Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. There are approximately 3.8 million survivors in the United States who have fought or are currently fighting breast cancer, most of which have families and loved ones who rely on their support.  

Though survival rates of patients diagnosed with breast cancer have gone up, the fight against this disease is far from over. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, around 270,000 new patients will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer by the end of 2019, another 62,930 with non-invasive cases. Sadly, one woman dies from breast cancer every minute around the world, and over 41,000 women specifically in the United States every year.  

What’s far more devastating than the initial diagnosis of breast cancer is the reality for some patients that they may not be able to afford to treatments. Between taking time off work, chemotherapy, surgery, and medications, even health insurance does not provide enough support for some patients to afford care, and patients who have to pay out of pocket may be looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in costs.  

With October marking National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, our team at Jacobs & Wallace is showing our support for the cause with a special social media initiative to raise funds and awareness for a local charity: the Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation. This outstanding organization has been helping thousands of families across five states (including Connecticut) who financially struggle after with non-medical expenses after diagnosed with breast cancer.  

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:  

• Specialty bras 

• Prostheses 
• Car payments and auto insurance 

• Rent 
• Utilities 
• Groceries 

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.  

Jacobs & Wallace Gives Back To Breast Cancer Survivors 

This year, our team at Jacobs & Wallace is thrilled to be joining B.C.E.A.F. in their mission to support breast cancer survivors. To help, we will be donating $1 for every Facebook engagement we receive to B.C.E.A.F. to go towards the countless essential services they provide.  

From now until the end of October, every ‘Like’, ‘Follow’, ‘Share’, or ‘Comment,’ we receive on our Facebook page will equal a $1 donation. It only takes a few clicks to make a significant difference in a survivor’s life, and couple ‘pokes’ at your friends and family to encourage them to do the same.  

If you’re looking to get more involved with B.C.E.A.F., there are a few ways to provide your support:  

• Volunteer: The B.C.E.A.F. is an organization run by volunteers and fueled by generosity. They are always looking for local volunteers to help!  
• Give A Drop: The B.C.E.A.F. Glass Drop Charm is a beautiful reminder that kindness and compassion is a gift for both the giver and the recipient. You can purchase this beautiful piece of art for $20, and all funds go to support a survivor of breast cancer.  

• Donate: Donations are the bread and butter of any organization. Providing even a small contribution can make a huge difference in the life of someone struggling with breast cancer.  

For more information on how to get involved with B.C.E.A.F., check out their events calendar to show your support.  

Jumping on a row of trampolines, bouncing against padded walls, and flipping into foam pits sounds like an exciting day at the trampoline park. But several Connecticut residents are anything but happy with their experience.

According to Channel 3 News, at least nine lawsuits have been filed claiming serious injuries after visiting one of the following trampoline parks in the state: The Sky Zone in Wallingford, Launch Trampoline Park in Hartford, and Flight Fit ’N Fun in New Britain. Injuries reported in the lawsuits included anything from broken bones to brain injuries. Some of the accident victims were so severely injured they required surgery to prevent the risk of permanent damage.

Trampoline parks are not only posing a risk to jumpers in Connecticut. Indoor trampoline injuries are skyrocketing across the country. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, trampoline park injuries increased from 2,500 in 2013 to 18,000 in 2017. Sadly, six deaths have also been reported related to injuries sustained at these trampoline facilities.

Families who are considering visiting a trampoline park in Connecticut should know the risks before they bounce. Not every trampoline park is up to code with safety regulations to protect visitors. Knowing the most common injuries and the red flags that highlight a dangerous facility can help you avoid life-threatening injuries and a trip to the emergency room.

Trampolines Cause Serious Injuries

When looking at the injury statistics of trampolines in general, it comes as no surprise that a building full of these hazardous jumping contraptions would result in thousands of injuries. Trampolines cause approximately 100,000 injuries every year. According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 1 million people were seen in emergency departments across the United States between 2002 and 2011 for trampoline-related injuries.

Trampolines are capable of causing catastrophic injuries to children and families that can result in life-altering consequences. Some of these injuries include:

• Broken Bones and Fractures (including neck and spine)
• Neck Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Dislocations
• Open Fractures

At least 75 percent of trampoline injuries involve accidents where multiple children are jumping on the trampoline at the same time. This statistic is particularly important to remember when assessing injuries risks at trampoline parks, where multiple children are always jumping on one trampoline at the same time.

Adults are equally at risk for serious injuries at trampoline parks. According to U.S. News, 45 percent of fractures in adult patients occur at trampoline parks compared to 17 percent at home. Adult jumpers are also twice as likely to require surgery for trampoline-related injuries, sometimes even multiple procedures depending on the severity of the injury.

The Hidden Dangers of Trampoline Parks

The sudden influx in trampoline parks across the country is one of the main contributors to the massive increase of trampoline-related injuries in the last few years. Some of these parks, popping up practically overnight, do not meet the safety standards necessary to prevent catastrophic injuries from occurring. These negligent facilities make serious errors putting visitors in danger, including:

• Too Many Bouncers: Allowing too many bouncers on a trampoline at once is an invitation for injury. Children can collide, knock each other off, or land on top of each other, posing a high risk for injury. Double bouncing, when one person is catapulted off a trampoline by another bouncer who lands at the same time, is common when too many people are bouncing on one trampoline. These instances result in severe trauma to the body from individuals blindly landing from elevated heights.
• Minimal Padding: Providing insufficient padding on walls, around trampolines, or surrounding foam pits can lead to serious impact injuries. Visitors who bounce with the false impression that they are safe with padding may pull risky maneuvers that could cause permanent damage.
• Leaving Gaps: Not filling large gaps between trampolines and padding could allow jumpers to fall through or become caught in the springs. Metal springs are strong enough to break bones and cause severe lacerations.
• Minimal Supervision: Providing little to no staff supervision at trampoline parks leaves jumpers. Staff is needed to keep an eye on bouncers to ensure they are jumping safe and to advise them of dangerous stunts to avoid.
• Dangerous Obstacle Courses: A number of trampoline parks add obstacle courses for teens and adults to make the experience more exciting. However, adding dangerous obstacles could pose injury to participants, particularly when accompanied by the force of jumping on a trampoline.

Trampoline parks that do not always follow the safety guidelines and industry standards created to keep bouncers safe are putting visitors at unnecessary risk, regardless of how athletic you are.

In 2017, world-class gymnast Ric Swezey was visiting a trampoline park with his family in Virginia, according to CBS News. While jumping on a trampoline, Swezey stumbled and hit his head against a wall that was only lightly padded. Swezey cracked his C2 vertebra, constricting his airway and blood flow, resulting in him becoming paralyzed and 90 percent brain dead. He later died from the injuries sustained in this devastating and unnecessary accident.

How To Jump Safely

Trampoline parks can be a fun family outing when facilities and families keep safety in mind. Before you start to jump, these are the safety recommendations highlighted by Jump Altitude you should be following to reduce injuries:

• Make sure the park you choose has ample padding, nets, and strict safety rules.
• Always land on two feet.
• If you are jumping out of control, assume a ball position to protect your limbs.
• Do not try double flips that could lead you to lose your direction in the air.
• Never land upside to protect your spine, head, and neck.
• Jump with one person on a tramp at a time to prevent double bouncing and collisions.
• Pace yourself. Tired jumpers get injured more often.
• Don’t attempt jumping tricks you do not know how to do. Some of the jumpers you see at trampoline parks doing stunts are trained gymnasts. There is no reason to try and keep up!

Remember, if you can’t jump safely, don’t jump at all. Have fun and jump safely Connecticut!

Connecticut Personal Injury Attorneys

Trampoline parks have a duty to keep visitors safe. Neglecting safety standards puts others at risk of unnecessary and preventable accidents. If you or a loved one has sustained a trampoline park-related injury, Jacobs & Wallace is here to fight for your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation to review your case and your options for seeking justice.

Car crashes are the number one cause of death for children in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), 675 children ages 12 and under were killed in car crashes in 2017. Sadly, at least 35 percent of these deaths could have been prevented if the children were buckled up at the time of the crash.

Securing your child in the proper child passenger safety seat is the easiest way to reduce their risk of injuries in an accident. To help spread awareness, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.) is sponsoring their annual Child Passenger Safety Week. From September 15 to September 21, 2019, the N.H.T.S.A. and partnering organizations will distribute resources, and host events aimed to keep kids safer on the road.

The safety campaign ends with National Seat Check Day on Saturday, September 21. By visiting a car seat check in your community this weekend, you can gain peace of mind that your child’s car seat is correctly installed and the best fit to keep your child safe if an accident were to occur.

Children cannot protect themselves in the car. It’s up to every Connecticut parent to know the dangers of not properly using car seats and to stay informed on how to best use these products to reduce their child’s risk of car accident injuries. To start, we’ve compiled a few of the best need-to-know safety tips parents can use when it comes to car seat safety.

Car Seat Mistakes To Avoid

Choosing a car seat is not as easy as it used to be. Recommendations for car seats are ever-changing as our understanding of vehicle safety continues to expand. Unfortunately, as fast as information is gained, it does not always reach parents and guardians as quickly.

So many parents still do not know which type of car seat is the best for their child. And with the designs becoming more complicated every year, many believe they are correctly installing these seats when they are not. Here are the most common mistakes parents make when it comes to choosing and installing a car seat that could lead to life-threatening injuries in an accident:

Car Seat Type

Safe Kids Connecticut reports only 1 in 5 car seats in the state is used properly. This includes choosing the right seat for your child from the start.

Mistakes parents often make when shopping for or choosing a car seat include:

• Choosing car seats based on style or brand.
• Buying cheap or damaged car seats for price discounts.
• Using second-hand car seats that are past the expiration dates.
• Using car seats that face forward when children should be rear-facing.
• Using car seats based on the child’s preference.
• Continuing to use a car seat after a vehicle has been in an accident.

When parents are shopping for a car seat, their child’s size is the number one factor determining which seat will provide optimal protection. Certain brands and styles are not right for every child. And not every car seat are capable of following a child as they continue to grow.

Parents who continue to use old or damaged car seats, or car seats that have been in an accident are also putting their child in danger. The parts and safety features on car seats can become stressed and weakened from the force of a car crash or years of wear-and-tear. This can cause a car seat to malfunction in an accident and leave your child vulnerable to injuries.

Car Seat Placement

If you were to ask a dozen parents what the best position for a car seat was inside of their vehicle, you would most likely get several different (and possibly dangerous) answers.

One of the most common errors parents make when installing carseats is flipping their child around too soon. In Connecticut, it’s the law that children must ride rear-facing until they are at least two-years-old, if not longer. Some safety experts have even suggested moving the age to five, stating that children are far more safe in the case of an accident when facing backward in regards to impact injuries.

Other mistakes parents can make when placing a car seat in a vehicle include unnecessarily placing car seats by the passenger side doors. Safe Rides 4 Kids reports children are 43 percent safer when placed in the middle seat of a car. Passenger doors and windows increase a child’s risk for injuries if a car is struck on the side. The middle seat provides a lower risk for impact injuries, particularly in the case of direct collisions.

Installation

Car seats can save an average of 300 lives every year, but only when used correctly. The N.H.T.S.A. predicts at least 59 percent of car seats are installed improperly when placed in a vehicle. Some of the most common installation mistakes parents are making, highlighted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, include:

• Installing Seats Too Loose: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.

Connecticut Car Seat Laws

Connecticut has specific laws regarding children in car seats that parents and guardians transporting children must follow to help keep children safe, including:

• Children must ride in a proper child safety seat and remain in the backseat of a vehicle until they reach the appropriate age and weight limits.
• Infants must ride in rear-facing seats until they are at least 2-years-old and 30 pounds.
• Toddlers 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.

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. Children are all different. Parents and guardians should be seeking additional resources specific to the size and capabilities of their child before they make any decisions pertaining to their car seats.

Walmart’s Trade-In Deal!

Car seats are expensive, and the price is one of the top reasons for why parents hold on to damaged and expired car seats. To help parents out, Walmart is offering its first-ever car seat trade-in incentive to encourage customers to recycle those old car seats to score a deal on a new one.

For all customers who turn in a used car seat from now until September 30, Walmart will award them a $30 gift card that can be used on any item in-store or online. The incentive is perfect to use on the next car seat you need for your little one. Here’s how to participate:

• Bring your car seat to the Customer Service counter from September 16 to September 30.
• Leave the car seat at the counter and walk away with a $30 Walmart gift card.
• There are only two-trade-ins allowed per household (booster seats are not eligible).

For more information on the trade-in program, view Walmart’s policies here.

Get Your Car Seat Checked!

In a 2016 study published by the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers found nearly 95 percent of parents are making at least one mistake when installing and securing car seats. There is no harm in getting your child’s car seat inspected for safety. A quick and simple inspection could highlight even a small error that could save your child’s life.

With National Seat Check Day around the corner, there are several different inspection sites Connecticut residents can visit. 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.

These are some of the Fairfield County car seat fitting stations available:

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
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

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

Connecticut Personal Injury Attorneys and Safety Advocates

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, 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.

Connecticut students are back to school, and drivers should be on high alert. Streets during the week will be more congested, school buses will be making frequent stops, and student pedestrians and cyclists of all ages will be out sharing the roads.

Traffic accidents involving students are devastating and preventable. Connecticut drivers and parents can help protect children this year by understanding the most common school-related road accidents and how to use safe driving behaviors to prevent them.

Back-To-School Traffic Accidents To Avoid

Back-to-school season can be a worrisome time for parents, but it’s not because of what’s going on in the classroom. According to the Transportation Research Board, at least 100 children are killed every year while walking to or from school. Another 25,000 school-aged children are injured, most during the afternoon hours when students are on their way home.

Most motor vehicle accidents involving students are caused when drivers are not prepared for the traffic changes back-to-school time can bring. These are the most common reasons for why school-related traffic accidents occur and what drivers should be prepared for as the year continues.

Pedestrian Accidents

Across the country, tens of thousands of student walkers will be hitting the streets every week. These young pedestrians walk on sidewalks, in neighborhoods, on the side of country roads, and across crosswalk; sometimes they make their trips in complete darkness depending on the time of the year.

The National Safety Council  reported that the majority of children who are killed in pedestrian accidents are between the ages of four to seven, students who are no older than second grade. Drivers who are not paying attention can easily strike a student on the side of the road or crossing the street, even when they are walking on a marked crosswalk.

School Bus Accidents

The bus stop has become one of the most dangerous places for kids during the school day. Several school districts nationwide have begun encouraging parents to put their children on the bus to avoid increased traffic on the road and in school parking lots. Unfortunately, distracted and negligent drivers are not stopping to allow these children to get on or off the bus safely.

Connecticut drivers are already receiving fines after only one week of school for refusing to stop for buses loading and unloading students. In New Haven last week, a home surveillance camera caught footage of a girl trying to board a bus when a pickup truck came speeding by. The truck made zero attempt to slow down, requiring the bus driver to honk the horn multiple time to encourage the girls to stop.

Bicycle Accidents

Children who bike to school can be in serious danger when cars do not share the roads. Most aggressive drivers are not patient enough to wait until it’s safe to pass a cyclist, regardless of their age. They see cyclists as nuisances and have been known to clip them with the side of their car or run them off the road while speeding by.

Teen Driving Accidents

Many high school-aged students will be driving their cars to school for the first time this year. These teen drivers are often unprepared for the increased road hazards back-to-school can bring, putting them at a higher risk for causing traffic accidents. Teen drivers are also more likely to become distracted behind the wheel, leading to preventable accidents involving fellow students.

Aggressive Driving Accidents

Aggressive drivers of all type increase when school is back in session. These drivers, who got used to the faster commutes in the summer, are known for pulling reckless maneuvers to avoid school congestion. Speeding, hard turning, hard braking, and hard acceleration are a few of the ways these drivers can put student pedestrians, cyclists, and teen drivers at risk.

Drivers Who Do Not Stop

Drivers who do not stop for buses are not the only ones putting students in harm’s way. The AAA reports that one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones. It does not take a significant amount of force from a car to cause an injury to a pedestrian or cyclist- cars will always win.

How To Keep Students Safe

Traffic accidents that take the lives of innocent Connecticut students are entirely preventable. To prevent these unnecessary tragedies, the AAA recommends these simple safety measurers to help drivers avoid school-related injuries and fatalities this year:

• Slow Down: Drivers who are speeding are less likely to be able to stop for pedestrians, cyclists, and buses, even if they are paying attention. Remember that most school zones are 25 mph. Going even 10 mph faster can turn an injury into a fatality in the case of an accident.
• Stop On Red: Do not roll through traffic lights, stop signs, crosswalks, or past buses. When you see a stop signal, come to a complete stop every time. If you see a bus turn on their flashers, do not try to beat the red stop sign. Stop to allow students to board or exit the bus safely, and do not proceed until the stop sign is retracted.
• Reduce Distractions: Cell phones, passengers, and behaviors such as eating, drinking, or putting on makeup can pull a driver’s attention away from the road long enough to take a life. It only takes looking away for two seconds to miss a student crossing the road. Reduce your distractions behind the wheel by saving all calls, texts, and personal habits for when you are safely parked.
• Don’t Ignore School Buses: Cars and trucks pose a major risk to students who are on riding or boarding/exiting school buses. Do not try to pass a school bus that has their stop sign up, or try to illegally pass.
• Share the Road: Do not try to pull risky maneuvers to get around student bikers and pedestrians. Whatever your reason is for rushing, it is not more important than the safety of others. Leave early to prevent the urge to speed or drive aggressively.
• Talk To Your Teen Drivers: Make sure your teen driver understands all of the risks involved with driving to school. Most fatal teen driving accidents occur after school has been released. Encourage your teen to drive safe, slow, and to stay alert to others on the road.

Connecticut Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

We hope all Connecticut students have a safe and happy start to the school year. Connecticut drivers have a responsibility to keep our students safe on the road. If your child has been injured in a car 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.

Labor Day drunk drivers will not be dealt with lightly in Connecticut this year. In joining an estimated 30,000 police officers around the country, Connecticut state and local law enforcement will be participating in a nationwide crackdown to reduce preventable drunk driving accidents that cost hundreds of innocent people their lives every year.

The Berlin Police Department will be taking additional caution this weekend by setting up a sobriety checkpoint on the evening of August 30. This initiative is one of several steps this department has taken this month to reduce local cases of drunk driving after receiving a special grant from the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Division. According to Patch, the allocated funds supported an increase in DUI detection and enforcement efforts running from November 2018 to Labor Day 2019.

The end-of-summer celebrations bring out more drunk drivers on Labor Day weekend than most other times of the year. Over 400 people are killed in traffic accidents over the three-day Labor Day weekend every year, and about 40 percent of these accidents are caused by drunk drivers.

Police officers are not the only advocates who can make a difference this Labor Day. All Connecticut residents have a responsibility to keep roads safe to reduce needless drunk driving fatalities and injuries. By driving sober and spreading awareness on the dangers alcohol can pose behind the wheel, you could help save lives too.

There’s No Safe Way To Drink and Drive

Labor Day is the second deadliest holiday on the road. Studies show you are 30 percent more likely to die in a drunk driving accident on this holiday than at any other time of the year. Around 79 percent of drunk driving fatalities occur at night, when road visibility is already at its worst.

Motorists who drink and drive on Labor Day give a number of excuses for why it’s ok: I’m only having one drink. I feel fine. I’m not driving far. Unforunately, these reasons do not make a drunk driver more capable behind the wheel.

Alcohol impairs the essential functions of an individual’s brain and body needed to operate a motor vehicle safely, including:

• judgment
• reaction time
• concentration
• coordination
• visual acuity.

Contrary to popular belief, drivers do not have to drink an obscene amount of alcohol to experience the negative effects. One drink is more than enough to put several lives in danger.

Alcohol affects each driver differently, but there are a few predictable impairments. The N.H.T.S.A. lists the following negative consequences alcohol can have on someone’s driving abilities based on their Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.) level that could lead to serious accidents on the road:

• .02- Drivers experiences a decline in visual functions and the ability to perform two tasks at the same time.
• .05- Drivers experience reduced coordination, ability to track moving objects, reduced response times to emergency situations on the road, and difficulty steering.
• .08- Drivers experience reduced concentration, lack of speed control, short-term memory loss, reduced information processing capability, and overall impaired perception.
• .10- Drivers experience a reduced ability to stay in their lane or to break appropriately.
• .15- Drivers are typically substantially impaired and unable to control their vehicle safely. They cannot pay attention to driving tasks struggle with nectar visual and auditory information processing.

The N.H.T.S.A. data shows that even when driver has a B.A.C. at or under the legal limit for driving, motorists can experience significant impairments leading to fatal accidents.

Drunk Driving Is Skyrocketing In CT

Drunk driving in Connecticut is getting out of control. In 2017, the N.H.T.S.A. reported Connecticut had the highest percentage of drunk driving fatalities in all 50 states.

Police officers arrested 8,228 people on drunk driving charges across the state in 2017. Unfortunately, this was not enough. Out of the 278 fatal accidents recorded, 43 percent involved at least one drunk driver. Of these fatal accidents, 75 percent of drivers had a B.A.C. of more than double the legal limit.

Even more terrifying, the majority of drunk drivers causing fatal accidents in Connecticut were not first-time offenders. With drunk driving accidents increasing by at least 30 percent every Labor Day weekend, repeat and first time drunk drivers put everyone on the road at unnecessary risk for life-threatening accidents and injuries.

Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over- Know The Law

Driving is a privilege that can easily be lost when motorists do not drive with care. Drunk driving is one of the most reckless behaviors imaginable. Fatalities resulting from these accidents are 100 percent preventable, and the law is not easy on these offenders.

Drivers caught drunk driving in Connecticut can expect the following:

• You will be detained by the police and read your rights.
• Your vehicle will be towed at your expense.
• You will be transported to the police station in a police cruiser.
• If the test registers a B.A.C. of .08 or higher, you will be held on the presumption that you were operating under the influence.
• You will be kept in a police lock-up until you are bailed out.
• Your license could be suspended or revoked.
• You will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your car.

Fines and penalties drivers are subject to under Connecticut law when caught driving under the influence, include:

1st Offense Penalties

• Jail: 48 hours up to 6 months (or 100 hours off community service)
• Fines: $500 to $1,000
• License Suspension: 45 days
• Ignition Interlock Device: 1 year

2nd Offense Penalties

• Jail: 120 days to 2 years
• Fines: $1,000 to $4,000
• License Suspension: 45 days
• Ignition Interlock Device: 3 years

3rd Offense Penalties

• Jail: 1 to 3 years
• Fines: $2,000 to $8,000
• License Suspension: Permanent
• Ignition Interlock Device: no need- you cannot drive!

The cost of taking someone’s life in a drunk driving accident is a price that can never be relayed. Don’t take a chance this weekend. Drive sober or not at all.

Connecticut Accident Attorneys and Safety Advocates

As community safety advocates, our team at Jacobs & Wallace wishes everyone a safe and happy Labor Day 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 another, 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.

Not all new features in automobiles are safe. A new study released by the AAA is showing that vehicle ‘infotainment’ systems are distracting drivers more than they are assisting them. Researchers found drivers between the ages of 55 to 75 were experiencing the most difficulty with these systems, taking their attention off the road for up to eight-seconds longer than drivers ages 21 to 30.

Regardless of age, it only takes a driver looking away from the road for one second for a fatal road accident to occur. Infotainment systems that require extra attention from a driver are dangerous and counterproductive. These are the most distracting features Connecticut motorists should be aware of and the safety measures they can take to reduce accidents on the road.

The Most Distracting Features

The majority of drivers on American roads learned to operate internal vehicle functions with knobs and buttons. The switch to touch screen operations is proving to be a dangerous learning curve and requiring far more concentration than past designs. Some drivers are even having trouble turning on their air conditioning, which used to be a mindless task that could be done without a glance.

The AAA study, which is in the seventh phase of groundbreaking distracted driving research, found most current infotainment systems are poorly designed, unreliable, and equipped with technology that is difficult to use. Here are the features that are causing drivers the most problems:

• Voice Commands:Voice commands allowing drivers to text, call, navigate, or turn on the radio are taking too long, or requiring drivers to look down to cancel unwanted actions by pressing buttons or touch screens.
• Dual Screens:Some infotainment screens are set up with a dual-display that can be hard to read and navigate while driving.
• Slow Response:Certain vehicle models have sluggish response times that lead drivers to look down to see what is going on.
• Overly Sensitive Buttons:On the other end of the spectrum, certain systems are overly sensitive and jump ahead on commands drivers do not wish to make.
• Lack of useful tools:Some new systems only come with touch screens. When screens don’t work the way drivers wish, there are no alternate ways to control certain functions that we’re easy to do, to begin with.
• Small text:Screens with text displays that are hard to read lead drivers to look longer and harder instead of focusing on the road.
• Low placement:A system placed too low would require a driver to look down regardless of how well the features are working.

Experts say, however, infotainment system distractions are not necessarily age-related. Any driver can become distracted by an infotainment system glitch, particularly when models have a history of software issues.

The Most and Least Distracting Systems

Not all car manufacturers have designed their infotainment systems as well as others. In an analysis released by Consumer Reports, these are some of the most and least distracting systems on the market:

Most

Acura: All (optional on ILX)

Cadillac (Cue only): All (optional on ATS)

Lexus: NX, RX, GS, LS, LC (optional on IS, RC, ES)

Mercedes- Benz: All

Tesla: Model S, Model X

Volvo: XC60, XC90, S90, V90

Least

FCA (Uconnect 8.4-inch screen): Optional on all Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram models except the Grand Caravan, Renegade, and Wrangler

Ford/Lincoln (Ford Sync3 only): Standard on all Lincoln models

GM (except Cadillac)

Hyundai/Kia/Genesis: All

Nissan: Standard on select models

Subaru: All

Toyota: All

Volkswagen: All

Making Infotainment Systems Safer

The AAA and other automobile experts believe car manufactures must step up their game when it comes to making less demanding infotainment systems for aging drivers. More than one in five drivers will be over the age of 65 within the next decade. Without significant modifications to advanced safety features, accidents are bound to increase.

Making the infotainment systems in newer vehicles easier to use will also benefit the younger generation of drivers hitting the roads. Distracted driving is one of the most deadly driving behaviors in America. By reducing any number of distractions in the car, thousands of lives could be saved from unnecessary traffic accidents.

It Only Takes One Second

Looking away from the road is one of the deadliest decisions a driver can make. Too many drivers try to multitask behind the wheel, believing looking away for a few seconds is ‘okay’ when it’s anything but.

Drivers can reduce their chances of distracted driving accidents and increase their attention on the road by completing the following tasks before or after you drive:

• Setting up a playlist.
• Putting in navigation coordinates.
• Preparing kids for driving (snacks, toys, etc.)
• Getting out your wallet or other items you need on your trip and making them accessible.
• Making phone calls or answering texts.
• Eating snacks or meals.
• Checking in with social media.

All of these tasks can be dangerous when done while a vehicle is in motion. Don’t take a chance with your life or the lives of others by driving distracted.

Connecticut Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved has been injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligent acts of someone else, you may be eligible to receive compensation for any damages suffered. Contact our expert team car accident attorneys at Jacobs & Wallace for a free consultation to explore your options.

Insects have been spreading disease in Connecticut this season like wildfire. According to NBC News, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection closed down two campgrounds last week to protect the public after a group of diseased mosquitoes was found.

Mosquitos and ticks are the biggest carriers of serious and fatal insect-borne illnesses, and multiple species of both live in Connecticut. If your family enjoys outdoor activities, these are the diseases posing a threat to your health and the symptoms to watch for.

Mosquitos- Transmitted Diseases in CT

Mosquitos transfer diseases by acquiring pathogens from infected hosts (people or animals) they bite. These viruses multipy inside the insect, which are then transferred to the next host the insect feeds on.

A new study on climate change is showing how easily tropical infected mosquitos are traveling outside of their natural habitat. Published by PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers found two species of mosquitos known for carrying potentially fatal viruses: Aedes albopictus and Aedes awgypti. Both of these species love urban environments, which harbor hundreds of thousands of food sources for them to access on any given day.

So how are these insects getting to America? The study reports that mosquitos most often travel through imported goods, and they are doing so at alarming rates. Researchers predict if the pace of these migrations continue, around 1 billion people could be exposed to these disease within the next 50-years.

To date, there have been nine arboviruses detected from mosquitos in Connecticut, with six directly affecting humans. According to the CT.Gov, these are the mosquito-transmitted diseases residents should be familiar with:

West Nile Virus

The West Nile Virus can result in moderate to severe health consequences, including encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The age group most affected by this virus are individuals over the age of 65. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. West Nile originates from bird species.

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)

EEE was recently detected in a group of mosquitos that were trapped inside of a Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown. Although EEE is rare, it can be extremely serious when contracted by humans. Children are most at risk for severe consequences, which can also include encephalitis. Symptoms usually occur between four to ten days, some including headache, high fever, neck stiffness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. EEE also likes to live in bird species.

La Crosse

La Crosse is a virus that originates in squirrels and chipmunks. This virus has similar health consequences to EEE, also negatively affecting children the most. Symptoms include headache, nausea, and vomiting in mild cases and seizures, coma, paralysis, and permanent brain damage in severe cases.

Jamestown Canyon

This virus originates from white-tailed deer presents like the flu. Young adults are most affected by this mild virus. Symptoms can set in two days to two weeks after a bite, including sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Cache Valley and Trivittatus

Cache Valley and Trivittatus are both febrile illnesses presenting as a fever and affecting all ages. While Cache Valley resides in deer, horse, and sheep, Trivittatus originates from rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, and opossums. Other symptoms include severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Zika

There have been no cases of the Zika Virus in Connecticut, but that does not mean residents are in the clear. According to the National Safety Council (N.S.C.) , this serious virus is transmitted by mosquitos who bite in the day and the night, and originate in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Central and South America, and even parts of the United States.

Residents who are traveling to areas were Zika is present can contract the virus without any symptoms present. Others may show signs of fever, rash, pink eye, headache, or muscle pain that can last up to a week. If someone is infected with Zika, and is bitten by another mosquito within one week, the disease can then be spread further. Zika leads to abnormal brain development in infants, putting women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant at serious risk.

Tick-Borne Illnesses in CT

Ticks are horribly sneaky and can be highly dangerous. There are several different species of ticks in Connecticut, and more arrive in the country every year. Certain types of ticks carry life-threatening diseases-and are the size of a poppyseed!

Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas and tall grass but can easily be transported by animals to any grassy area. The CT Department of Public Health lists the following tick-borne diseases Connecticut residents should look out for and the types of ticks that spread them:

Lyme Disease (Deer Tick)

Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and can have detrimental health consequences for those infected. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, bulls-eye skin rash, or other. Lyme disease is treatable if caught quickly with antibiotics. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to infection in the joints, heart, and nervous system that could lead to permanent damage.

Babesiosis (Deer Tick)

Babesiosis is an infection caused by the protozoan Babesia micro, which invades and lives in the red blood cells and can have mild to severe consequences. Symptoms of these diseases typically show within one to four weeks after a tick bite and can present as a fever, muscle or joint aches, or drenching sweats. Severe cases have also found a breakdown of the red blood cells called hemolytic anemia.

HGA/HGE (Deer Tick)

HGA/HGE is an infection caused by a bacterium that lives in the white blood cells. This disease can also range from mild to severe but may present with any symptoms.

RMSF (Dog Tick)

RMSF is not very common in Connecticut, but parents should still be aware. The infection is caused by Rickettsia and can present with symptoms such as severe heartaches, fatigue, muscle pain, fever, chills, or rashes.

How To Protect Your Family

It only takes one bite for an insect to transmit a horrible disease. However, Connecticut residents do not have to be scared to go outside. The Central Connecticut Health District suggests taking these simple steps to protecting your family from insect bites at home and outdoors:

At least two people die every day in the United States from drivers who run red lights. In 2017, more than 132,000 people were injured, and 890 were killed in red-light running crashes according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (I.I.H.S.).

Stopping at red lights in Connecticut is not a suggestion- it’s the law. With the recent passing of National Stop On Red Week, now is the perfect time for drivers across the country to get involved. All Connecticut drivers can do their part to reduce these unnecessary accidents by spreading awareness of how they occur and what motorists can do every day to prevent them.

Red Light Accidents Are Usually Fatal

Traffic lights were designed to reduce chaos and keep drivers safe. Even young children are trained on how to read traffic lights early on: green means ‘go,’ yellow means ‘slow,’ and red means ‘stop.’

However, traffic signals only save lives when motorists are paying attention and abiding by the rules of the signals. If drivers refuse to acknowledge red lights or are not paying attention, preventable accidents can lead to catastrophic losses.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads (N.C.S.R.) reports approximately 10,125 Americans were killed in red-light crashes between 2004 to 2016. More than half of theses fatalities were occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists who suffered from someone else’s mistake.

Red-Light Accident Trends

Certain situations are known for leading to more red-light accidents than others. After analyzing data from over 120 red light camera programs, the N.C.S.R. reports the following trends Connecticut residents should be aware of:

• More than 1.2 million red-light accidents occurred between the hours of 1 pm to 5 pm.
• May has the highest rate of red-light accidents.
• Friday is the deadliest day for red-light running, with some weeks seeing more than 660,000 incidents.
• Fourth of July is the deadliest holiday on the road, and this includes an increase in red-light runners.

In addition to the time you find yourself at an intersection, your chance of getting into a red-light accident can also be affected by the types of drivers around you. The I.I.H.S. reports drivers in the following groups are more likely to run red lights than others:

• Younger drivers.
• Male drivers.
• Drivers with past incidents of drunk driving.
• Drivers who speed.
• Drivers who do not have a valid driver’s license.

In a 2017 telephone survey conducted by the AAA, over 93 percent of participating drivers admitted that running red lights was unacceptable. Yet, 43 percent of the same drivers also reported running a red light within the last 30 days. Why are so many people running red lights?

How To Run a Red Light In CT

There is more than one way to run a red light in Connecticut. According to state law, motorists can be considered red-light runners if they commit any of the following violations:

Failing To Stop

The most obvious red-light violations occur when drivers continue to drive through a red light or stop sign while entering an intersection. Drivers most commonly make this error when they are distracted, impaired, fatigued, or attempting to beat a short yellow light signal.

Drivers should always come to a complete stop at a red light. This does not mean stopping in the intersection, but before the marked line indicating the start of the intersection.

Not Coming To A Complete Stop 

Connecticut law allows motorists to make right turns on red lights after stopping first. Unfortunately, some drivers do not come to a complete stop. These incidents lead to right-of-way accidents, including:

• When oncoming cars hit vehicles rolling through red-lights.
• When cars make right-hand turns and strike pedestrians or bicyclists they did not look for until after turning.
• When cars make right-hand turns and get hit by vehicles who have the right-of-way when turning left in an intersection.

Making Illegal Right-on-Red Turns

Some drivers ignore or do not look for signs that prohibit turning right-on-red when approaching an intersection. When oncoming traffic is not expecting a car to go right on red, they are less likely to slow down. Drivers should be aware of intersections that prohibit rights-on-red to avoid surprising other motorists.

Making Illegal Left-on-Red Turns

Certain states allow drivers to turn left on red if they are entering into a one-way street; Connecticut is not one of them. Any driver who is turning left-on-red is putting others in danger. No one will be predicting this risky maneuver.

In addition to the possibility of taking a life, running through a red light could land Connecticut drivers with several fines, including:

• $129 for not stopping.
• $149 for fines and fees associated with the violation.
• Two demerit points on a driver’s record.
• License suspension if accumulating too many points.
• A reckless driving conviction if the violation is severe.
• A vehicular homicide charge if the red-light running accident results in death.

Red Light Cameras Save Lives

Both the I.I.H.S. and the N.C.S.R. fully support the use of red light cameras to help reduce the number of preventable inquires and fatalities in our communities. Studies have shown that large cities using these programs have reduced their red-light fatality rate by up to 21 percent. Red light cameras make drivers think twice about their behavior approaching an intersection, reducing their speed, increasing their concentration, and their awareness of the people and vehicles around them.

Connecticut law does not currently permit the installation of red light cameras to ticket drivers caught in violating the law, but that soon could change. Certain cities, such as Hamden, have preemptively installed traffic cameras to assist police officers in investigations that could double as red light cameras if the law change in the near future.

How To Avoid Running Red Lights

There are several reasons why a driver may run a red light, all in which are preventable. Connecticut motorists can help keep others safe on the road by following these simple recommendations for driving through intersections:

• Slow down. Drivers are less likely to cause accidents or run red lights when they are traveling at slow to moderate speeds.
• Do not speed up for yellow. Not all yellow lights are as long as others. Do not try to beat a yellow light- slow down instead.
• Stay alert. Distracted drivers can easily miss a light turning red if they are focusing on something else. Reduce the number of distractions in your vehicle and stay aware of the traffic lights on your commute.
• Drive sober. Drinking and driving impairs your judgment behind the wheel. Drunk drivers may think they can beat a yellow light or that they are stopping before an intersection begins when they are not. If you are not sober, don’t take the risk.
• Know the law. Not all intersections allow rights-on-red. If you are not sure, it doesn’t hurt to wait for the light to turn green. A few extra minutes at a traffic light could end up saving someone’s life.

Connecticut Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved has been injured in a red-light 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.

1. Over 900 children have died from vehicular heatstroke in our country in the last 30 years. The most recent tragedy involved a 2-year-old in Florida who was left unattended in a hot daycare van on Monday. The boy was found unresponsive by an employee in the afternoon after someone forgot to take him out of the van during morning transport.

This heartbreaking accident comes only days after another tragedy in New York City last week, when 1-year-old twins were left in a car for eight hours after their father forgot to drop them off at daycare.

KidsandCars.org reports 26 children have died in hot cars so far in 2019. With the observation of National Heatstroke Prevention Day this week, safety advocates across the country are tirelessly working to spread awareness on why these tragic deaths keep occurring.

Most children who die in hot cars do not have negligent or cruel parents. These tragic accidents can happen to anyone when the conditions are right. It’s critical for all Connecticut parents to be aware of the risks of cars in the heat, and to learn about the tools available to prevent future hot car deaths from happening.

Why Hot Car Deaths Keep Happening

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (N.H.T.S.A.), more than half of all hot car deaths involve parents who forget their child is still in the car. Forty-four percent of these parents report they were on their way to drop a child off at daycare or preschool, and most occurred at the end of the work week.

Incidents where children climb into hot vehicles and trap themselves have also become a significant problem. At least 26 percent of hot car deaths involve children who unintentionally lock themselves in a car or are too little to get themselves out. Kids who play in the car may easily enter through an open door that could shut behind them, leaving them unable to push the door back open on their own.

Another 18 percent of hot car deaths includes parents who intentionally leave their children in the car. ‘Intentionally’ does not mean parents were trying to harm their children. Some of these parents may not have been aware of how quickly heatstroke can set in, taking long enough to run errands or load the car for their vehicle to reach fatal temperatures.

Fatal Heatstroke- It Doesn’t Take Long

Heatstroke begins when the body core temperatures hit 104. The N.H.T.S.A. reports that an average size car can heat up by 20 degrees in a matter of 10 minutes. On a day where temperatures are over 80 degrees, this can put the internal temperature of a vehicle quickly past 100.

Additionally, a child’s internal temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult. In the 15 minutes to would take for an adult to be severely uncomfortable in a hot car, a child could begin suffering the fatal effects of heatstroke- even with cracked windows.

New Legislation To Make Safer Cars

The three horrific hot car deaths this week have sparked a legislative motion to get automakers more involved. The new bill would require car manufacturers to install sensors in all new models that would detect passengers in the backseat. The systems would also be required to provide an alert to drivers to encourage them to check the back before they walk away.

Some of the current safety systems on the market that Connecticut parents can take advantage of include:

• Hyundai-Rear Occupant Alert System
  This system works by detecting the weight of a person in the rear seat and sounding several alerts to the driver if they leave the vehicle while a passenger is still present. First, a message will display on the LCD screen to instruct the driver to check the backseat. Next, horns, lights, and a smartphone message will alert the driver that someone is still sitting in the back.
• Nissan-Rear Door Alert
  This system recognizes whether or not a driver opens the rear doors before a trip begins. If a door is opened, the system will honk the horn multiple times when the car is parked to alert the driver to check the back.
• GM-Rear Seat Reminder System
  This system (also monitoring the opening of the rear doors) relies on a series of chimes to alert the driver that someone may still be in the backseat. The chimes are similar to when you leave your keys in the car to alert a driver that they forgot to do something.

Portable Car Seat Alarms

For parents who are looking for a solution now, car seat alarms are a great safety option. These devices are typically secured under the child’s seat or across the chest to monitor when they are present in the car. Fatherly lists these as the most popular products currently on the market:

• Car Seat Clips
  The ChildMinder SoftClip and Elpho eClip both work by attaching the product to the seat harness. After syncing the devices to a smartphone and key fob, a driver can be alerted when their child is still in the car if they walk more than 15-feet away. The Elpho eClip even has a built-in thermometer to detect when the backseat is too hot.
• Car Seat Cushions
  Sunshine Baby iRemind and Sense A Life are alarms in the form of a soft cushion that are placed under the child’s seat. These devices alert a driver when they walk away from the car that a child is still detected in the back seat.
• Smart Car Seat
  Evenflo released a car seat with a built-in sensor to alert a parent when a child is still sitting in it. This car seat plugs directly into the cars on-board diagnostic port and chimes until the driver physically removes the child from the seat.

Child Safety Reminder Apps

If you don’t have the money for a new car or a fancy alarm, there are plenty of affordable and free apps parents can use instead.

Waze has a built-in feature that parents can use to set a reminder to check the back seat when they arrive at their destination. Another app through Kars4Kids will sound an alarm when the parent leaves the car as a reminder to check the backseat.

No cell service? For The Backseat App, it’s not a problem. This app works with both Apple and Android devices without Bluetooth and will sound an alarm when the car is parked. If the driver does not disengage the alarm, three emergency contacts will be contacted that someone could still be in the backseat.

If You See Something, Do Something

All Connecticut residents can do their part by staying alert to unattended children in hot cars. If you see a child or children alone in a car with no parent or guardian nearby, the N.H.T.S.A. advises patrons to take the following steps:

• Call 911 if the child appears to be in distress or is unresponsive. Follow first responder guidance on how to get the child out of the vehicle safely, even if it means breaking the glass.
• If the child appears fine, try to locate the parent or guardian in the parking lot or a nearby store before calling local authorities for assistance.

Don’t risk the life of a child by taking a chance that their parents will be back soon. If you see something, do something.

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.

‘Dry Drowning’ Myths

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.

The Process of Drowning

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:

1. Surprise: When a child begins to drown, their body will naturally panic. Children may try to move their arms and legs frantically to float. If they are able to propel themselves above the water, this will look like thrashing. However, below the water, onlookers may assume the child is swimming underwater. Children who are struggling to breath will most likely not be able to scream for help or make noticeable sounds of distress.
2. Involuntary Breath Holding: At this stage, a child is not completely underwater and begins to involuntary hold their breath. Water has entered the mouth, and the child is no longer able to swallow or spit it out. The airway is closed, and the child begins to lose oxygen needed to stay conscious.
3. Unconsciousness: Without oxygen, the body will shut down. The child will go into respiratory arrest after breathing stops. There will be no breathing sounds or chest movements at this stage, and the body will not be able to restart itself without medical intervention at this point.
4. Hypoxicconvulsion: Lack of oxygen in the body will deprive the brain and lead to convulsions. A child’s skin may turn blue as this occurs, and they will appear to be jerking violently in the water.
5. Death: Once breathing and circulation have stopped, a drowning victim goes into cardiac arrest. The heart stops pumping blood, and the organs begin to shut down.

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:

Dry Drowning

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

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.

Near Drowning

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.

All Drowning Is 100% Preventable

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.:

• Never leave your child alone. Always watch your child in the water or take them with you if you have to step away.
• Teach your child to swim to decrease their chances of drowning if they fall in the water.
• Don’t rely on lifeguards to keep your kids safe. They are there to react in an emergency- not to babysit.
• Don’t let young children play around drains and suction fittings prevent falls into the pool.
• Drinking alcohol while supervising swimming children is a bad idea. Find a sober supervisor or do not drink.
• Don’t underestimate the power of water. Even rivers and lakes can have undertows that can put excellent swimmers in danger.
• Always have a first aid kit and emergency contacts handy.
• Keep emergency flotation devices nearby.
• Get trained in CPR to increase the likelihood of saving someone’s life.
• Check the water first if you realize a child is missing. It only takes a few minutes for a child to drown.

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.