By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Bounce houses, trampolines, and inflatable play areas can be dangerous to children. Tragically, a number of children suffer serious personal injuries playing on or in these areas every year. Some even die as a result of the injuries. In Wichita, Kansas, it was reported that a 5 year old girl died after falling off of an inflatable bounce play area at Pure Entertainment. While the child was rushed to a local emergency room, the child ultimately died as a result of the injuries. There are several questions when considering or investigating accidents or incidents involving bounce houses or inflatable play areas including:
Governor Ritter of Colorado was recently in a bicycle accident that caused several broken ribs. After his own experience with a bicycle injury, he is throwing extra support behind a bill that would require Colorado kids from ages two to seventeen to wear a safety helmet when riding a bike, roller blades, or skate board.
Diane Russell of Vineland New Jersey recently drove her Kia through a red light and slammed into a school bus carrying two children. The bus was flipped on its side; both drivers, the two middle school children on the bus and the five year old passenger in Russell’s car were injured.
A new fire code regulation in Montgomery County, Texas would require daycare operators to install fire alarm systems with manual activation systems. Several daycare providers have taken issue with the new regulation, saying that it would place an unfair financial burden on their businesses.
A little girl died in Kansas City, Kansas recently, after being hit by a school bus while waiting at the bus stop to be taken to her elementary school. The family has asked that the school district and the police department not release the child’s name until they have had some time to heal. They have also not released the name of the bus driver or any details of the accident. The refusal of the school district to release any information about the accident is causing frustration with parents of other school age children in the district.
Lighters are common household items. It should also be noted that lighters are very dangerous in the hands of a toddler or child. In North Carolina, a 2 year old boy suffered third degree burns after he lit his clothes on fire from a lighter. The boy’s parents were charged with negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury. Investigating officers observed marijuana and other drug paraphernalia at the the home. The incident may have occurred after the parents had smoked marijuana.
You might be surprised to find out that in everyday life, commonplace items or activities are much more likely to be dangerous or even fatal than the alarming accidents we hear about on the news each night. Unfortunately, people are much more likely to use caution when they are in a situation they perceive as being dangerous than they are when doing normal activities. But 1 million Americans are seriously injured in their own kitchens every year – and that is only one room in the house.
When parents send their children off to school every day, they do not always know what goes on in the classroom until report cards come out or it becomes time for parent teacher conferences. But having a healthy relationship with your child’s teacher is an important aspect of being involved in your child’s education.