By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
South Carolina is one of six states that do not have laws regulating All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). However, this could change if a new law, named Chandler’s Law is voted into legislation. The law aims to reduce child personal injuries for those children who ride operate ATVs. Chandler’s Law would require all young ATV riders to complete an ATV safety course, wear a helmet and ride with an adult while traveling on public land. The law comes at a time in when ATV-safety awareness is on the rise in South Carolina. According to South Carolina’s Health Department, in the last 10 years, 63 children under 17-years-old have died in ATV accidents. Of those deaths, 40% were children younger than 9-years-old. The new law is also getting support from local doctors. Dr. Keith Borg, an Emergency Room doctor at the Medical University of South Carolina, says the amount of children treats with traumatic brain injuries as a result of riding or operating ATVs is staggering, usually resulting in paralysis or death. For more details please read South Carolina proposes new bill to increase safety for young ATV riders.
If passed, a new Minnesota bill would require stricter CPR training requirements for the state’s child care centers. The bill would require training for all teachers and assistant in child care centers. The current law in Minnesota only requires one person trained in CPR to be present at the center. The bill was introduced by two Minnesota lawmakers after the tragic death of a 4-year-old girls in North Mankato. Hannah Kozitza died in June 2010 after choking on a grape at her day care facility. For more see 
Due to an increasing awareness and concern about a child safety at day care centers, Kendra’s law has been on the books in South Carolina since August 2010. A consequence of the law is that people are starting to pay more attention to what goes on into child care centers. The law seems to come at a perfect time. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data reported more than 1700 child deaths were reported in 2007. Some day care centers in South Carolina are easing parents mind by installing new technology in the facilities. Essential Childcare has placed cameras all throughout the center allowing parents to watch their children from a secure website or mobile device. The center has made the process of pick-up and drop-off digital as well. The only people who can pick up a child must be registered in the system ahead of time. A person picking up a child at Essential Childcare will have to be registered in the system ahead of time, touch his/her finger to a machine, and then input a code to unlock the doors. The new technology developments are the result of putting safety at the forefront of child care. For more please read 
A 4-year-old boy from New Bedford, Massachusetts was beaten so badly that the mere sight of the child brought tears to a hospital nurse. Police have arrested and charged the the mother’s boyfriend for the horrific beating of the child. 31-year-old Elvis Garcia has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Officials stated the little boy’s body was covered in bruises and cuts and had dried blood in his ear. Detective Alberto B. Silva described the crime committed against the victim to the New Bedford Times as “heinous.” 33-year-old Sandra Augusto, the child’s mother, was also arrested and charged with substantial injury to a child and and reckless endangerment to a child under 18; she is accused of allowing the abuse to happen. For more see 
Lufkin, Texas, police are currently investigating a possible injury to a child case after they were notified of suspicions of child abuse / neglect by hospital personnel. 30-year-old Julia Goodwin of Lufkin, brought a one-year-old unresponsive child to Memorial Hospital’s Emergency. Standard drug tests done by the hospital revealed the child had ingested a dangerous drug, possibly PCP. Under Texas law, doctors and nurses are considered mandatory reporters of child abuse. These Texas medical providers have 48 hours to report their suspicions from the time they are made aware. Both doctors and nurses are taught to always be aware of warning signs: bruises of different healing stages on the child’s body and inconsistent stories about how the injury occurred. The investigation of the infant is ongoing and no charges have been filed as of the time that this new story was released. For more read 
Three children were tragically killed in a kitchen fire that occurred at the children’s Houston, Texas, residential daycare. Rick Flanagan, spokesman for the Houston Fire Department, said the victims ranged in age from 18-months to 3-years-old. The day care’s operator, 22-year-old Jessica Tata, was the only adult supervising the 7 children the day of the incident. According to Texas’ child care rules, Tata should not have been caring for more than 6 children older than 18-months. Michael McAndrews, a 50-year-old witness who lives near the residential day care, said Tata stated she went to the bathroom at the facility and upon returning the kitchen was on fire. When firefighters arrived at the scene, Tata and two injured children were outside the flaming home, the other five children were trapped inside. Firefighters had to use thermal imaging cameras to find some of the children. Firefighters had to perform CPR on 4 children, who were unresponsive. Some children sustained burns while others suffered from smoke inhalation. Jennifer Hart, spokeswoman for Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, stated that one child was transferred to the Shriners Hospital burn center in critical condition and two other children were at a Houston hospital, one also in critical condition and the other in good condition. Around a year ago, the facility, which is registered as a “child-care home,” was cited by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Child Care Licensing division for not having a fire extinguisher. DFPS spokeswoman Gwen Carter said Tata had correct the problem. For more see 
An 18-month-old girl of San Antonio, Texas, is recovering from second- and third-degree burns she sustained while she was taking a bath. According to the arrest warrant, the girl’s 18-year-old babysitter, Juan Valentine Castillo, left the toddler unattended in the bathtub. Castillo claims that while unattended the little girl turned on the hot water and burned herself. Castillo has been arrested and charged with “injury to a child — assault — serious bodily injury,” and remains in jail with a $65,000 bond. Child Protective Services began to investigate the case after the toddler was transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital by her foster parents. The victim was eventually transported to University Hospital due to the severity of her burns. The arrest warrant reveals that doctors diagnosed the child with immersion burns and showed signs of abuse. Castillo told police he was the only person caring for the child at the time of the incident and claimed she adjusted he water setting on her own. Castillo was initially taken into custody on outstanding warrants for drug possession and assault. For more details see