These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

These are the Most Common Ways That Kids Get Hurt in Florida

As a parent, you care about your child and you look out for their well-being. However, you may not be aware of which types of injuries occur the most often for Florida kids, and that’s something that can be the difference between avoiding an accident and spending time in the hospital.

Children are treated every day in US hospitals for all kinds of injuries. In fact, over 9 million children visit emergency rooms for injuries each year. In this post, we’re going to detail the most common injuries that happen to kids and what you can do to keep your child safe.

The most likely reasons that your child could need medical care for injuries are:

Choking

Since young children tend to put everything in their mouths as they explore the world, choking injuries are a constant threat in the first few years of life. Babies and toddlers need careful supervision, since unlikely items can get into their mouths in mere seconds. Be sure to keep all small items out of reach.

Mealtimes present choking hazards to children of all ages. You must avoid giving hard foods like candies, raw carrots, or nuts to children under the age of six, since those foods present particular dangers for children without molars. Until your child can cut his or her own food into small pieces, do that job for them.

Drowning

With all the access to water in Florida, it’s essential for parents to train children in water safety from a very young age. Drowning is the number one reason for death among children between the ages of one and four years. You must be vigilant any time your child is near water, no matter how shallow the water may be.

Even an inch of water is enough for a small child to drown in. Do not allow your young child to be near water without constant supervision. Make sure that pool gates and doors are locked and not able to be opened by a child. Also lock pool covers when the pool is not being used, because even older children can drown if they get trapped under the cover.

Boca Raton Swimming Pool Accidents

As soon as your child is old enough, sign him or her up for swimming instructions. Kids must always wear a vest when on a boat, and you must supervise them closely when you are out on the water. Teach your child water safety habits to minimize the risk of drowning.

Falls

Children love to climb, whether it’s on playground equipment or trees. Many love to ride bikes and explore the outdoors. Unfortunately, these childhood times of delight also present countless falling dangers. Since falls are the top reason for injuries to children under the age of 15, it’s important to teach your children safety measures to prevent falls.

Start inside your home. You can prevent slip and fall injuries by removing loose rugs and keeping floors free from clutter.

When outdoors, choose playgrounds with a bouncy surface to minimize injury. Insist that your child wear a bike helmet on every ride.

You can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury with these precautionary measures.

Poisoning

The family medicine cabinet is a common source of poisoning in Florida homes. Keep your medicine cabinet secured and monitor its contents on a regular basis.

Household chemicals can also poison children. Place toxic chemicals out of your child’s reach and make sure they are clearly labeled as hazardous. Teach your child which chemicals must be avoided to prevent poisoning.

Sports Injuries

Your child will likely experience minor injuries like bruises or sprains while playing sports at some point. Some sports injuries, like concussions or ligament tears, can require physical therapy, surgery, or other ongoing treatments. It’s important to seek medical treatment for sports injuries, whether they’re major or minor.

Your child will be safer if he or she is hydrated and well-rested before engaging in any strenuous physical activity. Make sure that your child has frequent breaks and takes time off between seasons to prevent injuries.

Suffocation

Babies under one year of age are in the highest risk group for suffocation. You must properly place your child in a crib with no blankets, toys, or other objects to prevent suffocation.

It’s also essential to keep plastic bags away from babies and toddlers, who can suffocate in mere moments if not supervised.

Boca Raton Child Injury & Accident Attorney

Obviously, these are just some of the many, many different ways kids can get hurt. Toys can be defective and result in harm. They can be in car crashes. The list goes on and on. All you can really do is be aware of the most likely injury scenarios and prepare both yourself and your children so that they engage in safe practices.

 

 

About the Author: 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

How to Know if Someone Is Drowning

How to Know if Someone Is Drowning

How to Know if Someone Is Drowning

 

When depicted in television and movies, drowning is a dramatic affair characterized by violent splashing, waving, and wailing for help.

 

But in real, life, drowning is frighteningly silent and undramatic.  Drowning rarely resembles its Hollywood depiction, which may be why as many as half of drownings occur within 25 yards of another adult person, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, in 10 percent of drownings, adults will even watch a victim drown without even realizing what is happening.

As you enjoy the last of your summer at the beach, pool, or lake, you can avoid tragedy by keeping a lookout for these common signs of drowning.

 

Silence. Youngsters tend to make plenty of noise when playing in the water. If you notice that they’ve fallen silent, you should immediately locate them and find out the reason.

 

Vertical body. People who are drowning may keep upright in the water without splashing or kicking excessively. Victims may struggle for less than a minute before submersion.

 

Glassy or closed eyes. When someone is drowning, their eyes may close, or turn glassy and unfocused.

 

Tilted head. A drowning victim’s head may tilt back low in the water, with the mouth open at water level.

 

Gasping. You may notice that a person who is drowning start to gasp for air or hyperventilate.

 

Unable to yell for help. In most cases, people who are drowning are physiologically incapable of speaking, much less yelling for help. The body must be able to breathe before it can speak. When someone is drowning, their mouth may bob up and down below the surface, and they may not have enough time to breathe in and out and scream for assistance.

 

Unable to wave for help. A person who is drowning may lose control of their arms, and may be unable to wave for help or swim towards a rescuer, life preservers, or throw rings.

 

Apparent calmness. In many cases, people who are drowning may appear to be calmly treading water and gazing up at the sky. In order to determine whether or not they are drowning, you should ask if they are all right. If they cannot answer, you may have less than 30 seconds to reach them.

 

Remember, if you see a person flailing and calling out for help in the water, they could still be in danger. Often times, people who thrash violently and yell for assistance are experiencing aquatic distress. These types of accident victims may be able to swim towards a rescuer or piece of rescue equipment.

 

Preventing Drowning Accidents among Children

 

Boca Raton Pool Accident Lawyer

 

The CDC reports that drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for kids between the ages of 1 and 14—second only to auto accidents. The majority of drowning victims between the ages of 1 and 4 drown in a backyard swimming pool.

 

If you are a parent, you should always stay within arm’s length of your child and remain alert when they are in or near the water. Remember that a child can drown within seconds – before you even realize he or she is in the water. Keep a close eye on children whenever you visit the pool, beach, or lake, even if they know how to swim.