Blog

Sep 26, 2012

Another popular "safe" toy has generated concern and parent warnings for posing dangerous risks to both young children and household pets. Called "Water Balz," they appear to be brightly colored marbles. However, their status as a defective product comes from their super absorbency ability. This feature allows them to expand from marble-size to racquetball-size when immersed in water. Pediatricians throughout the nation including Pennsylvania are becoming very concerned should a child or pet swallow the...

Couple injured in dump truck accident awarded $10 million

Sep 26, 2012

Accidents involving commercial vehicles often result in serious and even fatal injuries. Due to their great size and considerable weight, owners and drivers of commercial vehicles such as busses, construction trucks and dump trucks must follow strict safety procedures. A couple, who was injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a dump truck, was recently awarded more than $10 million by a jury. The accident occurred when a dump truck driver lost control of the...

Parents be aware, your children are paying attention

Sep 26, 2012

As the parents of teens in the Pittsburgh area are likely all too aware, at times talking to their teenagers can feel like talking to a wall. The desire for many of that age to assert their independence often makes it seem as though they are not paying any attention to their parents. According to a recent study conducted regarding teen driving habits, they are paying at least a little attention, in the case of...

Trampolines cause injuries to many

Sep 26, 2012

It is fair to say that most parents throughout the Pittsburgh area will do whatever is necessary to keep their children safe. Despite this desire, many parents may not be aware that an activity they allow their children to participate in for fun is in fact putting their offspring in a dangerous situation. The dangerous activity that could result in children sustaining personal injuries of varying degrees is jumping on a trampoline. There are two...

Hospital reports drug-resistant bacteria kills seven

Sep 24, 2012

We've likely all seen a movie or read a book in which the outbreak of some deadly disease ends up wiping out the population of a whole city. In reality, when an outbreak of some form of deadly disease or bacteria is detected, it becomes the responsibility of the hospital at which the outbreak occurred to both contain the outbreak and notify the public. Failure to do so can result in unnecessary deaths due to...

Patients Who Tested Negative for Hepatitis C Added to Class Action Lawsuit

Sep 24, 2012

An attorney representing 169 people, including 11 former Exeter patients who have tested positive for the Hepatitis C virus, said “although most of his clients tested negative for hepatitis C, they still had to endure a gut-wrenching period of time fearing they were exposed to the illness but having no idea whether they had contracted it.” As we reported in earlier blogs, medical technician David Kwiatkowski was arrested in connection with the illegal use of...

Battery in toy cars could overheat posing burn hazard to children

Sep 21, 2012

Many young children love to imitate the actions of their parents and other adults. One of the favorites is pretending to drive a car. In response to this, toymakers have created smaller, child size versions of the mode of transportation which are available for purchase throughout the nation, including Pittsburgh. One retailer of these kid cars is Fingerhut, via catalogue or online. As is the case with real cars, these toy vehicles also suffer from...

Senior citizen unloading groceries struck by rolling van

Sep 21, 2012

In a trend seen throughout the nation, Pittsburgh area residents are living longer than ever. This longevity has lead to the development of many programs to assist the older population in living as independently as possible. Since one of the many ways members of the older generation lose their independence is the loss of driving privileges, transportation programs are especially important. Sadly, even when an older person is not behind the wheel of a car,...

Ohio high schools take steps to educate teen drivers

Sep 21, 2012

Each year, thousands of individuals across the United States are involved in motor vehicle accidents caused by inattentive or distracted driving. Many of those injured or killed in car accidents stemming from distracted driving are teenagers. In an effort to educate teens on safe driving practices, Ohio officials recently announced a new driver safety program called "You Are In Control". The program was created in partnership between the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the...

Medical errors affect children who are patients too

Sep 21, 2012

While few are interested in spending a prolonged time in a hospital, most would agree that it is particularly difficult to see children with chronic conditions as patients. In addition to having to deal with an illness, the kids are also missing the little things that occur each day that make being a kid fun. Now there is yet another negative thing for parents of children who must spend time in the hospital to be...