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20
Feb

Data show nearly 10,000 infants injured in crib accidents annually

Here is some disturbing information on infant deaths due to accidents. Many of these are caused by falls from cribs.

USA Today (2/17, Szabo) reports, “More than 9,500 babies and toddlers” go to the emergency department (ED) each year because of injuries related to “cribs, playpens and bassinets,” according to a “19-year” study in the journal Pediatrics. The researchers found that an average of “113 children die each year from these accidents.” Lead author Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, says the “true number of crib-related injuries and deaths is probably much higher,” because the study included only children treated in EDs and “not those seen at doctor’s offices or urgent-care centers.”
According to the AP (2/17, Tanner), the researchers analyzed “national 1990-2008 data on ER-treated injuries” from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Overall, the data showed “181,654 infants were injured”; and of the injured children who received ED treatment, there were “2,140 deaths.”
The Washington Post (2/17, Huget), in its “The Checkup” blog, notes that an “average of 26 such injuries per day occurred during the time studied, with most (66%) involving falls, usually from cribs (83%) and most commonly affecting the head or neck (40%).” The study calls for “creation and implementation of safety measures in the design and construction of cribs, playpens and bassinets. It also recommends that parents be told how to safely use such equipment and made aware of dangers they may pose.” Notably, the CPSC in December “voted to ban the manufacture and sale of drop-side cribs.”
Lundy Law recently reported on several recent crib and infant toy and baby monitor recalls. If you have purchased any of these items, we encourage you to call the manufacturer. Of course, if your infant or toddler has been injured by an unsafe product, you can call the injury lawyers at Lundy Law, 1-866-281-8612.

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16
Feb

Study: Energy drinks harmful to kids and teens

Thirty to 40 percent of kids and teens consume energy drinks which are high in caffeine, sugar and other stimulants. However, as the AP (2/13) reported, “Energy drinks are under-studied, overused and can be dangerous for children and teens, warns a report by doctors who say kids shouldn’t use the popular products. The potential harms, caused mostly by too much caffeine or similar ingredients, include heart palpitations, seizures, strokes and even sudden death,” according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, which “reviewed data from the government and interest groups, scientific literature, case reports and articles in popular and trade media.”

Notably, these findings come “amid a crackdown on energy drinks containing alcohol and caffeine, like Four-Loko, including recent Food and Drug Administration warning letters to manufacturers and bans in several states because of alcohol overdoses.”


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14
Feb

Nearly two million baby monitors recalled after infant deaths

The AP (2/11, Kerr) reported Rhode Island-based Summer Infant issued a recall of approximately 1.7 million video baby monitors Friday, “after being linked to the strangulation deaths of two infants.” Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said, “I urge all parents and caregivers to put at least three feet between any video or audio baby monitor cords and a child in a crib.” The recall includes over 40 different models of digital, handheld, and color monitors. Summer Infant is not replacing the monitors, “but will offer new on-product warning labels and instructions about monitor placement.”

If you’re feeling like there have been a rather large number of baby product recalls in recent days, you’re right.

  1. On January 31, 37,000 Sassy Refreshing Rings Teethers were recalled because pieces of black plastic can come off while baby is chewing on the teether/rattle, posing an ingestion hazard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. You can call 800-323-6336 or visit sassybaby.com for information on returning the product for a replacement.
  2. Back on January 12, 2011 – More than 3,500 Discovery Discovery Toys Mobile Phones sold in the US and Canada were recalled because the antenna can break off, posing a choking hazard. Three incidents of the antenna breaking were reported. The red and blue plastic phone has a clear plastic antenna. Only model 1231 is included in the recall. “Discovery Toys” is stamped into the red plastic on the back of the toy. Call 800-426-4777 or visit discoverytoysinc.com to return the toy for a replacement.
  3. On Jan. 11, 2011 – About 800 PajamaGram Hoodie Footies infant and toddler pajamas were recalled because the metal snaps that attach the hood to the pajamas can detach, posing a choking hazard. The Winter Whimsy style was sold in sizes for newborns to 5T and has the code GPU#SUNHFH1 or GPU#SUNHFH2 on the tag at the neck. Stop using the recalled pajamas and call 800-262-1162 or visit pajamagram.com to receive a replacement item. 

Why are there so many product recalls? Well, perhaps one reason is that the infant product market is fiercely competitive. Companies often rush their products to market without proper safety training first.  You can always look here for more information on product recalls. You can also look at the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

If your child has been injured by a defective product, call the personal injury lawyers at Lundy Law at 1-866-281-8612.

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11
Feb

Nearly 25 percent of early ovarian cancer patients not receiving recommended biopsies

If you or anyone you know is dealing with ovarian cancer, please read this.

HealthDay (2/10, Preidt) reported, “More than one-quarter of women with apparent early-stage ovarian cancer don’t receive recommended lymph node biopsies to check for cancer spread, which nearly doubles these patients’ risk of death,” according to a study in the journal Gynecological Oncology. The researchers analyzed “medical records and cancer registry data of 721 presumed early-stage ovarian cancer patients” and found that only “72 percent had lymph nodes from the pelvis and abdomen tested for signs of cancer spread.” The five-year survival rate was “84 percent for patients who had lymph node biopsies and 69 percent for those who did not have the biopsies.” The study also found that gynecologic oncologists were “nearly four-times more likely to perform all recommended staging biopsies” than other surgical specialists.

We recommend that you ask your doctor about these tests. If you feel you haven’t received proper care from your doctor, you can always call the experts at Lundy Law for a consultation at 1-866-281-1682

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6
Feb

Public Database of Product Complaints

The Washington Post recently announced that the Consumer Product Safety Commission will launch a new public database that tracks customer product safety complaints. The database will make public thousands of complaints it receives each year about safety problems with various products, from power tools to piggy banks.

The compilation of consumer complaints, set to be launched online in March, has been hailed by consumer advocates as a resource that will revolutionize the way people make buying decisions.

Industry, as expected, is generally opposed to the database, saying that it will be filled with inaccurate data, harm economic growth, kill jobs and may be filled with fictitious slams against their brands.

While a complaint doesn’t mean a product is unsafe and it certainly isn’t cause for a recall on its own, it can alert you to potential hazrds. You’ll have to be the judge when you read or make complaints.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by an unsafe product, we urge you to call Lundy Law at 1-866-281-8612.

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