Turkey celebrations and Thanksgiving football parties are just around the corner! Regardless of where you will be celebrating this year, start your holiday season off safely by knowing how to prevent these four-holiday hazards that could lead to disaster.  

Travel Nightmares  

The AAA is predicting a record number of holiday travelers on the roads this week. At least 49.3 million Americans will be driving to their Thanksgiving feasts around the country.  

Car travel is by far the most fatal method of travel, especially during holiday breaks. According to the National Safety Council (N.S.C.), more than 400 people die in motor vehicle accidents over the Thanksgiving holiday period. Some of the risk factors leading to an increase in tragic accidents include:  

Prepare for emergencies before you leave for your road trip this week. Pack your car with first aid equipment, extra food, water and clothes, hazards lights in the case of an accident, and tools that can help you prepare for winter weather to come. It’s also a good idea to check your tire pressure to reduce your risk of tire failures that could lead to life-threatening accidents.  

 Other tips for safe driving this holiday from the N.S.C. include:  

Food Poisoning Disasters  

After spending weeks planning a Thanksgiving feast and hours whipping it up on the day, the last thing you want is to make your guests sick. Cases of food poisoning are extremely common over the holidays. Between large groups of diners, multiple cooks in the kitchen, and high demand for dinner to be on time, undercooked and contaminated dishes unintentionally make it to the table.  

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), these are the foodborne illnesses to watch for with each dish and how to prevent them:  

 Meat (chicken, beef, pork, turkey):  

Fruits and Vegetables: 

Egg and Egg Recipes:  

Seafood and Raw Shellfish: 

Alcohol Safety  

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has become one of the most popular drinking nights of the year. Also known as Drinksgiving to younger generations, bars, and restaurants who serve alcohol across the country often see lines out the door.  

With a rush of college students heading home for the holiday break and thousands of others traveling back to see family and friends, the number of drunk drivers on the road drastically increases. Be smart about drinking this week and don’t add to the dangers on the road that can lead to devastating road fatalities. Some critical safety precautions to keep in mind include:  

Pet Dangers 

Don’t forget about the furry friends who will be scrounging for table scraps this Thanksgiving. Ingesting bones and other types of table food toxic to animals can lead to deadly consequences for your pet. Keep your pets safe this Turkey Day with these recommendations from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

Our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Whatever your plans are this week, plan ahead, stay alert, and have a wonderful holiday.  

Jacobs & Wallace Connecticut Accident Attorneys  

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the negligence of another, our winning team of personal injury attorneys is here to help. Contact our expert team of Connecticut accident attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options. 

Hospitals in Connecticut could be getting safer! According to the Fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, Connecticut hospitals have drastically improved since the beginning of the year. Ranking number 40 in the Spring 2019 report, Connecticut now sits at number 17. That’s a 23 rank increase in just six months! 

Medical errors are still a leading cause of death in America, responsible for over 400,000 fatalities every year. Hospitals and medical centers must be held accountable for upholding high standards of care. Oversight in health and safety practices results in preventable accidents, putting patient’s lives at unnecessary risk.  

Connecticut Hospital Rankings 

Hospitals in the state may be improving, but it’s still imperative that Connecticut residents do their research before seeking medical care. Choosing a medical facility based on proximity over quality is not a sacrifice patients should have to make. The transparency provided by the Leapfrog Hospital Group helps patients choose the best facility for their health and avoid hospitals who do not prioritize safety.  

Out of the 24 Connecticut facilities rated in the Fall Leapfrog Hospital Grade Report, nearly 38 percent received an ‘A’ rating, five more facilities than in the Spring 2019 grades. Unfortunately, one hospital in Bridgeport received a ‘D’ rating this season when no facilities received a rating this low in the Spring.  

See where your local hospital landed in the full list of ratings below:  

A- Rating  

Bristol Hospital- Bristol 

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital- Torrington 

Johnson Memorial Medical Center- Stafford Springs 

MidState Medical Center- Meriden 

Sharon Hospital- Sharon 

St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center- Hartford 

Stamford Health- Stamford 

The William W. Backus Hospital- Norwich 

Windham Community Memorial Hospital- Willimantic 

B- Rating  

Danbury Hospital- Danbury 

New Milford Hospital- New Milford 

The Hospital of Central Connecticut- New Britain 

C- Rating  

Bridgeport Hospital- Bridgeport 

Day Kimball Hospital- Putnam 

Greenwich Hospital- Greenwich 

Griffin Hospital- Derby 

Hartford Hospital- Hartford 

Lawrence & Memorial Hospital- New London 

Middlesex Health- Middletown 

Saint Mary’s Hospital- Waterbury 

University of Connecticut Health Center, John Dempsey Hospital- Farmington 

Yale-New Haven Hospital- New Haven 

Yale-New Haven Hospital Saint Raphael Campus- New Haven 

D- Rating  

St. Vincent’s Medical Center- Bridgeport  

How They Get The Grade 

The Leapfrog Group has provided transparency to patients across the country regarding hospital safety and health standards for nearly 20 years. Founded in 2000, this nonprofit has become highly respected in the health care industry for its grading system, creating a golden standard for hospitals to strive for. 

Since the grading system began, hospital safety ratings have noticeably been on the rise. Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade reports are released twice a year to keep patients updated: once in May and again in October, both periods known for high rates of injuries.  

Each hospital or medical center evaluated is crucially reviewed in five main areas that can make-or-break the success of a facility:  

The Leapfrog Expert Panel derives each hospital’s grade by selecting, analyzing, and determining the weight of 28 measures of hospital safety based on three factors: evidence, the opportunity for improvement, and impact. Each measure is then defined into these two groups, which each make up 50 percent of the overall scores:  

Patients deserve optimal health care every time they visit a hospital. By holding hospitals accountable for improving their levels of care, The Leapfrog Group has significantly impacted how these facilities are run and how/why patients are choosing their healthcare facilities. 

How To Stay Safe 

Unfortunately, not every hospital prioritizes health and safety as highly as others. To help keep you and your loved ones safe during any hospital visit, The Leapfrog Groups recommends taking the following simple steps: 

No one should have to suffer from subpar medical care. For more resources on how to keep you and your family safe in the hospitals, click here for more information from the Leapfrog Group. 

Connecticut Medical Malpractice Attorneys  

Hospitals and medical centers have an obligation to prevent their patients from unforeseeable harm. If you or a loved has been injured due to the medical negligence of a health care facility, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team of medical malpractice attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation and to explore your options. 

Following Breast Cancer Awareness month, we are proud to announce that we are donating $1032 to the Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation for our social media initiative to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer in the month of October. The total amount of our donation is based on $1 for every engagement we received in October for our breast cancer awareness post on facebook.

Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation 

Breast cancer is a disease that is not discriminatory based on gender, race, ethnicity, age, or socioeconomic background. One in eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Even men have a 1 in 1,000 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer, often experiencing a higher rate of fatalities from late diagnoses.

Breast cancer does not care if you are having trouble paying your bills. It doesn’t care if you are living check-to-check, if you have unsatisfactory health insurance, or if you’re saving money to buy a family home.

The immediate and staggering financial consequences of breast cancer puts unbearable stress on survivors and their families. Cancer treatments can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and over $100,000 depending on the procedures and medication required.

Aside from the medical costs, breast cancer patients often fall behind on their personal financial responsibilities when their focus is on beating a deadly disease. With the unthinkable decision to choose daily necessities over living, breast cancer treatments often come first.

The Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation (B.C.E.A.F.) believes no one should have to choose between chemotherapy and a roof over their heads. Since 2006, supporters and volunteers of B.C.E.A.F. have helped over 3,400 patients throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. B.C.E.A.F. focuses on providing financial assistance for the non-medical expenses survivors and families do not plan for after they are impacted by breast cancer.

Many patients cannot work or lose their employment while undergoing cancer treatments. Caregivers and family members may also have to quit their jobs to take care of their loved ones fully time. When patients who are financially struggling are referred to B.C.E.A.F. by nurses, social worker, and other services providers, our team provides direct financial support in the areas needed most, including:

B.C.E.A.F. has helped thousands of survivors across the region, but their efforts are far from over. As hundreds of thousands of patients become newly diagnosed with cancer every year, more survivors are in need of support than ever before.

Out military members, active or retired, deserve more than a simple thank you on Veterans Day. Here are some freebies and deals highlighted by the Hartford Courant that Connecticut veterans and family members should know about this week!  

Freebies and Deal on Veterans Day (and week)! 

Meal Deals  

Free and Discount Attractions  

NOTE: Most locations will require you to bring your military ID. Some may also have a specified time when free meals, deals, and discounted rates are offered. For more information, call ahead or click here for details.  

Help CT Veterans Near You 

Millions of veterans across the country struggle with poverty, hunger, and housing insecurity. According to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.  

For all of the sacrifices these brave men and women have made, veterans are not always well cared for. Transitioning back to civilian life after service can prove difficult for veterans when it comes to finding employment, maintaining personal relationships, and securing affordable housing. These local heroes, who have done so much to protect our freedoms, often suffer from severe untreated trauma that can leave them hungry and living on the streets.  

Veterans do not always reach out for help when they need it. Check-in with your veteran neighbors this week to see if you can be of any support. Grab this list and pass on the deals. Even a free cup of coffee can make someone’s day. You can even start your own event to support veterans in your area! 

Our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes everyone a Happy Veterans Day. Thank you to all who have served, and for the many sacrifices, you have made for our country.  

Today marks the end of Daylight Savings, and everyone on the road should beware. Motor vehicle accidents drastically increase around this time of the year. With shorter days and earlier sunsets, driving this week will bring on more hazards than most motorists are prepared for.  

Pedestrians and cyclists are most at risk for injuries when the roads go dark. To help keep everyone safe during the fall and winter months, these are the steps all Connecticut residents should be taking to help reduce life-threatening traffic accidents.  

Prepare For Dark Roads 

The end of Daylight Savings can be a shock to drivers who are not used to driving in the dark, both in the morning and evening hours. The sun in Connecticut will now set closer to 4:45 pm, putting millions of drivers on dark roads for their commutes. 

Driving in the dark is noticeably more dangerous than driving during the day. According to the National Safety Council, motorists are three times more likely to get into a car accident at night, with the most deadly hours occurring between 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  

Nighttime driving can significantly affect the critical functions a driver needs to operate their vehicle safely, including visibility, depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision. Motorists can help combat the onset of nighttime driving hazards by taking the following precautions before they get behind the wheel:  

With normal headlights, drivers on average are only able to see 250 feet ahead in the dark. Keep your speeds low for more control over your vehicle and the chance of reacting quicker to road hazards.  

Reduce Driver Fatigue 

Changes to your sleep schedule and the natural instinct to become sleepy after dark means drivers may feel a bit more drowsy behind the wheel this week. Fatigued driving is extremely dangerous to both drivers and others sharing the road. Drowsy drivers are known for swerving, drifting, becoming distracted, or making risky decisions; all behaviors known for leading to accidents.  

According to the National Sleep Foundation, at least 60 percent of adults report they often drive tired, and another 37 percent admit to falling asleep being the wheel – don’t be a statistic. Make sure to get enough sleep this week to make up for the hour time difference. If you feel too tired to drive, pull over in a safe location, and take a rest. Also, avoid driving later or earlier than usual until you have adjusted.  

Watch for Pedestrians and Cyclists!  

It may be dark, but pedestrians and cyclists are still on the road. Between children waiting for the bus, pedestrians walking home from work, and cyclists out enjoying a ride, all drivers will need to stay on high alert.  

Speeding, failure to yield, and left-handed turns are the leading causes of pedestrian road accidents, and darker roads only escalate these risks. Pedestrians and cyclists can reduce their chances of becoming the victim of an accident by staying visible and alert to cars at all times. These basic safety steps can help get you started:  

Don’t Drive Recklessly  

Distracted and aggressive driving are deadly habits on the road, especially at night. Drivers already have less time to spot hazards on the road. Adding in factors such as speed, risky lane changes, or distractions will almost always result in an accident turning fatal. 

These are the dangerous road behaviors Connecticut drivers should be avoiding to prevent causing harm to others:  

Our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes everyone a safe start to the end of Daylight Savings. Bottom line, stay alert, pay attention, and follow the rules of the road to prevent accidents.  

Connecticut Truck Accident Attorneys  

The time change is no excuse to behave poorly behind the wheel. Vehicle accidents caused by reckless driving are unacceptable. If you or a loved has been injured in a car accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries. Contact our expert team of personal injury attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options. 

Our Commitment To You:

No Fees Unless We Win

If we take your case, it will not cost you anything upfront. We represent clients statewide and handle all our injury cases on a contingency basis.
Get a Free Case Review
Let's talk about your case.
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
menu
menuchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram