What child does not like fireworks? Although they are beautiful to look at, they can be dangerous when allowed to get in the wrong, small hands. Keeping children safe when fireworks are present should be every parent and homeowners priority, for everybody’s sake. Firework Accidents Every year there are more injuries and accidents added under the heading of fireworks. They are also the cause of fires, a reported 15,500 in 2010 alone, causing eight deaths and over $36 million in direct property damage. Some numbers to consider: For 2010, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) reported 8600 injuries and 3 deaths from fireworks. 74 deaths have happened between 2000-2010. 6300 of these accidents were between the dates June 18, 2010 and July 18, 2010, so 73%. Over half the injuries were to young people under 20 years of age, 53%. Risk was highest for children 5-14 years of age, with… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Burns
Subscribe to Burns RSS FeedPackaging Designs Of Popular Instant Soups Scrutinized After Children Suffer Serious Burns
Posted in Burns, Dangerous ProductsFor seven-month-old Richard Martin, a diaper ultimately stood between serious burns and permanent scars. “As soon as I heard his screams, I knew it was really bad,” said Richard’s mother, Regina, who ran to Richard’s side after Richard spilled soup on himself in 2010. “Thankfully he had his Pampers on.” Richard, who lives in the Toronto area, was sitting down to dinner with his family when he tugged on a tablecloth, and a container of soup tumbled onto his left leg. The burn resulted in boils, welts and blisters from his left hip to his toes. Richard is one of several children – perhaps numbering in the thousands – who are rushed to ERs each year as a result of instant soup burns. The products often feature defective designs with narrow bases and wide tops that are easily “tippable.” “[Children] pull down on top of [soup containers],” said Dr. Warren… Continue Reading
Funding Pulled From Group Home For Children Following Discovery Of Abuse
Posted in Burns, Day Care AccidentsFor handicapped children, living in a group home environment with peers facing similar disabilities can be a real gift. Unlike other living arrangements where children can feel significantly out of place, group homes for disabled children and young-adults hopefully foster an environment of support and encouragement. Understandably, many of these young people require supervision. When staff at these facilites fail to use their common sense and supervisory responsibility, the opportunity for dangerous and abusive conditions rears its head. Abusive conditions were recently discovered at a group home for young-adults in Florida. An investigation completed by in collaboration by officials from Florida’s Department of Children & Families, Attorney General’s office and local police confirmed that staff at a facility identified at O’Carroll Homes, tortured a 17-year-old girl who was a resident at the facility. The investigation revealed that four employees burned the severely disabled teen with a clothes iron in… Continue Reading
Toddler Receives Burns In Daycare Due To Caregiver’s Poor Judgment
Posted in Burns, Day Care AccidentsA two-year old toddler is spending time in the burn unit of an Indiana hospital after the caregiver at his daycare center tried to apparently teach him a cruel lesson for poorly aiming while urinating. After an initial claim that the boy simply ‘fell’ into a tub of lukewarm water, the caregiver acknowledged that the boy received scald burns when she deliberately placed him in boiling hot water at her home-based daycare center. Now the caregiver and daycare owner, identified as Irene Martin, faces criminal charges of felony neglect and battery. If convicted, Ms. Martin would spend at least 12-and-a-half years in jail. Childhood burns The toddler in this case sustained second degree burns to his legs, back and penis. Part of the necessary medical treatment will likely include a procedure known as skin graft where healthy skin is harvested by surgeons and transferred to an burned area. My heart… Continue Reading