The concept of ‘dry drowning’ has been frightening American parents for years. Living in fear that your child could become fatally ill every time they accidentally swallow water is terrifying. And stories that claim some children have died days and even a week after a swimming accident can cause any parent to have nightmares.
According to the National Safety Council (N.S.C.), 3,709 people died of unintentional drowning accidents in 2017, and more than 12 percent of these victims were under the age of four. Drowning is the leading cause of death for young children in our country; fortunately, dry drowning is not.
Connecticut parents who love swimming with their children do not have to avoid the water this summer to stay safe. Understanding what dry drowning really is can take immense pressure off of families and allow them to focus on the real dangers their children face in the water.
Mass media outlets ran with the term ‘dry drowning’ after the heartbreaking death of a 4-year-old Texas boy in 2017. According to CNN, Frankie Delgado died of dry drowning a week after swimming in the ocean with his family.
Reports state Frankie was knocked down by a wave and submerged underwater for only a few seconds. Frankie died a week later from what doctors attributed to dry drowning after finding fluid surrounding his heart and in his lungs.
Unfortunately, the cause of Frankie’s death turned out to be a rare heart condition unrelated to the water incident. Health professionals have been attempting to debunk the myths surrounding dry drowning ever since, with little success due to the extreme media frenzy that followed the initial story.
Medical experts want parents to know that “dry drowning” “secondary drowning” and “near drowning” are not medically accepted terms or conditions. Healthy children do not die from drowning days after an accident, nor from inhaling small amounts of water.
The majority of children who experience fatal water accidents other than drowning have underlying health conditions to explain the bizarre and tragic reactions to water. Understanding how drowning affects the body can immensely reduce the panic some parents feel every time their children swim, and allow them to concentrate on how to prevent drowning accidents in the first place.
A study in Science Daily published last year describes drowning as a process- not a single event. Experts state that drowning can be mild, moderate, or severe. There are several stages that occur when someone is drowning that can be interrupted at any time by medical interventions.
The Dedham Health Foundation identifies five stages of drowning all parents should be familiar with:
Terms such as ‘dry drowning’ confuse parents into believing that health conditions triggered by swimming are a different type of drowning when they aren’t. Because these terms have become so widely used among the general public, some medical professionals are adapting them to identify stages of drowning, while making it clear these are labels and not actual medical conditions. Here’s how the Science Daily study outlined the terms:
Experts who believe in using the term dry drowning will often use it to describe a rare condition called laryngospasm. According to Healthline, laryngospasm occurs when the vocal cords suddenly spasm and block air (or water) from entering.
This condition can be brought on by stress or anxiety, which is common among drowning victims. Deaths in these cases will show little to no water in the lungs, prompting the label of ‘dry’ drowning.
Secondary drowning is a term used to diagnose drowning victims who have suffered subsequent injuries or death days after a drowning incident. This term does not mean victims can continue to drown days after they are in the water, but rather that the aspiration of water sparks a secondary medical condition that causes someone to worsen over time.
One example of secondary drowning could include when a person inhales water that is not reabsorbed into the body once it enters the lungs. Sedentary water in the lungs could cause someone to have trouble breathing and lead to additional health concerns such as infections.
The term “near drowning” is used often to describe a drowning incident that did not end in a fatality. Medical professionals, however, do not widely use this term as drowning does not have to end in death to be considered drowning.
Drowning puts the body into severe stress and fear. These extreme physical and emotional consequences can trigger hidden health conditions that appear to be related to drowning but are not. Thankfully, most drowning accidents are entirely preventable if parents know what to do when swimming with their kids.
The terms you use to describe drowning mean nothing if someone you love has suffered a fatal accident. Connecticut parents can reduce their child’s chance of drowning immensely by following these prevention steps outlined by the N.S.C.:
For more information on how to swim safely this summer, the N.S.C. has tons of resources parents and families can take advantage of.
Taking the perfect selfie has become a deadly new game and a major public health issue. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology (N.C.B.I.) examining selfie deaths from October 2011 to November 2017 reported at least 259 fatalities in a seven-year period. The United States was the third leading country in the world for deadly selfies, preceded only by India and Russia.
Teens and young adults are putting their lives at risk more than ever before, just to prove on social media how ‘daring’ they can be. Parents should be aware of the most fatal selfie trends and how to educate their kids on the dangers of these behaviors.
Risky photographers, particularly those who love selfie images, are taking social media by storm. These are the top seven fatal selfie accidents your kids should be avoiding:
Researchers found drowning to be the leading cause of selfie death around the world, accounting for 70 of the 259 reported fatalities. In July of 2017, eight men from India on a boat picnic were taking selfies and live-streaming their ride. Sadly, the boat suddenly tipped over, and all eight men drowned in the lake.
Attempting to secure a photo with a serene landscape in the background is leading social media fans to pull some risky stunts. In May of this year, a college student from Oregon fell 100-feet to her death when she climbed over a retaining wall to get a better view at the edge of a cliff. Another woman in California fell 200-feet from a cliff in September 2018, when she slipped trying to take a selfie with the scenery in the background.
A social media phenomenon called ‘rooftopping’ is leading people to climb on top of buildings, ledges, and cliffs to get the perfect shot of their climb. In November 2017, a 26-year-old Chinese rooftopper fell off of a 62-story building while pulling a stunt for his Instagram. The social media star, famous for his skyscraper selfies, was attempting to do pull-ups from a building when he fell trying to climb back up.
According to the study, at least 48 people taking selfies have died by fire. In January 2015, two soldiers from Russia were posing with a live grenade when the device unexpectedly detonated, killing both of the men instantly and leaving the phone with the proof.
A huge trend currently on social media is taking photos in front of moving vehicles, such as trains, buses, and car. Unfortunately, some of these photographers are not getting out of the way in time. A 15-year-old girl from Russia was killed this past March by a freight train when trying to take a selfie on the tracks with a friend. The friend was able to jump out of the way but the girl was not so lucky.
Animals do not understand selfies or social media, and they have no problem ruining a photo with an attack. In Spain back in August 2015, a 32-year-man was killed when gored by a bull. The man was watching the annual Running of the Bulls event when he left a protected area to take a selfie with the dangerous animal.
A surprising 16 people have been killed by electrocution when taking a selfie, and some are because of the infamous selfie sticks. An English hiker was killed in July 2015 by a bolt of lighting in Whales. The man reportedly was taking a picture with a selfie stick when an unexpected thunderstorm caught him by surprise. Other electrocutions stem from individuals climbing on top of train cars, such as the 13-year-old Russian boy who was killed after touching a 27,500-volt cable in May.
The N.C.B.I. study showed adults ages 20 to 29 had the highest rate of selfie casualties with 106 deaths. Here is how the other age groups compared:
Contrary to popular belief, most of the individuals who are dying from selfies are not professional photographers and famous Instagram stars. Everyday people on vacation or just around their area are pushing the limits for a shocking photo, and losing their lives in the process.
Similar to traffic safety campaigns, countries are starting to implement selfie safety programs to warn people to stop taking risks. According to The Verge, Russia launched its first Safe Selfie campaign in 2015. The motto of the campaign reads: “Every million ‘likes’ on social media are not worth your life and well-being.”
Cities in India have also started taking steps to promote selfie safety. Mumbai has designated ‘no selfie zones’ where tourists often take risks for a picture.
In honor of National Selfie Day, our team at Jacobs & Wallace wants you to participate safely. Here are a few steps you can take when snapping your selfie today to reduce your risk of injury:
Just because something seems healthier, doesn’t mean it is. Several new trends have hit the market in the past year, claiming to be healthier alternatives to other known dangerous habits. Millions of consumers jumped on board with these trends with the expectations of a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, experts are finding these ‘healthier trends’ could actually be putting individuals at risk for long-term health consequences and conditions.
Certain companies prey on the goals of Americans to live healthier lifestyles, especially around New Years and the summer months when most people are looking to make the switch. According to USA Today and Life Daily, these are the most popular health trends people are falling victim to that could make you sick in the long run.
Vaping and e-cigarettes have become one of the most overlooked health concerns until recently. Claiming to be healthier alternatives to smoking traditional tobacco, vaping has soared in popularity and hooked millions of new smokers with false advertising and misconceptions.
Unlike previously believed, more vaping juices contain nicotine than previously thought. Some products even labeled ‘nicotine-free’ have tested positive for small trace amounts enough to cause addiction issues overtime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), vaping juices have also been discovered to contain other harmful substances: ultrafine particles that can harm the lungs, flavorings connected to lung disease, volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals.
Vaping is becoming an epidemic across most of the country, especially with children and teens. In Connecticut, state legislators recently signed a bill raising the smoking age from 18 to 21 to reduce the access of all smoking products to younger users in hopes to curve the harmful trend.
A ‘raw movement’ has begun in attempts to eliminate the dangers of preservatives and added sugars. While certain products are better to consume raw, such as most vegetable and fruits, some consumers are taking the trend a little too far.
Raw eggs, fish, honey, nuts, and milk are becoming popular products to consume complexly raw. Some advocates of raw foods insist they have health benefits over the processed and pasteurized alternatives. But these products also pose a significant health risk when done wrong. According to WebMD, salmonella, E.coli, cyanide, and other life-threatening bacteria can be contracted from raw products when mistake occurring in harvesting, planting or collecting.
Life Daily reports ‘raw water’ is another health trend gone wrong. Some people are marketing raw water as purer than bottled water. However, bacteria sitting in untreated water is known for causing terrible stomach and gastrointestinal problems- a very unpleasant side effect and not a healthier alternative.
You may have noticed more cans of spiked seltzer floating around at barbecues this summer. Spiked seltzer or spiked water is another health trend that claims to contain fewer calories than other alcoholic beverages. Yet, experts are now finding both of these drinks are leading to undesired effects.
USA Today reports studies are showing people are drinking these products in excessive amounts. Studies are also finding these drinks are making people drunker, quicker. This is causing people to make unsafe decisions regarding drinking could be leading to an uptick in drunk driving incidents.
Alcohol consumed in high amounts is unhealthy, no matter how many calories are in the mixer. Alcohol leads to high blood pressure, strokes, liver damage, and several other health consequences. ‘Health Drinks’ such as spiked water and seltzer make consumers believe they are avoiding the health consequences of sugar while putting their body at more risk for alcohol-related conditions.
Staying healthy and fit is the right way to starting a healthy lifestyle. Various fitness trackers on the market are helping people to track their progress, but these apps could be negatively affecting their health in other ways.
USA Today reports experts are finding that fitness trackers and health apps are negatively impacting consumer’s mental health. By constantly monitoring their body, staying fit is becoming an unhealthy obsession for thousands of Americans. In addition, these apps have been found to provide inaccurate information which misleads participants to seek unhealthy workout plans or diets for optimal results.
Juice cleanses have been around for years. They all claim to detox the body of toxins, but none of them explain the health consequences of only drinking juice for days on end.
As with all other cleanses, scientists, have found no long or short-term health benefits with these dangerous trends. According to Life Daily, cleanses deprive the body of nutrients needed to stay healthy and energized. In addition to feeling faint and weak, juices cleanses can cause a number of digestive problems, muscle loss, and a compromised immune system.
Our bodies need vitamins to live. But too many supplements can have adverse effects. Some manufacturers are promoting the use of relying heavily on vitamins and supplements to maintain your health without coaching consumers on the proper amounts to take for their size and age.
Overloading on vitamins and supplements can make you extremely sick. The Recommended Daily reports that consuming certain vitamins in the wrong amounts can even cause permeant damage to internal organs. Other side effects of too many vitamins include numbness, headaches, muscle weakness, blurred vision, and hair loss.
If a trend is claiming to be a ‘miracle cure’ or to make you healthy quick, it’s probably not going to work the way you want it to. Good health takes time and dedication. Health trends are made to generate a profit and are rarely looking out for your best interests.
If you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle, WebMD has an excellent list to get you started including tips such as:
Most importantly, do your research. Some types of diets and trends can be beneficial in moderation. For more information on staying healthy, visit WebMD for tips and tricks.
More than 100 new Connecticut laws went into effect on July 1, while several others passed through the legislative session. According to an article by the Hartford Courant, here are eight of the most life-changing laws residents should know about:
One of the most meaningful pieces of legislation that passed this month was the law that now allows workers’ compensation benefits to cover post-traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D.) for first responders. Police officers and firefighters witness traumatic and catastrophic events on the job over and over again, putting them at an increased risk for P.T.S.D. Giving these local heroes time to heal psychically and psychologically, without the stress of taking on a financial loss, will greatly increase their overall health when returning to work.
Until this month, children in Connecticut were not allowed to carry their own sunscreen at school! The new law allow children older than six to bring and self-apply sunscreen before outdoor school activities as long as they provide a written note from their parents. The old law required schools to treat sunscreen as over-the-counter medication, requiring a doctor’s note and school nurses to apply the sunscreen.
A new law will require the Department of Social Services to help mothers who require medically necessary breast milk donations by covering the costs through Medicaid. This law will significantly improve the mortality rate for premature babies or infants with health conditions that have a higher chance of survival on breast milk than formula.
Connecticut minors will now have access to HIV prevention medication without requiring parental consent. The pre-exposure medications such as prophylaxis, or PrEP, and are used by people at high risk for HIV to lower their chances of becoming infected. Under the current state law, minors were already allowed to be treated if they had HIV or AIDS without parental consent. As of July 1, high-risk minors can now protect themselves from getting the disease in private as well.
At least $250,000 in funding will be used to create a LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network. Individuals in the LGBTQ community can often be discouraged from seeking medical care out of fear and the prejudice views they receive from unaccepting heath care providers. The goal is to build a healthier and safer environment for Connecticut residents to seek the services they require without discrimination.
A new council will review proposals for Connecticut communities who want to take advantage of 5G Technology. These networks are up to five times more responsive and 100 times faster than current wireless services. State officials believe 5G Technology is critical to our state’s economic future and would like to see more communities take advantage of the opportunity.
Connecticut residents who support the armed forces in the community could now receive a civilian award under this new law. The Connecticut Medal of Merit, similar to medal honoring military members, will be awarded to any civilian who “has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious conduct that contributes significantly to the accomplishment of the armed forces’ mission.”
State officials want people to view Connecticut as a bioscience hub. In line with this image, a new law was created to dedicate funding to a marketing plan, social media campaign, and website to promote the idea. The deadline for the launch of the project is currently February 1, 2020. The states current bioscience sector includes 2,500 companies with nearly 39,000 workers.
For more information about the new Connecticut laws, you can find the full list here.
There is something about lawn mowers that makes kids go nuts, especially when mom or dad allows them to take a ride. But the utter excitement children show for lawn mowers makes parents forget these machines are hazardous pieces of equipment. With spinning metal blades, heavy wheels, and deadly carbon monoxide gas spewing from the exhaust, lawn mowers cause more than 9,000 pediatric emergency room visits every year, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
As summer persists, lawn mowers will be out daily in communities across the state. These dangerous machines can lead to life-threatening injuries. Connecticut parents must be cautious when mowing the lawn and know how to avoid the most common accidents to help keep their kids safe this season.
Despite popular belief among children, lawn mowers are not toys. There are several features of law mowers that can put children at risk for serious and fatal injuries. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons highlights these as the most common lawn mower-related accidents to watch for:
Cuts and lacerations from mower blades are the most common lawn mower-related injury in children and responsible for nearly 40 percent of all accidents. A lawn mower blade spins at an average of 3,000 rpm, comparable to a car going 25 mph down the road. Children can easily get their hands and feet caught up in the mower’s blade when standing too close or if they slip while riding on the seat. A significant number of these injuries result in cuts so serve amputations are necessary to save the remainder of the extremities injured.
The engine or gas tank on a lawn mower becomes extremely hot during operation. Children who touch lawn mowers, even after they are turned off, can sustain serious burn injuries that can damage the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments or even the bones depending on the depth of the burn.
Lawn mower blades operate with enough force to cause an ‘open broken bone,’ an injury where the skin above the bone is torn. These injuries are common after lawn mower accidents and can be extremely painful to recover from. Open fractures often involve damage to surrounding tissue, muscle, tendons, or ligaments, increasing a persons’ chance of infection and permanent damage.
A back-over accident occurs when someone is injured while the operator is backing up the lawn mower, typically with a ride on machine. According to a study by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, there were over 1,641 back-over injuries in the United States from 1990 to 2014. Over 70 percent of these injuries were individuals under the age of five.
Back-over accidents most often occur when the operator is not aware someone is behind them. According to NBC, safety advocates believe back-over accidents could be completely prevented if lawn mowers were unable to mow in reverse. However, mower manufacturers continue to grant the operators ability to override these features, defeating the purpose of the addition.
At least 600 lawn mower-related injuries result in partial or full amputations. Amputations are one of the most traumatic injuries a person can endure. Lawn mower-related amputation accidents most often involve the hands and feet in children. These injuries can be immediate caused by the force of the blade or a secondary consequence to another injury if the damage is severe.
Children under the ages of 17 are at highest risk for lawn mower accidents. In a study published in Science Daily, researchers found varying types of common lawn mower injuries depending on age. Children younger than five showed a higher risk of burn injuries from touching hot metal and back-over accidents. Children ages five to seventeen showed an elevated risk for injuries pertaining to being struck or cut, most often by the lawn mower or projectile objects when they are standing too close.
The A.A.P. reports children ages 3 and 16 are most at risk for injuries overall. Three-year-olds are incredibly intrigued by lawn mowers and will sneak up behind them without a thought. Sixteen-year-olds are more at risk for driving or operating injuries. Teens who help out at home with mowing the lawn may not be experienced or familiar with the equipment, which increases their risk for accidents.
Freak lawn mower accidents can happen right here in Connecticut. Last month, two children in Fairfield were injured from a 10-inch metal that came flying through their car window. A nearby commercial lawn mower had sucked up the spike, propelling it 20-feet into the rear window of the vehicle the children were riding in. Thankfully, they sustained only minor injuries, but they were also 20-feet away from the lawn mower and behind glass. Not all children are this lucky.
In 2017, 4-year-old boy, Rocco Mongillo from Berlin, lost his hand in a lawn mower accident when riding with his father. Rocco was sitting in the seat, between his father’s arms and legs, when he suddenly slipped under the lawn mower. The family rushed Rocco to the hospital where doctors were forced to amputate his hand and wrist from the extensive damage. Rocco has since had five surgeries after his accident and will need many more as he grows.
No matter how safe and careful you try to be with your children around lawn mowers, accidents still happen. Connecticut parents should be aware of the most common lawn mower accidents that could put their children in harm’s way before they consider letting their kids out on the lawn.
Lawn mower accidents are entirely preventable. Keep your children safe this summer by following these safety tips from the AAP, including:
With Fourth of July celebrations right around the corner, summertime fun is on the way. Millions of Americans are planning patriotic festivities this weekend, but celebrators should beware. Fourth of July is one of the most dangerous holidays of the year, both on the road and at home. Connecticut parents can reduce their child’s chance of injuries this weekend simply by being prepared. Planning for safety could mean the difference between spending your holiday celebrating or taking a less than thrilling trip to the emergency room.
The AAA predicts over 41.4 million people will jump in the car this Independence Day to travel for the holiday. With nearly 2 million more travelers on the roads than the previous year, traffic accidents are bound to skyrocket.
Fourth of July is one of the deadliest days for families on the road, and mostly due to impaired driving. In 2017, over 600 people died in motor vehicle accidents during the month surrounding Independence Day. According to Forbes, more than 39 percent of these accidents were caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a 23 percent increase from 2016.
Connecticut State Troopers respond to an average of 300 to 400 vehicle accidents on the Fourth of July every year, but not all are caused by drunk driving. Fatigued, distracted, and aggressive drivers, can also lead to catastrophic accidents on the road, particularly road congestion rises.
Parents can significantly protect their children from vehicle accident injuries this weekend by buckling their seatbelts or using a child safety seat. Make sure your child is properly restrained based on their size. If you need help with installing a car seat, find a fitting station near you to put your mind at ease before your trip.
Modeling positive driving behaviors is another way to reduce your risk of getting into an accident over Independence Day. Keep your speeds slow on the road to give yourself a longer reaction time to road hazards. Reduce distractions in your car by setting ground rules with your kids about volume and noise. Avoid aggressive maneuvers and look out for drivers showing dangerous driving behaviors such as swerving, drifting, speeding or driving too slow, or quickly making traffic moves. These behaviors could indicate a driver is under the influence.
Swimming is an all-time favorite summer pastime for kids that can also be one of the deadliest. More than 800 children die annually in the United States from unintentional drowning accidents, according to the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, and Seniors (C.W.C.S). Approximately 54 percent of the deaths are children between the ages of 0 to 4, at the time when most children are unable or still learning to swim.
Connecticut sees about seven unintentional child drowning deaths a year. Though learning how to swim can significantly reduce your child’s chance of drowning, accidents still happen. It only takes 25 seconds for a child to drown, and unlike on T.V., they can do so without a sound.
The number one step parents can take to keep their kids safe while swimming this summer is to pay attention. Most drowning accidents happen when parents look away or lose sight of their children in the water for only a few minutes. Even if your child has a life preserver or swimming aide, never leave them alone in the water. Take additional steps to keep children safe such as gating off pools, learning C.P.R., and requiring life jackets for all children unable to swim independently.
Connecticut bans the commercial sale of all fireworks aside from sparklers and fountains, but even these products can be extremely hazardous. Sparklers, for instance, are products that kids have been waving around for decades. Yet, touching the end of one of these fiery sticks is equivalent to the same amount of heat that accumulates at the edge of a blow torch- nearly 2,000 degrees!
As exciting as they seem, children are severely and permanently injured in preventable firework accidents every Fourth of July. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 44 percent of firework injuries resulted in burns. The most injured body parts include:
Parents can avoid firework injuries completely this year by saying ‘no’ to home fireworks. There are plenty of opportunities for families to view spectacular fireworks in Connecticut this year without putting their health and safety at risk. For more information on firework shows near you, click here!
Just because you stay home to celebrate the Fourth of July does not mean you are safe from injuries. Backyard barbecues are full of opportunities for kids to sustain horrific injuries, especially when parents are not paying attention.
Some of the most popular barbecue mishaps parents should watch for this year include:
As community safety advocates, our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend! Plan ahead, stay alert and don’t take a risk with your family’s health this holiday.
If you or a loved has been injured in an accident due to the negligent acts of someone else, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options.
