Taking your kids to the playground in the summer is perfect for keeping them active and moving. Kids love climbing, sliding, running, and swinging till they drop. But when extreme heat and humidity are present, combined with prolonged exposure to the summer sun, children are at an elevated risk for heat-related illnesses and injuries.
Because of their size, children are already at a higher risk for heat stress than adults in the summer. The Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) states that a child’s body mass to surface area ratio makes them more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, causing them to become dehydrated faster, especially when active. A child’s lack of judgment and love for play may also cause them to exert more energy in extreme heat without knowing how to regulate their bodies or rehydrate at appropriate times.
In addition to the heat, playground equipment exposed to full sun can become so hot that it may be dangerous for children to touch! In 2018, a four-year-old girl suffered instant second-degree burns to her legs when going down a hot slide. News reports stated the temperature was in the triple digits the day of the incident, with the slide measuring over 150 degrees. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take a scorching day for the sun to heat up equipment to dangerous temperatures.
With another possible heat wave coming to Connecticut, parents must stay alert to the heat index and weather conditions before taking their children out to play. Thanks to an article by Local News 8, here are some ways parents can prepare to keep kids cool and safe at the playground.
Safety experts cannot stress enough how important it is to stay hydrated in the summer heat. Dehydration occurs when your body does not have enough water to function correctly, leading to the onset of heat-related illnesses. Children not only lose fluid faster, but they are less likely to drink when playing, putting them at increased risk for heat stress to occur.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) reports drinking enough fluids is the best way to keep your body hydrated and working properly. While water is the healthiest, sports drinks in moderation that replenish electrolytes can also be helpful on a hot day. Prepare a cooler or bag with plenty of fluids to keep your family hydrated and stick it nearby so children can take frequent drink breaks. If you run out, take a break and stop by a store to grab some more.
Ever hear your children scream that the slide is too hot? It may be even hotter than they think. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (C.P.S.C.) reports that thermal burns constitute a significant hazard on playground equipment in the summer. Metal, plastic, and other coated materials are all capable of causing first and even second-degree burns under the right conditions. The equipment that is most dangerous during hot and sunny days includes:
You can find ways to cool down playground equipment, such as pouring cold water on slides or using a towel on a swing, but it’s probably not worth the risk. The C.P.S.C. reports children can get burned on equipment when it’s only 74 degrees if in full sun most of the day. Avoiding the playground for the day is always safer if the equipment is unsafe to touch.
One way to avoid hot playground equipment is to plan your visit before it has prolonged exposure to the sun. The sun increases in intensity as the day continues, hitting peak heat and radiation between 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm in the summer, according to the Weather Station Lab.
The best time to go to the playground with children is early, preferably before noon or even 10:00 am, depending on how early your little ones wake. You should also hold off on the playground until after 4:30 pm when the sun begins to set and the temperatures become cooler again.
Direct sunlight can cause your child to overheat quickly. Ensure you provide your family with a shaded area at the playground to avoid the sun when it becomes too intense. Hats, sunglasses, and lightweight, protective clothing are great options for your children to use as shade while they play. For the skin that is exposed, always apply an appropriate sunscreen to protect them from sunburns. To find safe sunscreens perfect for your family, EWG provides a guide to sunscreens with the most recent reviews.
Your children may need a little encouragement to stop playing, but frequent breaks are vital to protecting them from heat-related illnesses and injuries. The National Athletic Trainers Association (N.A.T.A.) advises parents to provide children 10 to 15-minute fluid and rest breaks every 25 to 30 minutes when playing outdoors in the heat. Setting a timer and keeping all children in your playgroup on the same schedule can help wrangle everyone into resetting to avoid heat stress. Snacks, books, and toys can also help keep kids still enough to cool down before they start to play.
Following general playground safety rules can significantly help keep your children safe on the playground, especially when they are hot and more prone to accidents. Ortho Info highlights the following safety steps parents can take on every visit:
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 0 to 4 and the second leading cause of death for children 0 to 17. But while most Connecticut residents understand the act of drowning, how to spot it, and ways to prevent it, other conditions such as “dry drowning” and “secondary drowning” are causing concern and confusion.
The first alleged “dry drowning” case hit the news in 2008 when a 10-year-old boy from South Carolina reportedly died days after inhaling water while swimming in a pool. It was later determined that the boy died of a health condition called “secondary drowning.” Still, the widespread media attention to the possibility of “dry drowning” and the idea that children could die days after water exposure made parents panic.
While neither “dry drowning” nor “secondary drowning” is an approved medical term, they refer to health complications that are related to or lead to instances of unintentional drowning. Connecticut parents should stay educated on the signs and symptoms of any condition that can harm a child in the water and know how to prevent these tragic accidents this summer.
There are three types of drownings parents may hear about in mainstream media this summer: unintentional drowning, secondary drowning, and dry drowning. All of these conditions can prove to be fatal without emergency and medical intervention. Knowing the differences between each one can help parents prevent tragedies from occurring and spot concerning behaviors in time to seek life-saving medical attention.
Unintentional drowning is the leading cause of death in children 0 to 4 and the only medically recognized term among the three. Despite popular belief, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) reports that unintentional drowning does not occur all at once but in stages:
This entire process takes only a few minutes; it does not occur over a long period. Children cannot drown hours or days after exposure to water, as experts from Mayo Clinic have confirmed.
While often used interchangeably, “secondary drowning” and “dry drowning” are not referring to the same conditions. According to Mayo Clinic, secondary drowning–while not a medically accepted term–refers to delayed illnesses from aspirating too much water.
Most of the time, the body can absorb extra water aspirated into the lungs over time; secondary drowning refers to the rare instances when a body does not. In these cases, water aspirated into the lungs irritates the lining, causing pulmonary edema, a condition involving excess fluid build-up and resulting in a lack of oxygen to the body. This disorder is mainly caused by pre-existing heart issues but can occur with harmful exposure to water.
Symptoms of pulmonary edema generally worsen within 5 to 8 hours after onset and include difficulty breathing, uncontrollable coughing, wheezing, extreme fatigue, disorientation, and slurred speech. Mayo Clinic reports that there are cases where symptoms develop over time, but it depends on the cause of the illness.
The act of “dry drowning” doesn’t refer to any type of drowning but more to possible health conditions that, if occurring in the water, could lead someone to drown. This could include a heart attack, stroke, or rare diseases such as laryngospasm. As defined by the Cleveland Clinic, this illness affects only 2% of drowning victims. It leads the body to block its own airway when water enters, leading to suffocation rather than fatal aspiration when drowning.
The term “dry drowning” came about in 2008 when several stories connected rare child fatalities to water exposure occurring days prior. Sadly, many “dry drowning” deaths reported over the years were caused by underlying health conditions such as heart disease or rare bacterial infections. Still, the widespread misinformation has made parents unnecessarily worry about their children drowning even days after swimming or playing in the water.
Because dry drowning deaths could encompass any health condition that could pose a drowning risk, health experts quoted in a recent USA Today article advise parents to be careful. Safety advocates recommend avoiding terms such as dry, wet, near, passive, and silent to describe types of drowning to prevent further misinformation from spreading.
The good news for parents is that almost all drowning accidents, no matter their classification, can be prevented with supervision and preparation. Children are only as safe in the water as we allow them to be, and they need their parents and guardians to prepare for emergencies.
The American Red Cross provides the following safety suggestions for keeping your family healthy and safe this summer in the water:
Know CPR: CPR is a life-saving process that can save a child who has aspirated too much water. You can find CPR certification courses in Connecticut through the Red Cross. Consider doing it with other parents in your social group for extra protection!
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Sunlight is certainly beneficial for our skin, but too much fun under the sun can also lead to life-threatening consequences. The sun's beautiful rays emit dangerous Ultraviolet (UV) radiation that can harm your skin and body. According to the Skin Care Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70, and at least two people diagnosed die every day from unrepairable damage.
Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take to reduce your risk for skin cancer and other sun-related health conditions. Preparation for your days under the sun to reduce direct and prolonged exposure is key. Understanding why UV rays are harmful and learning about the different types of sun damage can help you choose the best protection for you and your family, putting the worry of unhealthy exposure to rest.
To help spread awareness about UV dangers and the preventative measures available, July has been deemed UV Safety Month. The focus of this campaign aims to educate the public on the long-term and life-threatening consequences that can result from UV rays and what you can do in your home to reduce your risks to help you enjoy the summer season.
UV radiation, as defined by the American Cancer Society, is a form of electromagnetic radiation originating from the sun or produced by an artificial source, such as a welding torch or tanning bed. There are several types of radiation ranging in severity from low energy (radio waves) to high energy (x-ray scans).
UV rays are considered moderate in severity. They contain less visible light than x-ray scans, but result in more severe health complications than low-frequency rays. UV rays are categorized into three groups based on energy intensity:
Natural UV rays originate from the sun. But, as mentioned above, when discussing UVC rays, there are several types of artificial sources that can result in UV exposure that is sometimes more harmful than direct sunlight. These include:
The most common health condition resulting from exposure to UV radiation is skin cancer. The type of UV rays, length of exposure, and the genetic makeup of a person’s body will ultimately determine the type of cancer and prognosis of recovery. The American Cancer Society reports these most common types of skin cancer associated with UV exposure:
Studies cited by the American Cancer Society found that while basal and squamous cell skin cancers are directly linked to UV exposure from the sun overtime, melanoma– a more deadly type of skin cancer– is a result of prolonged periods of sun exposure, bad sunburns, and often correlates with signs of sun damage including the following:
The American Cancer Society reported that studies have also shown that increased sun exposure can result in a weakened immune system. Individuals with weakened immune systems have increased difficulty fighting off infections, which can be particularly dangerous in a hospital or other medical facility where bacteria and diseases are frequently present.
The purpose behind UV Safety Month is not just to remind Americans that UV rays are harmful but to remind the public of the precautions they can take to reduce their sun exposure this summer. Most of these steps are simple, despite the life-threatening results that can occur without them. The best place to start is knowing the facts and planning your day based on your knowledge of the sun’s strength and position in the sky.
While every day is different, the most intense part of the day for UV exposure from the sun is between 10 am to 4 pm. This does not mean UV rays are absent before or after this period, but your risk for severe exposure and uptake is far lower.
Depending on your activity level, weather conditions, and temperature/humidity levels, here are the most effective safety steps to further reduce your sun exposure this summer:
Wear sunscreen: Sunscreen on a very hot day, especially when involved in water activities, is often the last protection between your skin and the sun. Make sure to pick the right sunscreen for your day with an SPF of at least 15 that protects against UV-A and UV-B, and reapply as instructed.
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
If you thought Connecticut motor vehicle accidents were the only rising tragedies since the pandemic, think again. Fatal boating accidents in Connecticut have been equally on the rise in the last two years. In 2021, the Connecticut Coast guard reported 43 boating accidents, seven of which were fatal. More boating accidents were recorded the year prior– 54 in total–but the fatality rate was lower, with only three deadly incidents.
Boating is more than just a hobby for Connecticut residents, it is a lifestyle. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (D.M.V.), there are approximately 86,816 registered vessels in Connecticut. This number only accounts for boats with motors, sailboats, and vessels 19.5 feet or longer in length. There are tens of thousands of kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, and other rowing vessels that could also be out perusing the waters on any given day.
With so many boats traveling along Connecticut waterways and coastlines, boat operators must stay alert and use precautions. Boating accidents can happen quickly and result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Before you venture out this season, here are the facts you need to know about boating accidents and how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe from preventable harm.
Similar to how people were trying to escape their homes during the pandemic by taking to the roads, Connecticut residents were eager to escape onto the water.
The CT Post reported that Connecticut boat registrations nearly doubled in 2020, despite a 14-year consecutive drop in registrations prior. By the end of the year, 10,962 newly registered vessels were filling up almost every dock along the coast. When there’s an increase in boats sharing the water, especially a rapid increase as seen in 2020, the risk of accidents also rises.
Sadly, most fatal boating accidents are preventable, and most involve the absence of one life-saving piece of equipment: lifejackets. When looking at the seven Connecticut boating fatalities occurring in 2021, records show that five of the victims were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident; the sixth victim reportedly wore a life jacket that did not fit properly and slipped at the time of the accident.
Even when wearing a life jacket, the size and speed of motorboats can lead to life-threatening injuries when collisions occur on the water. The seventh boating fatality in 2021 involved a boater wearing a lifejacket but suffered a blunt force trauma in an accident.
Other factors that play a role in causing severe and fatal boating accidents include:
Boating accidents can happen to anyone, veteran and amateur boaters alike. Before stepping foot on a boat this season, taking every precaution to protect you and your occupants from harm is crucial.
During National Safe Boating Week, News 12 Connecticut released a list of the top boating safety tips all water lovers should follow this season to reduce preventable accidents. These tips included:
Beware of CO Poisoning: Sitting too close to the motor or exhaust can result in Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning. Ensure your engine is well maintained to reduce leaks and blocks, and park running boats 20 feet from beaches or docks.
Boating accidents are 100% preventable when safety practices are implemented. If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Preliminary reports from the Federal Highway Administration (F.H.W.A.) show that traffic fatalities across Connecticut are officially rising. According to recent data analyzing traffic fatality reports between 2020 and 2021, Connecticut has seen a 10% jump in fatal motor vehicle accidents in the last two years, slightly higher than the national average increase. Preliminary fatality rates for Connecticut are predicted to result in at least 327 for 2020 compared to 295 fatalities in 2019.
Unfortunately, this deadly trend extends far beyond the Connecticut border, affecting most other states across the country. In 2021, the F.H.W.A. reports at least 42,915 Americans were killed in motor vehicle accidents, a devastating 16-year-high and a 10.5% increase from 2020.
What’s Causing Connecticut Traffic Fatalities to Rise
There were several pandemic-related factors to consider when looking at the F.H.W.A. data on why traffic fatalities rates rose from 2020 to 2021, most of which are still present today. Connecticut motorists need to understand the dangers of these factors and how they affect their daily driving habits to help everyone on the road.
More Cars on the Road
When the initial lockdowns lifted, most Americans were comfortable leaving their homes again and hit the road for work and travel. Unfortunately, because so many cars hit the road at once, congestion-related accidents rose significantly.
Accidents are bound to occur when you have millions of cars operating on the same roads. We see this every holiday weekend when AAA warns everyone about the tens of millions of vehicles predicted to travel. Unfortunately, most motorists on the road after lockdowns had taken a significant break from driving when the pandemic hit. Lack of experience and practice can lead drivers to make small errors that could prove deadly on congested and chaotic roads.
Cars Driving More Miles
Not only are there more cars on the road, but the F.H.W.A.’s reports also found that prolonged periods of lockdowns caused a spike in how often and far Americans were driving when finally free to flee. Cross-country and cross-state driving escalated with eager road travelers almost instantly. In 2021, the vehicle miles traveled by Americans increased by 325.2 billion, 11.2% compared to the year prior.
The more you are on the road as a driver, the higher your chances are of getting into a vehicle accident. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), long car rides are precursors to driver fatigue that can impair your abilities and judgment. Driving is often a monotonous task. When a driver is experiencing fatigue, this may result in nodding off, slow reaction times, drifting, tunnel vision, and other known effects leading to vehicle accidents.
Reckless Driving
Even though there were fewer cars on the road at the beginning of the pandemic, studies showed that more people were dying in car accidents. An article in Connecticut Public contributed this phenomenon to an uptick in reckless driving on empty roads. More drivers were hitting top speeds taking advantage of no traffic, and causing catastrophic damages when accidents occurred.
In addition, many drivers are not following the rules of the road, and we have all seen speeding drivers weaving in and out of lanes on the highway, terrifying other drivers. It is a cascading effect on everyone else—people think that if others are not following the rules of the road, then they don’t have to either—and it can lead to total chaos.
Ineffective Traffic Pattern
Cities that entirely shut down during the pandemic changed significantly before traffic returned to pre-pandemic levels. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy reported that several municipalities had been forced to entirely re-evaluate their typical traffic patterns to reduce congestion and safely incorporate pedestrians and cyclists to reduce fatal accidents.
How to Drive Safe on Post-Pandemic Roads
As Connecticut continues to recover from the return of pre-pandemic traffic, it’s essential to remember the basic safe driving habits as the first step in keeping our roadways safe. Here are some general safe driving habits all motorists should adopt every time they get behind the wheel:
Jacobs & Wallace Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Make people accountable for their actions! Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
The need to plan for Fourth of July safety has never been greater. Many Connecticut residents have been bottled up inside or playing it safe at get-togethers the last few years due to fear of spreading COVID-19. Now that life has returned to pre-pandemic activity levels, patrons of this summer holiday are ready to let loose.
While Independence Day is one of the most exciting and patriotic holidays of the year, it’s also the deadliest. The National Safety Council (N.S.C.) reports that the weekend surrounding July 4th has the highest accident statistics of any other holiday on the road and at home. Here are some of the most common risks your family should prepare for to keep everyone safe this holiday weekend.
Over the July 4th weekend, drivers have a 20% higher chance of getting into an accident than at any other time of the year. Based on road trends from previous years, the N.S.C. estimates 462 people may lose their lives on American roads this weekend from preventable accidents.
Independence Day is one of the riskiest holidays on the road, equally affecting drivers, occupants, cyclists, and pedestrians. Some of the risk factors leading to these holiday tragedies include:
Firework shows and displays are the grand finales of most Fourth of July celebrations and one of the most dangerous. The National Fire Protection Association reports thousands of injuries every July 4th weekend related to firework accidents. Sadly, most of these injuries affect teens and children, suffering devastating burns, amputations, and in the worst cases, fatal injuries.
Most firework injuries occurring on or around the Fourth of July are burn injuries affecting the hands and fingers (28%), legs (24%), eyes (19%), head, face or ears (15%), trunk area (10%), or the arms (4%).
Avoid lighting fireworks at holiday parties and backyard barbeques to help keep your family and loved ones safe. Consider attending a local firework show where professionals are trained to operate these explosive contraptions from a distance safely. For those looking for something exciting other than fireworks, the N.F.P.A. suggests the following non-firework activities as replacements:
Independence Day is all about cooling off in the water, pool parties, beach parties, lake trips, and more. Sadly, whenever swimming is involved at a holiday party, the risk of drowning significantly increases. Studies by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) show drowning is the leading cause of death for children 0-4 and the second leading cause of death for children ages 0-17.
When it comes to preventing drowning deaths, there are several steps Connecticut residents can take to protect their loved ones this holiday. Supervision is always the first and most important safety practice. Drowning happens quickly and quietly, even when parents are standing feet away.
Parents and caregivers should always have close and sober eyes on swimming children, standing close by to react in the case of an emergency. It’s also important to note that beaches across Connecticut are experiencing a massive shortage of lifeguards, making it especially crucial to supervise children whenever you swim this holiday.
Other safety tips for preventing drowning tragedies include:
The Fourth of July is exciting for humans but it’s full of dangers and frightening things for pets. From picnics sporting unhealthy food to noisy fireworks to crowded celebrations, your pets may not enjoy this lively holiday as much as you think.
The American Veterinary Medical Association suggests pet owners take the following steps prior to celebrating Independence Day this weekend to keep their pets safe and healthy:
We wish every Connecticut resident and family a Happy Fourth of July weekend! Have fun and stay safe.
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Summer is almost here! It’s been another challenging year, and millions of Connecticut residents are eager to start the season of outdoor fun in the sun. But before you jump right in, don’t forget to prepare for safety to reduce injuries that can ruin a good time.
Between the extreme heat and general excitement of the season, summer-related accidents can happen quickly, and results can be severe– even fatal. Knowing the risks and taking precautions while working and playing this summer is essential to help you prepare and prevent dangers. Here are the most common summer hazards associated with your favorite activities and how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Regardless of whether you’re swimming in a pool, lake, or the ocean this summer, swimming can be dangerous without proper safety measures in place. Drowning is a concern for swimmers of all ages, especially children. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.) reports that unintentional drownings remain the second leading cause of death for children 0-17 and the leading cause of death for children 0-4.
Supervision is the most effective measure to take when it comes to preventing unintentional drownings. Always supervise children in the water and accompany children in the water if they cannot swim. Other steps you can take to stay safe while swimming include:
Finally, it has been all over the news that lifeguards are in short supply. It is essential to be aware that there are limited lifeguards and to supervise your children and swimmers swimming alone. Paying attention is primary as we cannot count on lifeguards to be everywhere.
Boating and personal watercrafts are a staple in New England when it’s finally warm enough to stand the water. Both motorized and non-motorized vessels can pose risks to occupants. Understanding the dangers of your particular boat and your surroundings is the first step to staying safe.
Connecticut has seen a significant rise in boating accidents since the pandemic. Boaters and occupants reduce injuries and accidents using basic boating safety measures highlighted by the National Safety Council (N.S.C.), such as:
If you’re looking to take a ride on a boat, be sure to only accept invitations from people who are certified/licensed captains with credentials. During the pandemic, many people bought boats to escape their confines but had little to no experience on the water or driving a boat.
On the East Coast, summer is the season when water sports come alive. Surfing, water skiing, paddle boarding, and other endless excitement will fill every lake and ocean across the state. But as fun as these activities are, injuries resulting from water sports accidents can be catastrophic and fatal when things go wrong.
Common injuries related to water sports accidents include head injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and tissue damage. To stay safe, the Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin provides the following tips:
Summer is the official start of beach season! Before you and the family pack up the blanket to your favorite beach, remind everyone how to stay safe when hanging out near open water.
Unlike pools, lakes and oceans provide unique hazards and deep, deep water than can pose a severe risk for injuries. The Red Cross recommends taking the following steps every time you visit the beach to keep everyone safe:
Okay–maybe this isn’t the most fun of all summer activities but working a summer job can cause life-threatening injuries that can put you in the hospital.
Working in the summer often involves exposure to extreme heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. The three most common heat-related illnesses include heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. All these conditions result from the body overheating, but heatstroke is by far the deadliest.
Workers can protect themselves from heat-related illnesses by monitoring their body temperature throughout the workday and knowing how to identify the symptoms. Taking frequent cooldown breaks, drinking lots of water, wearing light-colored and breathable clothing, and never overworking in extreme heat can also help prevent the onset of heat-related injuries.
We wish all Connecticut residents and families a safe and healthy summer!
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Connecticut hospitals are on the rise in the safety rankings! According to the Spring 2022 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades, Connecticut now ranks 23rd out of 49 states evaluated this season regarding daily health and safety practices, up from 27th in the Fall of 2021.
Medical errors remain one of the leading causes of preventable death in the country, resulting in an estimated 400,000 fatalities annually. Hospitals and medical centers are responsible for adhering to their oath of protecting patients against all foreseeable harm; this includes taking preventative measures at all levels of care to reduce infections, disease, and injuries occurring within the facility.
While Connecticut is still not one of the leading states for hospital health and safety practices, the increase in the rankings is hopeful. Here’s how residents can interpret the scores and a list of all state medical facilities evaluated this season.
Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are considered the ‘golden standard’ in health evaluations to determine how safe a hospital or medical center operates. The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit organization with over 20 years of experience helping to provide patients with transparency regarding their healthcare. Patients deserve to make educated decisions about their health, and it starts with holding medical facilities accountable for their practices.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades are released biannually and center on five crucial areas of medical care that can significantly affect the safety of a facility:
Rankings are determined by analyzing the weight of 28 proven hospital safety measures based on three factors: improvement, evidence, and impact. To establish an overall letter grade ranking (A-F), the Leapfrog Group then categorizes each measure into two groups:
Outcome Measure: These measures include outcomes and actions involved in patient care while a patient is receiving treatment.
Now, the moment we have all been waiting for! There were 29 Connecticut medical facilities evaluated in the Spring 2022 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade Report. None of these facilities received a rating lower than a ‘C’; however, Rockville General Hospital in Vernon did not receive a grade on this report, with no clear indication as to why.
The summary of the Spring 2022 grades includes:
All Bridgeport hospitals evaluated saw improvements from Fall 2021, rising from a ‘C’ rating to a ‘B’ rating. You can find the complete list of evaluated hospitals and medical centers below with links to their full evaluation:
A-Grade
B- Grade
C- Grade
Not Graded (NG)
For more information on how to use the grades, Leapfrog has put together a helpful video for patients on learning to navigate the system.
Not every hospital or medical facility will prioritize your health and safety above all else. It’s a sad reality in the industry, but it’s a factor patients must prepare for before seeking any type of treatment or medical procedure. We recommend researching medical facilities and physicians before scheduling any appointments. This step alone can weed out some potentially harmful providers known for making errors in care.
Additional steps patients can take while receiving care proven to prevent medical errors include:
Finally, if you are unable to advocate for yourself in a medical setting, bring a medical advocate with you to help make sure your needs are being met. You are a “customer” and medical providers must provide you with good customer service. Nothing is more important than our health.
Visit The Leapfrog Group for additional safety tips on how to protect the health of you and your loved ones.
If you or someone you love has suffered and injury or has died due to the negligence of a medical care provider, you need an experienced law firm to represent you and your rights. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s medical malpractice victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Trampoline season is well underway in Connecticut. Kids are already bouncing about in backyards across every neighborhood. Since the pandemic, trampoline sales have been skyrocketing, and they don’t seem to be slowing any time soon.
But while home trampolines have certainly become more popular, that doesn’t make them any safer. Mayo Clinic reports that more than 1 million Americans are seen in emergency rooms for trampoline-related injuries every year. Most of these incidents involve children under the age of 16, and all of these accidents are 100% preventable.
Hospitals across the state are experiencing an increase in seasonal influenza and an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The emergency room is the last place anyone wants to be right now, especially when the weather is warm and beautiful. But when trampoline season is upon us, more families end up spending their day in the hospital treating injuries than playing outdoors.
Trampoline injuries most often occur when too many people are on the apparatus, when the trampoline is in poor condition, or when jumpers neglect to use safe behaviors. Trampoline accidents can happen for several reasons, but most injuries involve the following:
Trampolines have always had a reputation for being dangerous, and for a good reason. People jumping on trampolines use excessive force to propel themselves upward, forward, backward, barreling into flips or twists. When things (or people) get in the way, or the force of a jump is redirected, the body can sustain severe trauma, especially when falling from elevated surfaces.
Trampoline injuries can range from minor bumps and bruises to severe health conditions depending on the events transpiring before the accident. Some severe trampoline-related injuries result in intensive care, long-term treatments, and can even result in the form of disability.
Some of the most common injuries diagnosed in emergency rooms include:
Among all trampoline injuries reported each year, Mayo Clinic reports that one-third of trampoline accidents involve an injury to the upper or lower extremities, typically a fracture or sprain. The most common fractures involve the two largest bones in the forearm– the ulna and the radius. These injuries occur most often when children bounce out of control and shoot their arms in front or behind them to brace for the fall.
Every year, trampoline participants mistakenly rely too heavily on trampoline safety nets to protect them while bouncing. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of a safe landing on a trampoline, even with safety nets installed.
Trampoline nets have been known to fail, tangle bouncers, or even collapse on children while in use. Aside from these mishaps, some jumpers will purposely bounce against the net, over the net, or use it as a “sling shot”, further wearing the device and increasing its likelihood to fail over time.
Keeping children off of trampolines this season will prevent 100% of accidents. However, if you still want to bounce, safety is key to staying out of the emergency room this spring.
First and foremast, make sure to read all trampoline instructions carefully and follow the safety precautions provided by the manufacturer. While it seems like a harmless bouncing activity, if used incorrectly, trampolines will lead to serious injuries to your children or other children participating, which could subject you to a future lawsuit. Supervision and following the safety guidelines are key to a happy and safe summer.
Here are some other general trampoline safety rules you can implement to help prevent injuries:
When in doubt, don’t jump. If there are too many kids to supervise or participants are not following the rules, redirect the group to another activity. There are plenty of other ways to stay busy and active outside that do not involve a trampoline. Some of these activities may include:
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
Falls from elevated surfaces have continuously ranked as the leading cause of death in the construction industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (B.L.S.), 35% of all construction fatalities in 2020 resulted from elevated falls, 351 deaths out of 1,008.
Most construction falls are preventable with the implementation of safety training and fall protection equipment. To help encourage workplaces to prioritize fall safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (O.S.H.A.) created the National Safety Stand-Down Week to spread awareness and inspire action.
From May 2 to May 6, workplaces are encouraged to discuss fall protection with their employees to decrease the risk of workplace fatalities and injuries, but this is merely a jumping off point. Fatal falls occur in the workplace throughout the year, and employers can benefit from frequent stand-downs to help keep workers safe. Here are a few things to consider before you start.
A safety stand-down is a genuine conversation and gathering of employees to discuss fall prevention and safety habits related to the workplace. These can include toolbox talks, luncheons, community events, or whatever type of gathering fits the culture of the workplace. They are geared towards having honest conversations regarding current fall hazards and safety concerns and planning to address them to protect workers on the job.
Safety stand-downs are most effective when all or most construction crew members attend. The more workers employers can encourage to become involved in increasing workplace safety, the greater chance of reducing accidents. These meetings can be hosted at any time, not just during National Safety Stand-Down Week. Fall protection is an ongoing hazard that should be planned for and discussed all year round.
A safety stand-down is the perfect time to discuss current safety concerns related to fall hazards or other safety issues affecting workers. Employers may choose to review past accidents, safety training bits, or inspect Personal Protective Equipment. No topics related to safety are off-limits if they will help workers perform their jobs safely.
Regardless of when, how often, or what you choose to do during your safety stand-down, remember to show workers you value their safety. Workers who feel valued by employers are more likely to build a positive workplace culture of safety, looking out for hazards and coworkers on every shift.
Employers can show value by presenting certificates to employees who show exceptional safety efforts during stand-downs, sharing personal stories, continuing to check in monthly, or showing their support for their workers outside of the workplace. Employers can also share their stories on social media using #StandDown4Safety or send an email to oshastandown@dol.gov to show support.
If you or someone you love is injured in an accident, you need an experienced law firm to represent you. Jacobs & Wallace, PLLC, has decades of experience fighting for the rights of Connecticut’s injured victims. Please contact us today for a FREE case evaluation: 203-332-7700.
