OK and stay around or at least give the drivers your contact information. If you are injured, seek the advice of an attorney who does that kind of work and who can explain your coverages and rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

MDPS Looking At Number Of Minnesota Kids Killed In Collisions

Mike Bryant — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:25:00 GMT

There were four children killed so far this year on Minnesota Highways. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety reports none were properly restrained. Joe Crumley, my partner posted a great article about the need for these seats recently. The Department pointed out some vital safety tips:

The most common child passenger safety mistakes are:
- Turning a child from a rear-facing restraint to a forward-facing restraint too soon.
- Restraint is not secured tight enough — the seat should not shift more than one inch side-to-side or out from the seat.
- Harness on the child is not tight enough — if you can pinch harness material, it’s too loose.
-Retainer clip is up too high or too low — should be at the child’s armpit level.
-The child is in the wrong restraint — children must progress through different restraints as they age and grow; most often parents/caregivers neglect to use booster seats and “rush” children into adult seat belts that don’t properly fit the child. Use a booster seat until the child is 8 years old, unless the child is 4′9″or taller.

From 2004–2008, 41 children under age 7 were killed on state roads. Nearly 60 percent of these children were either unrestrained or incorrectly restrained. Also in that time period, 14 of the 17 children ages four to seven killed in crashes were not properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat. These are vital protections at all drivers with children have got to pay attention to.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant