This past July in Rocky Hill, a three-vehicle accident sent a toddler flying out of the Jeep he was riding in…while still in his car seat! The driver of the jeep was killed in the accident and the 2-year-old appeared dead at the scene until he was revived by first responders. His condition has since improved, but the risk of future health complications is not yet known.

Car crashes are the number one cause of death when it comes to children under 15 years old. Being that children this young are not the ones driving, parents and guardians are fully responsible for ensuring the safety of these kids when they are in the car, all starting with choosing and using the right safety seat.

Child Passenger Safety Week 2018

Child deaths in car accidents are more common than you might believe. From 2012 to 2016, there were 3,268 children under 13 killed while riding in passenger vehicles according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and these numbers have been increasing steadily since 2014.

In attempts to reduce the rates of child deaths in car accidents, NHTSA began the Child Passenger Safety Week campaign held September 23-29 and ending with National Seat Check Saturday (29th). A number of local institutions and organizations participate in this safety initiative every year with the goal of educating parents on the importance of using proper fitting child safety seats and providing hands-on assistance in ensuring these seats are secured and installed correctly.

What Parents Are Doing Wrong

For children under 5-years-old, NHSTA estimates that car seats can save an average of 300 lives every year, but only if these safety devices are appropriately used. A startling  59% of car seats are installed incorrectly inside of vehicles from the very beginning, and most of the time unknowingly by the parents who placed them.

Some of the most common installation mistakes parent are making highlighted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia include:

• Seat Not Installed Tight Enough: The safety seat when properly placed should not be able to move more than an inch in any direction or it could be at risk of ejection during a crash.
• Poor Shoulder Strap Placement: Some parents place the shoulder straps far too high or low to be effective. The chest clip should be at armpit length for rear-facing kids and the shoulder straps at or below the baby’s shoulders. Forward-facing children should have shoulder straps at or above the shoulders.
• Failing The ‘Pinch Test’: The ‘pinch test’ involves the tightness of the harness once the child is buckled in. If you can pinch extra material when your child is in the seat, it is not tight enough.
• Improperly Placing Belt Strap: Parents are inserting the seat belt straps through the wrong slots on the car seat, causing the seat not be as secure as it could be during a crash.
• Neglecting The Top Tether: Every seat has a top tether that is located at the top of the seat. Instructions on how to use the tether to secure the seat differ deepening on brand and style, but a number of parents are choosing not to use it at all.

Other common mistakes parents are making when it comes to their children and car seats include turning children forward-facing too soon, buying the wrong car seat for their child, and placing children into their car seats in bulky clothing such as winter coats. Any of these errors could prove to be fatal for a child involved in a car accident- some are even against the state law.

Connecticut Car Seat Laws

Connecticut has specific laws regarding children in car seats that parents/guardians transporting children must follow to help keep children safe. Current laws state:

• Children must ride in a proper child safety seat and remain in the backseat of a vehicle until they reach appropriate age and weight limits.
• Infants must ride in rear-facing seats until they are at least 2-years-old and 30 pounds.
• Toddles must ride in a forward-facing, five-point harness seat until they are at least 5-years-old and 40 pounds.
• Children should ride in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old and 60 pounds. Seat belts on these children must have a lap and shoulder restraint.
• Children under 13-years-old should ride in the back seat.

Not only could drivers caught breaking these laws face criminal charges and large fines, innocent children’s lives could be put at risk as a result. However, state laws are not enough to encourage parents to use proper safety precautions for their children in the car and not due to lack of trying. Parents/guardians need more education and guidance when it comes to child passenger safety seats, particularly in choosing the right seat, installing the seat safely, and properly securing the children within.

Get Your Car Seat Checked!

Connecticut parents who are ashamed to ask for help when it comes to installing car seats, there is no need to feel guilty. A 2016 study published by the Journal of Pediatrics showed that 95% of parents are making at least one mistake when they are installing and securing the car seat, one of the reasons for NHTSA beginning Child Passenger Safety Week to begin with.

There are several different inspection sites Connecticut residents can visit to get their car seat checked for appropriate fit and proper installation. Most sites are open to the public but will require calling ahead for an appointment to ensure each family is granted an appropriate amount of time for their safety inspection.

This comprehensive list provided by Safe Kids Connecticut allows residents to search for all fitting stations available in their country, including location and contact information for making an appointment.

Some of the Fairfield County car seat fitting stations available are listed below:

Bethel Police Department

49 Plumtree Road, Bethel CT 06108
203-744-7900
hburnes@bethelpd.com
Officer Heather Burnes
Residents only
Appointment Only

Bristol Police Department
131 North Main Street, Bristol CT 06010
860-584-3017 ext. 3168
rmarcham@ci.bristol.ct.us
Sergeant Russ Marcham
Residents Only
Use online form on PD website to make appointment

Bridgeport Hospital Yale New Haven Health

267 Grant Street
Bridgeport, CT
203-200-KIDS or 203-384-4390
Appointment Only one Wednesday month

Brookfield Police Department

63 Silverman Road
Brookfield, 06804
Contact: Mitchell Heller
203-775-2575
mheller@brookfieldct.gov
Appointment Only

The Car Seat Crew LLC

Nick@thecarseatcrew.com
www.thecarseatcrew.com
www.facebook.com/thecarseatcrew
(203) 520-1068
Serving Fairfield County
Fee based service at your location or ours

Danbury Police Department

375 Main Street,
Danbury CT 06810
203-743-6314
j.antonelli@danbury-ct.gov
Sgt. Antonelli
Residents/Employees Only
Appointment only 1st 3 Mondays of the Month

Darien Police Department

25 Hecker Ave,
Darien CT 06820
203-662-5300 Ext. 5370
Open to Public
Contact Elizabeth Dilorio

Easton Police Department

700 Moorehouse Road,
Easton CT 06612
203-268-4111
daren@eastonctpolice.com
Officer Mark Pastor
Open to Public

Executive Livery, LLC

175 North St.
Goshen, 06756
Office: 860-491-3955
executivelivery@me.com
Appointment Only
Free Service No Charge

Greenwich Fire Department

15 Havemayer PL
Greenwich CT 06830
203-622-8087
ctroths@aol.com
Firefighter Roth
Open to Public
Appointment Only

Fairfield Police Department

100 Reef Road,
Fairfield CT
One Saturday a month
Call Allison or check FPDCT.com for details.

Little Riders LLC

203-231-5907
LittleRidersCT@aol.com
www.facebook.com/littleriders
Serving Fairfield and New Haven county
Appointments at your home/office, evenings and weekends.
Fee-based service
Special needs trained

Monroe Police Department

7 Fan Hill Road,
Monroe CT 06468
203-261-3622
Detective Buckley
Residents & Appointments only

New Canaan Police Department

174 South Ave,
New Canaan CT 06840
203-594-3555
carseats@newcanaanct.gov
Officer Thomas Patten
Appts must be made via email: carseats@newcanaanct.gov

New Fairfield Police Department

302 Ball Pond Road,
New Fairfield CT 06810
203-312-5701
DLNY@comcast.net
Officer Lange
Open to Public
Appointments only

Newtown Police Department

3 Main Street,
Newtown CT 06470
203-426-5841
william.hull@newtown-ct.gov
Officer Flynn
Residents Only
Appointment Only

Norwalk Police Department

Norwalk Police Department
1 Monroe Street,
Norwalk CT 06854
203-854-3005
jhaggerty@norwalkct.org
Appointment Only

Safe in the Car

203-868-8151
www.facebook.com/safeinthecar
www.safeinthecar.com
jodi@safeinthecar.com
*Fee based service at your home/office*
Serving all of Fairfield and New Haven counties and parts of Litchfield and Hartford counties
Special needs trained

Stratford Police Department

900 Longbrook Ave,
Stratford CT 06614
203-385-4158
kalbohn@townofstratford.com
Officer Albohn
Residents Only
Appointments only

Trumbull Police Department

Trumbull Police Department
158 Edison Rd Trumbull, CT
203-452-3854
CFitch@trumbull-ct.gov
Coleen Fitch
Residents only, call for appointment

Weston Fire Rescue

56 Norfield Road,
Weston CT 06883
203-222-2647
westonfirerescue@yahoo.com
Mark Blake
Open to Public
Appointment Only, Special Needs Assistance available

Westport Police Department

50 Jesup Road,
Westport CT 06880
203-341-6000
cproudfoot@westportct.gov
Officer Chris Proudfoot
Residents Only
Appointment Only

Wilton Police Department

240 Danbury Road,
Wilton CT 06897
203-834-6260
anthony.cocco@wiltonct.org
Officer Anthony Cocco
Appointments only, open to the public

Dedicated To Child Passenger Safety in CT

Connecticut children deserve the best protection available when it comes to riding in the car. If your child has sustained a serious injury from a vehicle accident due to the negligence of another motorist, you could be eligible for financial compensation to help out with any damages suffered. Our winning team of attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace are committed to fighting back for your family’s right to safe travels on Connecticut roads. Call us for a free case evaluation to review all of your options for seeking restitution for your child’s unnecessary injuries.

In 2016, a jury found Dr. Marsel Huribal, Southern Connecticut Vascular Center, and Griffen Hospital negligent in mistreating an 18-year-old patient who lost a leg due to a blood clot. The negligence suit stated that the undetected blood clot leading to the patient losing her leg could have been diagnosed with a test- a test that the doctor and hospital staff all failed to do.

Doctors Are Not All Good

Did the doctor and vascular center have a history of misdiagnosing patients? Has the doctor ever had negligence complaints filed against him before? Did the doctor refer the patient to appropriate specialists that could have properly diagnosed the blood clot? These are all vital questions that possibly could have prevented a catastrophic loss if the patient or family had known they needed to ask them before an emergency occurred. Unfortunately, doctors are given a level of trust simply because they are doctors, and patient health is suffering from it all over the country.

How NOT To Choose a Doctor

When it comes to choosing a doctor, patients have more control over their care than they think. Not all doctors are as qualified as others and a number of patients are choosing their doctors using ineffective methods that could be putting their own health at risk. XpertDox lists the five most common mistakes patients are making when choosing a physician for their care:

1. Relying to highly on websites that rate doctors.
2. Choosing physicians based on friends and family recommendations.
3. Not looking into or understand board certifications.
4. Not looking into doctor specialties
5. Misunderstanding that doctors work with teams.

The most important skill a patient can learn before choosing a doctor is to know what to look for. Identifying certain red flags in a doctor’s history and getting answers to important health questions are crucial tasks patients need to complete before handing over their healthcare to any physician.

Medical Malpractice History

A history of medical errors or medical malpractice suits can be a significant indicator that a doctor may not be the right choice for you. Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States according to a John Hopkins study, taking the lives of over 250,000 patients every year.

The most common errors causing serious illnesses, injuries, and death to patients include:

• Misdiagnosis
• Unnecessary treatments
• Unnecessary tests and proceeders
• Medication mistakes
• Uncoordinated care
• Unplanned events
• Hospital infections
• Missed warning signs
• Accidental events that could be prevented
• Early discharges

When a doctor has been sued for medical malpractice, there are a number of ways patients can find out. In an article posted by Forbes, experts recommend patients look resources such as their State Department of Health Services, the Federation of State Medical Boards, court records, and even Google web searches to identify any malpractice history for a physician that could affect your quality of care.

Lack of Board Certifications

When you are looking for a doctor, you want to make sure they are certified in a specialty that benefits your health. Board certifications should not be downplayed by patients when they are choosing a doctor as not all doctors are skilled enough to pass and maintain these credentials.

Certification Matters describes physicians who are board certified as:

• Skilled and knowledgeable
• Meeting higher standards of care
• Experts in their specialties

Any doctor can claim they are board certified- that doesn’t make it true. Patients should always double check, particularly when seeing a specialty physician, to ensure the doctor is truly certified in the specialty they are practicing in. Using websites such as the American Board of Internal Medicine can help patients confirm active certifications and rule out any physicians who are not being truthful about their abilities.

Asking The Right Questions

Patients should never choose a doctor without asking a number of questions. Doctors generally care deeply about their patient’s health, but no one puts your health at a higher priority level than you. Asking questions can easily rule out doctors who may not be a good fit for your care before putting your health at serious risk.

eMedCert advises patients to ask the following questions before choosing any type of doctor for your care:

• What is your specialty?
• Where did you go to medical school?
• How long have you been practicing?
• What type of patient-physician relationships do you promote?
• What type of emergency services do you provide?
• What medical centers or hospitals are you associated with?
• How do you choose your referrals?
• What are your office hours?
• Can I schedule same day appointments?
• What type of group practice are you in?

There are a number of other questions patients are encouraged to ask that can be done so directly with the physician, nurses, staff, or even by reaching out to the community to talk to current patients about their experience with the doctor and the practice.

Never Settle For Medical Negligence

Patients should never have to settle for doctors with a history of medical negligence. Connecticut residents have a right to quality healthcare. Though they have the ability to advocate for their own health and safety, they shouldn’t always have to. If you or a loved one has suffered an illness or serious injury due to the medical negligence of a physician, you could be eligible for compensation for your losses. Our expert team of medical malpractice attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace is ready to fight back for your right to safe healthcare. Contact us for a free case consultation to begin exploring your options for justice.

When it comes to emergency situations, it’s not always possible to make a phone call for help. In June of 2009, all eyes were on Connecticut when FOX 61 employee, Alice Morrin, was killed in a domestic dispute while on the phone with 911. Morrin had attempted to text a friend multiple times to dial 911 for her after her husband threatened her with a gun but it was taking too long to hear back from the dispatcher. Despite her dangerous situation, Morrin reluctantly decided to call 911 herself and was tragically killed by her husband during the call.

In response to this horrifying incident, and many others similar in nature, Connecticut lawmakers began working on legislation that would make it possible for residents to reach emergency dispatchers by text when they were unable to call- the technology is finally here!

CT Residents Can Now Text 911!

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced on Thursday that Connecticut residents will now have the option to text requests for help to 911 in addition to verbal calls. As a part of the new emergency communications system, residents who are not able to make a phone call due to dangerous circumstances or physical disabilities will be able to send brief messages to 911 in order to receive appropriate emergency services at their specific location.

Here are the steps residents will need to use the new texting system:

• Enter 911 into the “to” or “recipient” field in the text (saving it to your contacts is always the fastest method).
• Text a brief message including your location and which emergency services you require.
• Follow incoming directions from the dispatchers, responding as needed.

State lawmakers are calling the new system an enormous accomplishment but are still reminding the public that text messaging in emergency situations may not always be appropriate. All residents should be aware of both the pros and cons of the system’s capabilities so they know which method to use when contacting 911 in the future.

When To TEXT 911

Not every individual is able to physically call 911 when they are in danger, nor is it always the safest option. In the following situations, texting 911 would be far more beneficial than making a verbal call:

• Domestic Violence: In the case of Alice Morrin, many wonder if a text to 911 as opposed to a call could have saved her life. Victims of domestic violence often find themselves in situations where making a phone call is impossible and dangerous. By texting 911 instead, they can seek help in a more discrete manner that draws less attention or suspicion from their partners.
• Mass Shootings: Back in April 2007, 33 people were killed in the Virginia Tech University shooting. After the incident, it was reported that dozens of students and staff members hiding in silence sent texts to 911 pleading for help but the texts were never received since the 911 center could only accept voice calls. Texts to 911 would be extremely beneficial in the case of school attacks or mass shootings where victims are in silent hiding.
• Disabled Individuals: People with hearing or speech disabilities have difficulty conveying their emergency needs or following dispatcher instructions when making verbal phone calls.  Texting will allow these individuals to provide accurate information about their emergency situation and have a better outcome when it comes to responding to advice from 911 dispatchers on emergency care.
• Witnesses of Violent Crimes: Sometimes, witnesses who call 911 in the middle of a crime can be pulled into the chaos. If someone is a witness to an ongoing crime where it may be unsafe to call 911, these residents can benefit from sending a few text messages for help as opposed to drawing extra attention to themselves by being on the phone.

Downfalls of Texting 911

Texting 911 is extremely helpful in dire situations but it can actually delay services for people that are capable of making a phone call. EfficientGov highlights the significant cons of texting 911 dispatchers that could prevent efficient emergency responses when they are needed the most:

• System Misuse: System misuse backs up 911 services and can delay the response time of help. In 2017, a study was released by the HeraldNet in Washington that showed hundreds of people were misusing emergency texting services. At least 94% of the emergencies that were texted in 2016 could have been handled over the phone, causing dispatchers to focus more time on deciphering text messages than providing quick service.
• Language Barriers: Interpreters are generally available to anyone who calls 911- not the case with texting. Translating technology can be used when necessary to try and figure out what the text message says when it is in a different language, but missing characters or incorrect online translations could cause a great deal of confusion and prevent first responders from arriving in a timely manner.
• Text Only: Some residents in cities that have already implemented 911 texting have reported trying to send videos and photo messages to help emergency dispatchers understand their situation better. Unfortunately, most of these are never received as the technology is not made to handle texts with any content but written words.
• Out of Service: You can call 911 at any time, but emergency texting is not always available. If you are out of a service area or your device is roaming, your emergency text could get delayed or declined completely, whereas an emergency call would have gone through.
• Delays: Even if your text message does make it through to 911, it can take several minutes for the 911 dispatchers to receive the text, decipher the message, and send back an appropriate response. Your particular cell phone provider could also slow down the process depending on how reliable the service is.
• Ineffective Emergency Advice: When you call a 911 dispatcher, the person on the other line can quickly give you safety instructions as to what to do in your emergency situation before help arrives. This information can not only be dangerously condensed within a text message but misinterpreted by the person on the other end, causing unnecessary injuries to become worse or fatalities to occur.

Call If You Can…Text If You Can’t

Emergency 911 texting services are going to change the lives of many Connecticut residents who have been unable to receive appropriate emergency services in the past. But if you are a resident who is physically and safely able to call 911, texting in the case of an emergency may cause you more harm. State officials want to remind all residents that calling 911 is still the best way to receive appropriate emergency services- don’t text if you don’t have to!

Our expert personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace are dedicated to protecting Connecticut residents who are wrongfully injured due to the negligence of others. With over 40 years of combined experience, our aggressive team is ready to fight back for your right to safety by seeking financial compensation for any damages suffered after your unnecessary accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to see how we can seek justice for you.