Boston Child Brain Injury Blog

Now that summer is almost here, kids will be cooling off in lakes and pools across the U.S. However, there are many dangers in and around the home that present a serious drowning risk to a child or that pose a risk for other water-related injuries.

Where Water-Related Injuries Can Occur
Here are a number of common areas in or around the home that we come in daily contact with that pose a very real drowning hazard to children of any age. These household dangers might not even occur to a babysitter or parent of posing a threat to a child, and this is exactly why it is so important to be aware of these surprising drowning dangers:

• Sinks
• Spas
• Buckets that are filled with water
• Toilets
• Fish ponds or pools
• Fish tanks
• Coolers containing melted ice
• Bathtubs

Why Water-Related Injuries Occur
The common household items listed above may surprise some parents and caretakers. A few of the reasons why these areas around a home pose such a significant drowning hazard are because:

• By nature, children are curious. This is particularly true when it comes to being around water
• Kids at any age can drown in 1 inch of water
• Babysitters, parents or other caretakers might not even realize that they must monitor a child around anything that holds water—not just a swimming pool in the backyard

Water-related injuries may result in a permanent condition, disability, even a fatality. To caretakers and parents everywhere: please keep an eye on your child whenever she or he is near water. The drowning danger is too significant to ignore.

When You Need to Talk to a Boston Child Injury Attorney
If your child has been seriously injured in a water-related accident in Massachusetts, you shouldn’t have to pay for ongoing medical care and treatment. A serious bicycle injury may require lifelong care and financial support. Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of the skilled Boston child injury attorneys with Kiley Law Group can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead.

Attorney Thomas Kiley, also known as the Million Dollar Man, will ensure that you and your child receive the compensation that you are entitled to. Contact us before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to an offer. Schedule your free case evaluation today by calling 800-410-2769.

Thomas Campo, 44, of Haverhill will serve 15-30 years in prison after pleading guilty this past Tuesday to 20 charges of first and second degree assault on his infant triplets. The infants were just a few weeks old when the first injuries occurred.

The babies were born on April 6, 2009 and from the time they returned home from the hospital with their mother, Zoya, until September, the infants suffered severely traumatic injuries such as being shaken, bitten, and having ribs broken. The Campos were living in Plaistow, NH when the abuse took place.

Campo shook one or more of the infants, fracturing the skull of one of the babies. One of the infants was “squeezed” so violently by Campo that ribs were broken. He bit one of the babies on the stomach when the baby was not even a month old. Campo canceled a home visit by a doctor in order for the bite not to be seen. He also would take one of the infants into another room, locking the door, and would not let Zoya into the room. She stated that the baby would cry louder from the other room.

In September of 2009, Zoya took one of the infants to an area hospital for a separate issue. When doctors noted bruising on the child, they notified the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Once she was interviewed, she admitted that Campo was responsible for the injuries and he was then arrested.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
In tragic instances of Shaken Baby Syndrome, the victims who are most at-risk are newborns and babies up to the age of 4 months.

Serious injuries can occur if an infant is shaken even one time because the neck is in its first stages of development and is incredibly delicate. A baby’s neck is not strong enough to withstand the trauma.

The CDC reports that approximately 3,000 babies are victims of SBS and it is estimated that 25% of victims die every year from the devastating injuries. About 60% of SBS victims will experience traumatic brain injuries, which can result in lifelong disabilities.

When You Need to Talk to a Massachusetts Injury Lawyer
If your child has been seriously hurt by another, you shouldn’t have to pay for ongoing medical care and treatment. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support. Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of a skilled Massachusetts injury lawyer can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead. Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.

Before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.

As soon as fresh snow blankets the ground, kids can’t wait to bundle up and play in the winter wonderland that awaits them outside. Sledding and skating are exhilarating activities in the coldest of months, but there are also significant risks that go along with them.

Each year in the U.S., it is estimated that children experience 20,000 injuries that are a direct result from sledding. Boys who were ages 10-14 were at the most risk for experiencing an injury and made up 60% of the total number of children injured.

Just about 230,000 children went to the emergency rooms during the years 1997-2007 for injuries related to sledding accidents. These injuries ranged from fractures, to bruising, to traumatic brain injuries. The head was the most injured part among children and 34% of kids who went to the ER had some type of head injury.

If you and your child venture out onto the snowy slopes for some sledding, try to follow these helpful guidelines to ensure safety. Try to avoid any type of pavement and roadways, as children who experienced head injuries sustained their injuries most against pavement. Also, pick a sledding spot that is completely clear of trees, shrubs, telephone poles, or any other potential obstacles that you or your child could collide with. A helmet may also be something to seriously consider getting for your young child to help prevent against a head injury while sledding.

Skating also comes with some serious risks. According to an article that was published in Pediatrics, kids who are involved with any type of skating should be wearing protective gear and helmets. There is even more of an emphasis for children who ice-skate to wear helmets due to the significant risk of suffering a head injury while out on the ice. It is also suggested that children who ice-skate wear protective wrist guards to safeguard against breaking a bone or suffering a sprain, which are unfortunately frequent.

Enjoy the winter weather and please sled and skate safely!

When You Need to Talk to a Massachusetts Injury Lawyer
If your child has been seriously hurt by another, you shouldn’t have to pay for ongoing medical care and treatment. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support. Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of a skilled Massachusetts injury lawyer can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead. Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.

Before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.