Posted by rozeklawoffice on April 13, 2010 under Child Injuries | 
Rozek Law Offices, SC, a Milwaukee Personal Injury Law Firm, is supporting the Wisconsin Association for Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by taking part in Take 25, a national child safety program.
The Take 25 campaign aims to heighten awareness of children’s personal safety issues. With a focus on prevention, the campaign encourages parents and guardians to spend about 25 minutes talking to their children about ways to be safer. Free safety resources including safety tips, conversation starters, child ID kits, and more can be found at http://www.take25.org.
Although the national Take 25 campaign’s main safety focus is on child abduction and exploitation, Rozek Law Offices, SC urges parents in Wisconsin to also take a few minutes to discuss with their children the safety precautions relating to head injury including the importance of always wearing a helmet when riding a bike, skateboarding, skiing, and riding on an ATV.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on April 12, 2010 under Child Injuries, Mild Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury |
In January 2009, leading medical experts at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) reported that a 9 year NFL veteran was suffering from a degenerative brain disease (also known as CTE) caused by head trauma, when he died at the age of 45. In addition, the CSTE discovered early evidence the same disease in a recently deceased 18 year old boy who suffered multiple concussions in high school football.
Due to the growing link between brain trauma on the football field and CTE, a number of living former NFL players decided that, upon death, they would donate their brains to Boston University School of Medicine. This pact of players was titled the 88 Plan, named after former NFL star John Mackey’s jersey number. Mackey was suffering from severe dementia. It is not possible to determine the underlying disease which causes dementia from a living brain. The pact’s players hope that the resulting research will serve as a wake-up call that radical change is needed in football to protect the millions of adults and children playing the game.
Later in 2009, the National Football League was accused in front of the House Judiciary Committee of neglect in its handling of active and retired players with brain injuries. It was reported that there was mounting evidence of a link between playing football and cognitive impairment, such as dementia later in life. The long term effects of the game of football on player’s health was discussed. One representative said there should be federal scrutiny of football, particularly because the impact of injuries on the millions of players at the college, high school and youth levels.
More than one million youngsters play high school football every fall, with hundreds seriously injured by concussions due to the young player not understanding the risks or playing despite their pain to mirror their N.F.L. heroes.
Since the House Judiciary Committee hearing, the NFL has instituted stricter return-to-play guidelines for players showing concussion symptoms; required each team to enlist an independent neurologist as an adviser; entered into a partnership with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league’s stance on concussions; and conducted tests on helmets. The recently updated guideline prevent athletes from returning to a game after sustaining a head injury. The NFL’s change of policy, in addition to high profile brain injuries sustained by Olympic athletes, has recently highlighted the risk of permanent damage from a head injury.
The Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee was formed by the NFL Players Association and includes professional athletes, past and current NFL players, doctors and researchers. The purpose of the group is to open a dialogue on brain injuries in professional football, discuss the latest research and begin developing recommendations to keep players safer. The first committee meeting was held in January 2010.
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For more information on Traumatic Brain Injury.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on April 9, 2010 under Child Injuries, Mild Brain Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury |
Booster Seats may reduce injury to children in car accidents by up to 45%. Booster seats place children in a position so the seat belt, including the shoulder strap and lap belt, can work properly. Safety experts recommend using a booster seat until a child is approximately 4′9” in height.
If a child is sitting in a seat without a booster seat, the shoulder strap is apt to fit incorrectly allowing the child to slip forward and hit something in the event of a car accident. Many times this slippage causes serious brain injuries to the child. The lap belt is also more likely to rise up over the child’s pelvis causing internal damage.
When using a booster seat, its also important to utilize the following 2 steps to maximize effectiveness.
1. Ensure the lap belt part of the seat belt goes under the arm rest.
2. If the booster seat has a back, ensure the shoulder strap of the seat belt is correctly looped through the top of the seat back.
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Rozek Law Offices, SC has experiencing representing children that have been injured in car accidents. If your child has been injured in an accident, please be sure to contact an experienced Wisconsin Car Accident Attorney.
Posted by rozeklawoffice on April 5, 2010 under Child Injuries |
As temperatures in Wisconsin are heating up, many families will be heading to swimming facilities and water parks around the state.
When it comes to our kids, we parents know the importance of teaching them to swim as an early age to ensure if they ever fall into a swimming pool or other body of water, they will make it out safely. We do not, however, expect to have to be the expert in swimming pool safety standards, as this, we assume, should be the job of the pool or water park owner. We expect those who own and operate water facilities will regularly inspect the water facility for unsafe conditions that could cause injury or even fatalities. Unfortunately, water facilities often get neglected, creating an unsafe environment and a potentially liable owner.
Upon arrival at the water facility, look for the pool drain. As a general rule, in order to meet the Wisconsin Safety Standards, the drain and bottom of the deepest part of the pool should be clearly visible. A murky pool can be an indicator of dangerous conditions. If a child is struggling and in need of assistance, it may be hard to see the child if at the bottom of a cloudy pool. Water clarity is an absolute necessity in drowning situations when every second counts. If your child is harmed due to water visibility issues, a Wisconsin premises liability attorney should be consulted to help you understand your rights.
Other safety features that parents should identify before allowing their children to enter the water include emergency phone, floating devices, and a visible stripe at the bottom of the pool that indicates when shallow waters become deep.
Also, check for signage that indicates that maximum occupancy level and no diving areas. Make a note of the limits and explain them to your children.
Also, watch the lifeguard. It is their job to supervise the pool users. If you notice that the lifeguard is improperly supervising your child by talking on a cell phone or having long chats with other staff while not paying attention to the swimmers, you should immediately report the lifeguard to management. If a child is harmed due to a lifeguards inattentiveness, a Wisconsin premises liability attorney should be consulted to help you understand your rights.
Lastly, if your child is planning to swim at night, take inventory of the lighting available. Proper lighting is critical in cases of search and rescue. Again, every second matters in a drowning situation.
Wisconsin water facility owner’s must keep their swimming area water clarity up to standard and keep safety features in place in order to allow parents to properly supervise their children. It is the owners job to know the proper chlorine levels and technical safety aspects of the facility. Proper maintenance is required.
We hope these water safety tips will help you and your family safely enjoy the upcoming spring and summer Wisconsin weather and recreational activities.
