Baby Tents Recalled for Suffocation Risk

It's always sad when a child dies of a preventable accident, but now baby tents are being recalled for several infant deaths due to suffocation.  Approximately 220,000 pea pod tents are being recalled after reports of 6 infant deaths by suffocation.  Parents told the Consumer Product Safety Agency that children have become trapped between the tents' sides and the inflatable mattress bottom.

The Consumer Product Agency and other industry watchdogs have long advocated that portable sleepers are not an adequate replacement for a proper crib.  There are many dangers to infants in sleeping situations where they could become entangled or trapped.

How are Infants at Risk

The National Institute of Health conducted a study in 2003 examining suffocation risks to infants.  The agency found that when infants slept in beds and on surfaces that were not adequately designed for infants, there could be as much as a 20 fold risk of suffocation. 

The following factors increase risk of suffocation in infants:

• excessive heating or cooling the child in bed, causing the child to kick at the covers and become trapped in the bedding
• loose sheets, blankets, covers which could tangle around the baby
• parental co-sleeping arrangements where a parent could roll over onto a child
• the baby getting trapped between bedding, small spaces between bedding and walls of a bed/ tent/ crib
• heavy blankets which could choke or asphyxiate a child
• loose ropes, cords, braids, and ribbons which could strangle a child
• small objects within reach of the child which they could choke on

If Your Child Has Suffocated

The loss of a child is heartbreaking and awful.  If your child has suffocated due to a potentially unsafe product, you could be entitled to compensation for your loss. You should contact a skilled personal injury and product liability attorney to preserve your rights and give you the help that you need.

Nestle Recalls Nesquick for Salmonella Contamination Concerns

Would You Like Your Nesquick with a Side of Salmonella?

Nestle USA recalled its Nesquick chocolate powdered drink mix today when a supplier notified them of salmonella concerns. Omya Inc. produces calcium bicarbonate, which initiated its own recall of the ingredient when they became concerned over salmonella contamination.  The chocolate powder in question was made last month in October and has an expiration date of October 2014.

To the best of Nestle's knowledge, there have been zero reported sickness as a result of the potentially contaminated chocolate powder. However, the company issued the recall in order to prevent any salmonella outbreaks among the public.

“We apologize to our consumers and sincerely regret any inconvenience created by this incident,” Nestle USA said in a statement.

Signs That You Have Salmonella Poisoning

Salmonella is a bacteria which can cause food borne illnesses. Humans can become very ill if they are exposed to salmonella through tainted food products, poor hygeine, or even infected humans or animals.

The following symptoms are associated with salmonella poisoning:

• diarrhea
• abdominal cramps
• fever
• severe dehydration
• death

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to salmonella poisoning and can experience severe dehydration and even death as the result of a salmonella infection.  For this reason, doctors advocate that these two groups seek immediate medical help for salmonella poisoning.

If You Were Injured By Salmonella in Nesquick

Salmonella poisoning could be deadly in some cases.  Do not wait to seek medical help.  Instead, keep yourself hydrated and if you are not keeping fluids down, seek immediate medical attention.  If you have suffered severe symptoms as the result of a tainted batch of Nesquick, you may want to contact a skilled product liability attorney to review your legal options.

Halloween: Deadliest Night for Children

Car Accidents Kill More Kids on Halloween

Halloween can be an exciting holiday for children and parents alike.  People get to dress up, run around the streets in costume, and get candy.  What could be better for a child?  Unfortunately, Halloween is also the most dangerous day of the year for children.

More car accidents kill children and teenagers on Halloween than any other day of the year.  Appriximately 47 youths aged 12 to 18 are killed every Halloween.  This is a disturbing but not surprising statistic.  Not only are children darting out into the street, often in dark costumes, or wearing masks which obscure their peripheral vision, but many adults get inebriated this time of year and then get behind the wheel.  Even in cases where alcohol isn't involved, it's easy to hit a child running out into the street.

Keep Your Child Safe

To keep your child safe this Halloween, why not try the following instead:

• Make your child hold your hand while trick or treating
• Discuss the danger of darting into the street with your child
• Use well lit pathways and cross with groups of people
• Try trick or treating at a public location like a shopping mall or a community sponsored center

If Your Child Has Been Struck By a Car

If your child has been injured in a car accident, seek immediate medical attention.  To preserve your rights, contact an attorney in the coming days.  You could be entitled to compensation which will help you to pay the costly medical bills.  A skilled personal injury attorney can help you to recover the compensation you need and deserve.