Boston Child Brain Injury Blog

A thought-provoking article out last week brought up some significant concerns about serious injuries that many young football players experience while out on the field.

In the article, Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University’s School of Medicine addressed the issue of how teenage football players are sustaining severe but unfortunately common injuries that professional players go through, such as multiple concussions and other head injuries.  Dr. McKee stated that the younger a player is who has this type of injury, the more harm it will be for that player in the long-term if the player continues to suffer similar or worse injuries.

The article highlighted the tragic case of 17-year-old high school senior Nathan Stiles, who played running back for a school near Kansas City.  Stiles was attempting to tackle an opponent on the field, which left him dazed, complaining that his head hurt, and soon after that he was holding his head and yelling.  He then collapsed on the sidelines of the football game and later died at an area hospital hours later. 

It was reported that Stiles experienced severe bleeding in his brain, that essentially made his heart and lungs stop.  Stiles had sustained a previous concussion weeks earlier and the school approved Stiles to play again soon after. 

Dr. McKee has testified on Capitol Hill regarding how the National Football League must address the issue of concussions happening over and over among its players and that this trauma will most likely lead to more permanent damage. In addition, her lab has discovered a degenerative disease found in the brains of deceased football players called “chronic traumatic encephalopathy,” which occurs with severe and repeated trauma to the head.  Dr. Mckee’s conclusion is that the constant hits sustained by football players really need to be evaluated and, ideally, become much less.

One of the recommendations that shone through in the article is that now just might be the time to consider keeping a young player benched for at least a couple of months if he or she experiences a concussion, or some other type of head injury, to ensure the overall health of that player. 

Young sports players are still growing, and to encourage them to get back on the field after insufficient recovery from a serious head injury is to encourage them to potentially face even greater injuries. 

According to the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA), concussions can happen all too often on the football field.  High school sports, as a whole, result in players experiencing roughly 60,000 concussions each year. 

BIA-MA has focused their attention on helping coaches, sports staff, players, emergency personnel and parents learn more about the signs and symptoms of a concussion.  Furthermore, they want to make sure that all of these groups truly understand the pressing need for immediate medical attention if a student were to suffer such a head injury.  A faster response typically decreases the risk of permanent injury.

Dr. McKee suggests for student and professional players to stop and think about what the future holds for them with every head injury that they have experienced and will experience while out on the field. 

And while reducing the traumatic tackles and hard-hitting physical contact that football players experience (and the fans faithfully cheer for) seem nearly impossible, proper prevention and care for head injuries need to have starting roles in any team’s playbook.

If your child has suffered a serious head or brain injury as a result of an accident or because of the negligence of another, please order your free copy of the Massachusetts child injury book.  

Contact a Boston brain injury attorney at Kiley Law Group and we will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. We serve clients in the greater Boston area. To schedule your free case evaluation, don’t hesistate and call today at 800-930-8145.

Just in time for Halloween, we came across an eye-opening article out yesterday that pointed out that kids may be getting their hands on some toxic products in their own homes, mistaking the products for candy or other sweet treats.   

The article points out that certain household products, such as cleaning materials or prescription drugs, may look like welcoming snacks to younger children.  Parents might not even realize just how much the presentation of a product can appeal to their kids.  Refillable bottles of glass cleaner may look like blue juice to a 4-year-old and they just might want to quench their thirst.  Aspirin tablets may look like candy to your child and the most candy-centered holiday is right around the corner.

The Poison Prevention Council (PPC) finds that there are over 2 million reported poisonings on an annual basis and over 90 percent of these reports occur in the home.  Another telling statistic is that most of the non-fatal reported poisonings occur in kids who are age six and younger, who have mistaken these toxic products for candy or something to play with. 

In order to keep your kid safe this Halloween, when trick or treating is in full force, here are some key reminders.

- Keep all cleaning products for your house locked away in tall cabinets or in the garage on a high shelf, so that the products will be out of sight and out of mind for your little one

- Keep your medications up high and in locked cabinets as well, because bright bottles may be appealing to your child and look like they might contain candy.  If possible, keep the bottles locked up or they may try to find a way to get to them

 - Try to leave all the original labeling on the product or medicines for easy identification

- Refrain from telling your child that medicine is “candy” just to have them cooperate

- Have a list of contact numbers handy at all times in the event of an emergency.  Family, friends, neighbors, 911, poison control—any numbers that may be of help if you were to need them.  If needed, get the number for your local poison control center

 - Signs of poisoning depend on what the child may have consumed, but common symptoms are vomiting and becoming drowsy or fatigued.  There may still be some trace of the product on the child’s face or mouth if it was ingested or burn marks from more corrosive products.  You also may be able to smell the product from close by

With all of that information on your plate, this next article will probably take away your appetite.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a policy in place that monitors certain defects in foods, such as insect parts and levels of mold, known as the Defects Level Handbook.  This policy sets forth the tolerated amount of defects in a certain product—that is, some products are allowed to have defects in them until they reach a certain level. 

The FDA has set these defect levels based on the premise that it just isn’t realistic to grow, harvest and then process products on a global scale that will be pristine from their start as small seeds to their end as square boxes in the grocery aisles. 

To be even clearer about this and to use an example from the extensive and alarming listing of affected foods and products, consider this:  Ground cinnamon averages over 400 insect pieces and averages over 11 rodent hairs for every 50 grams. 

While we’re informed that these levels are “natural or unavoidable defects in foods that present no health hazards for humans,” does that make it any less unsettling?

With Halloween just days away, here’s a more fitting example to end with: Chocolate has an average of over 90 insect pieces and over 3 rodent hairs for every 100 grams tested.

Trick or treat!

The main guidelines for selecting a proper child safety seat deal with the age and weight of your child. It is crucial to follow age and weight guidelines when buying a child safety seat for your child. This is because child safety seats are made only for certain weight limits, and when you incorrectly use a child seat, it can prove ineffective in preventing injury—including a head injury—to your child in the event of a Massachusetts car accident. 

Child safety seat weight guidelines include: 

• Infants under age 1, or children who weigh less than 20 pounds – must ride in rear-facing infant or convertible seat in the back seat.
• Children 20 to 40 pounds – must ride in forward-facing seats (either a convertible seat or forward-facing seat with a harness) in the back seat.
• Children 40 to 80 pounds – must ride in a booster seat in the back seat. 

Secondly, when you select your seat, make sure your child safety seat meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. If a seat is missing parts, is cracked, looks used or isn’t properly labeled with its manufacturing date, don’t buy it. You’ll want to make sure you know the seat’s manufacturer and model number, so you’ll be aware of recalls. 

Child safety seat guidelines are set in place for the protection of your child. If you don’t follow weight guidelines, you risk your child sustaining further injury in the case of an accident. If you don’t follow safety guidelines by buying a FMVSS certified child safety seat, the product may prove defective when you need it most. 

If you fail to follow proper height, weight and safety standard guidelines for your child safety seat, and your child is injured in a Boston area car accident, you may be limited in the compensation you could receive in a child injury claim. 

If your child has recently been injured in a Boston area car accident, and you have concerns about your child injury claim, contact a Massachusetts child injury attorney, who can help you determine the strength of your case. 

When to Contact a Child Injury Lawyer
When your child has suffered serious head injury in a Boston area car accident, the Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group can work to represent your child while you focus on your loved one’s recovery. 

BEFORE you sign any insurance forms, order a FREE copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s child injury book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. Then, call Tom Kiley at 1-800-930-8145 or send Tom a confidential message to schedule a FREE case evaluation.

Halloween is a holiday filled with fun, mischief and, of course, candy. Trick or treating is a trademark of the spooky holiday. But whenever children, costumes and traffic are combined, the safety risks are obvious. One of the best ways to prevent a child injury during trick or treating is to provide constant adult supervision. 

Some other Halloween safety tips you’ll want to give to your children when they will be trick or treating include: 

• stay in a group and make sure everyone knows where you are going;
• cross the street in crosswalks only (and look both ways before crossing);
• cross the street with your entire group;
• walk on the side of the street facing traffic (when a sidewalk or driveway isn’t available);
• stay only in well-lit neighborhoods;
• only go to houses that have porch lights lit;
• never go into homes for candy; and
• if you have teenagers who will not have adult supervision, review their route and curfew before they leave. 

In most cases, following some of the above Halloween safety tips will allow you to have a fun, safe holiday. In some unfortunate circumstances, severe child injury can occur, whether from a pedestrian accident, slip and fall injury or dog bite attack.

If your child has been injured, contact a Boston child injury lawyer to review the circumstances surrounding your case. An attorney can help you determine whether you have a solid child injury claim, can help collect evidence to substantiate your claim, and can represent you throughout all legal proceedings. 

Hiring a Boston Child Injury Lawyer 
After a severe child injury, your priority should be your child’s recovery and well being, not dealing with insurance adjusters and tedious legal proceedings. If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this FREE BOOK, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury.

The Boston child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and can help you with your child injury case. For a FREE Evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME SAFETY
Face paint can lend that crowning touch to children’s Halloween costumes. After all, what’s a ghost without that layer of pale, white sheen, or a Count Dracula without that smidge of red paint around the mouth? 

While face paint has been touted in recent years as a much safer alternative to masks on Halloween, it doesn’t come without its risks, either. Non-toxic face paint has been encouraged by child safety groups such as Safe Kids USA, but can also cause adverse reactions in some circumstances. 

According to an October 2009 USA Today article, an entire troop of 43 Girl Scouts reported red, bumpy rashes from using Shanghai Art Stationary brand face paint in February 2009. And since the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) can’t recall defective face paint, it can only request manufacturers to pull products off the market. 

According to the article, some FDA Halloween safety tips for use of face paint as part of children’s Halloween costumes include: 

• If the paint has a bad smell, throw it away; it could be contaminated.
• Try a small amount of face paint on one area of the face a few days before you plan to use it (this should reveal any allergic reactions).
• Don’t allow your kids to sleep with their face paint on.  

While face masks may not cause facial irritation or allergic reactions, they do pose a serious risk for a severe child head injury in the event of a pedestrian accident. If a child is wearing a mask that restricts their line of vision, they may not be able to see an approaching car.  

You can do your part to help cut down on your child’s risk for a pedestrian accident this Halloween, starting with your child’s Halloween costume.  

If your child has been involved in a Halloween pedestrian accident, you’ll want to seek immediate medical attention. As soon as possible, talk with a Massachusetts child injury lawyer to find out if you have grounds for a child injury claim. 

Contacting a Child Injury Lawyer 
If your child has suffered serious injury, your first concern is their well-being. When someone else’s negligent behavior causes your child’s injury, seeking compensation through a child injury claim is your first step toward giving your child every opportunity in their future. 

 If you’re considering filing a child injury claim, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. Then contact the Massachusetts child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group for a no-cost evaluation of your child injury case – 800-930-8145.

On Saturday morning this past weekend in Kingston, NH, a 4-year-old boy was accidentally struck by his father’s pickup truck in the family’s driveway.  The boy is continuing his stay in the hospital but it was reported that he is doing well

The boy’s father thought that he parked the truck but soon found that the truck was set in reverse, hitting the 4-year-old in their South Street driveway around 9:00am that morning. 

Luckily, the 4-year-old does not have any serious injuries as a result from the incident and the father stated that his son doesn’t have any brain damage either.

Statistics dating across five years, from 2002 to 2007, show that just under half of all fatalities among kids aged 15 and under involved cars backing up and striking the child.  These “backovers” made up 44 percent of deaths among children in this age group.  “Frontovers,” where the car accidentally hits a child going forward, were involved in 17 percent of the fatalities. 

In a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  it was found that there were nearly 9,200 injuries and almost 80 deaths annually among kids aged 14 and younger who were around cars in driveways or parking lots—but not in traffic.  It was also found that children under the age of 4 accounted for 82 percent of the fatalities.

We have to try and remember that a vehicle can do serious harm wherever it is, not just on highways or main roads.  Check your mirrors twice when you get in the car today.

October is Fire Safety Month and it starts off with Fire Prevention Week during October 3-9. Part of this month is also to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be deadly if not caught in time.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that has no smell and no color, making it tricky to track.  CO can typically be found in fumes from vehicles, engines, stoves, wood burning, and various heating systems.  It can slowly accumulate in the area directly around it and poison those in the area who breathe it in.

The symptoms that CO poisoning causes in people do help narrow down the options for a diagnosis.  Some signs of CO poisoning are bad headaches, confusion, fatigue, and general nausea.  If someone has breathed in considerable levels of CO, it could result in that person falling unconscious or even dying.   

CO can be picked up by your body through red blood cells at work, processing the CO a lot faster than the oxygen you would normally be breathing in.  Because the cells are replacing necessary oxygen with dangerous CO, your body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs.  This can lead to tissue damage if not caught in time.

Anyone is at risk for CO poisoning, but those who are in more vulnerable states of health are at a greater risk.  Those who may be more affected by CO are fetuses, toddlers and smaller children, along with those who have cardiac complications (heart disease) or breathing problems such as asthma.

According to the CDC’s fact sheet, 400 people in the U.S. die annually from CO poisoning, while over 20,000 people go to the emergency room for treatment and 4,000 are admitted to the hospital for CO poisoning.  Those aged 65 and older are extremely susceptible to succumbing to CO poisoning.

CO poisoning is oftentimes preventable, so look over this list of helpful reminders:

• Have a professional review all of your appliances that burn fuel, especially before the cold weather sets in so that you will be prepared for the heating season ahead
• Refrain from starting your car in your garage and leaving it to “heat up” while you prepare to leave for work at the last-minute.  CO fumes don’t need long to accumulate, even if the garage is open
• Never use a gas oven as the heater for your home or burn charcoal in your fireplace
• Ensure that when you use gas-powered engines, you use them outside only.  Using equipment such as a chain saw in an enclosed space, like your garage, will send CO into the garage and should be prevented
• If you and more than one person in your family is sharing similar symptoms, like the ones mentioned above, call your doctor immediately.  As soon as you suspect CO poisoning, you must get fresh, outside air and leave your house or area where you experience the symptoms
• A good way to remember to see if your fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order is to check them when you set the clocks ahead in spring and set them back in the autumn

Infant-only and convertible safety seats are the 2 types of child safety seats available for infants. Infant-only child safety seats are used from when your child is first brought home from the hospital up until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. A convertible seat can also be used during infancy and when your child gets bigger and needs a forward-facing seat. 

The advantage with a convertible seat is it can be used for a longer period of time. However, unlike an infant-only seat, it doesn’t double as a carrier or stroller, and can’t latch into multiple vehicles. When you’re shopping for a child safety seat, keep in mind a few of the following features to see what option works best for you.  

Infant-only child safety seats may include: 

• carrying handles;
• features which allow it to attach to a stroller;
• multiple bases to put in more than 1 car (so the child safety seat can be latched into multiple vehicles); and
• maximum weight limit of 22 to 35 pounds. 

Convertible child safety seats may include: 

• 2 types of harnesses (5-point and overhead shield);
• higher weight threshold; and
• ability to be used as a rear-facing infant seat and then converted to a forward-facing seat toddler seat.

The differences between infant-only and convertible child safety seats are really only a matter of convenience. Both child safety seats meet Massachusetts legal requirements and can help protect your child in the event of a Boston car accident. 

When Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury in a Boston Car Accident 

If your child is seriously injured in a Boston car accident, it’s important for you to be aware of your legal options for seeking compensation. You can learn more about your options by speaking to an experienced Boston child injury attorney at Kiley Law Group. To schedule a no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145. 

You can also request to receive this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury.

Perhaps your child is at that borderline stage, where a forward-facing toddler seat is getting just a bit snug. If you’re in that in-between stage where you’ve toyed with the idea of a child booster seat, but aren’t sure if your child is totally ready, you’ll have to head to the store to know for sure. 

Take your child with you to test out child booster seats. When you’ve selected a child booster seat, first try it out in your car. Does it fit flat against the seat without tipping forward? 

Next, put your child in the booster seat and pay special attention to your child’s legs. If they’re sticking straight out, this is a good indicator the child booster seat is too large. You’ll want to make sure that your child’s knees bend right at the cushion at the booster seat’s edge.    

Put the seat belt around your child. If it falls along the hips and shoulders, your child may be big enough for the booster seat. What you don’t want to see is the seat belt fall across your child’s stomach and neck. 

In most cases, children need to be in a harnessed child safety seat until they weigh 40 pounds. If your child is just under this mark, and still tends to move a lot when you’re in the car, you may find your child will struggle to wiggle in and out of a seat belt when in a child booster seat. If this is the case, you may want to hold out a bit longer in the forward-facing toddler seat.  

The most important thing about a child booster seat is the protection it offers if you are in a Boston car accident with your child in the vehicle. Even though a child booster seat may help protect your child, there is always a risk for injury. 

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has sustained a child head injury or other personal harm from an accident another driver caused, talk with a Boston child brain injury attorney. You may be able to seek compensation on behalf of your child, in the form of a Massachusetts personal injury claim. 

To learn more about your rights and legal options, you can request to receive this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. 

Or, if you prefer you can contact the Boston child brain injury attorney team at Kiley Law Group to schedule a no-cost evaluation of your case – 800-930-8145. Our firm serves clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate on your family’s behalf for fair compensation for your child’s injuries.

A proper child safety seat is crucial if you travel with children in the car. Since young children and infants can’t fit securely in a seat belt designed for adult use, a child safety seat can help prevent child head injury or death in the event of a car accident in Boston. 

To choose a proper child safety seat, you’ll have to do your homework. Make sure you only consider a child safety seat that meets federal and state vehicle safety standards. You can usually find this information in the form of a label on your child safety seat. You’ll need to make sure the child safety seat you buy is appropriate for your car. For example, SUVs may require a different child safety seat than a sports car or compact car. 

In order for your child safety seat to be as effective as possible in preventing a child head injury, you will need to consider a few important factors, including:  

• your child’s age;
• your child’s size (weight, shoulder height); and
• your vehicle type. 

While you’ll have to take into account your child’s actual height and weight when choosing a child safety seat, age is also a huge factor in proper child safety seat selection. This is because child safety seats vary for different age groups, both in size and design. 

Child Safety Seats for Infants 

You’ll need to look for a rear-facing infant-only seat for infants ages 0 – 12 months. Infant-only child safety seats are rear facing because babies often do not have the adequate neck muscles to absorb the impact of a collision. You must keep your child in the rear-facing, infant-only seat until they are 1 year of age, and weigh 20 pounds. Many infant-only child safety seats come with a carrying handle, and can detach from the infant seat base for use with strollers. 

Check the manufacturer guidelines to see when your baby must progress to the next child safety seat. Once your child has outgrown the infant-only child safety seat, you’ll have to get a rear-facing convertible seat. 

Safety seats are incredibly important in safeguarding your child’s health – and life – in the event of a car accident in Boston. Keep in mind that failure to properly restrain your children can result in fines, and in the case of an accident, can result in significant injury or the death of your child. 

If your child has sustained a child head injury or other injury due to a defective child safety seat or because a caretaker did not properly restrain the child in a car safety seat, a Boston child brain injury attorney can advise you on your legal options for seeking compensation. 

Even after infancy has passed, children must still be placed in proper restraints when riding in vehicles. Every child is different in terms of weight and size, but many must stay in some sort of child safety seat until they reach 8 years old for maximum safety. 

Child Safety Seats for Toddlers 

Keep your child in the rear-facing convertible child safety seat as long as needed. Once the maximum weight and height is reached, you’ll have to look for a forward-facing child safety seat. These child safety seats will have a full harness. These are also called forward-facing toddler seats, and typically are used for children 1 to 4 years of age. When selecting a forward-facing toddler seat, make sure the harness clips fall at your child’s armpit level. 

Child Safety Seats for School-Aged Children 

Once your child is around 4-years-old, you’ll find it’s time to make the transition to a child booster seat. Keep in mind that a child booster seat may be needed earlier than age 4, or later, depending on your child’s height and weight. 

There are 2 types of child booster seats: 

• high-back belt positioning child booster seats; and
• no-back belt positioning boosters seats. 

It doesn’t matter which child booster seat you choose. What is important is to make sure your child is raised to a level where the lap belt and shoulder strap fall across your child’s thighs and shoulders. When the strap is not in the correct location, your child can sustain abdominal injuries in the event of a Boston car accident. 

In most cases, a child booster seat is needed until a seat belt fits properly around a child’s shoulder. Once the child is 4’9,” a regular seat belt can be used. This height is usually reached around 8-12 years of age. 

Child safety seats and child booster seats are necessary to protect your children. If an accident does occur while your children are in the car, a child safety seat will give your child the same protection that a seat belt offers to adults. 

In the case that your child is seriously injured in a Boston car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you’ll want to make sure you can claim any compensation possible on behalf of your child. If you don’t take the proper steps to protect your children, it may be difficult to hold the other party completely liable for the injuries your child sustained. 

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered a serious injury because of a defective or dangerous product like a car seat, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. 

The Boston child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.