Bentonville Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products

Dangerous ATVs

Sach Oliver — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:34:20 GMT

Unsafe ATVs

ATV’s are useful tools. Whether you are a farmer, hunter, or trail rider, these vehicles can make your recreation or work more enjoyable. However, these vehicles can sometimes be unsafe. In fact, on March 31, 2009, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a warning that the 450, 660, and 700 models of Yamaha’s Rhino off-road vehicles need certain upgrades in order to ensure that they are safe.[1] The company has agreed to do a free repair program to address the problems with the vehicle. Furthermore, Yamaha agreed to suspend the sale of the models until repairs were made. The repairs are in an effort to reduce the risk of rollover for these vehicles. The repairs include: 1) installation of a spacer on each of the rear wheels and 2) removal of the rear anti-sway bar. Both Yamaha and the CPSC suggest that these vehicles should not be operated until these repairs are made.

The CPSC has investigated 50 incidents involving the Yamaha Rhino, with reports of 46 driver and passenger deaths.[2] Of these incidents, two-thirds have involved rollovers with unbelted drivers and/or passengers.[3] What is even more shocking is the fact that many of these rollovers have occurred on turns at relatively low speeds on level terrain. The Rhino also has been involved many accidents that did not kill, but mangled those who were injured.[4]

Sadly, one such rollover accident involving the Yamaha Rhino killed a 31-year-old man and injured five children under the age of 9.[5] It is always a tragedy when people are killed or injured because of unsafe products. If you own one of these Yamaha Rhinos, by all means, please go get the safety upgrades for it. Also, look at the websites below, one of which contains some video showing how easily this machine turns over.

[1] “Yamaha Motor Corp. Offers Free Repair For 450, 660, and 700 Model Rhino Vehicles
CPSC advises consumers not to use the off-road vehicles until repaired” available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09172.html, (accessed October 22, 2009).

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4]“Yamahas Rhino: For Some a Deadly Ride” available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/04/cbsnews_investigates/main5213784.shtml, (accessed October 22, 2009).

[5] “Garden Grove Man Killed, 5 Children Injured in Off-Road Crash,” available at: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/old-year-children-2429745-officials-broken, (accessed October 22, 2009).

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Protect Yourself as A Consumer

Sach Oliver — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:44:52 GMT

Protect Yourself as A Consumer

Many times we go to the local supermarket and do not think twice about the food that we grab. This is usually not a problem. Even if we happen to grab a “bad apple,” it might not be so bad. A few days of sickness, and we are over it. However, we are consumers of many products besides food. Yes, tainted food can be dangerous, even deadly, but as consumers, there are more dangerous products that we should keep close tabs on.

I am sure you have seen the many reports on recalled products on the evening news, or even the special reports dealing with the same. However, it may be dangerous if the first time you see such reports is on the evening news. The news does not report on every recalled product.

We are consumers of everything from automobiles to prescription drugs. The two previously mentioned products are perhaps some of the most dangerous products that we consume. Just because something is in the marketplace, should we assume that it is safe to use? I would venture to say that such assumptions would not be wise.

My point is that we should be well-informed consumers. It is probably unwise to assume safety. Sure, many products on the market place are safe, but it is probably wise to do some research. If you are about to buy a new car, check out the safety specks on it. If you are taking prescription drugs, do your own research on it. Know potential side effects etc. Also, keep a check on FDA recalls. Do not be the last to be informed that your new prescription is unsafe.

The following are just a few of the websites that will help you in your quest to become an informed consumer.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm

http://www.cpsc.gov/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm

http://www.ct.gov/dcp/site/default.asp

http://www.docboard.org/

http://www.consumeraction.gov/

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Holiday Season Safety Tips

Sach Oliver — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:50:00 GMT

As the holidays approach, everyone needs to be aware and proactive in eliminating dangerous holiday lights and decorations that could lead to fires or injuries. Each year, around 1,300 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to holiday lights and trimmings. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in about 500 fires annually, resulting in an average of $20 million in property loss and damage each year

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Ann Brown said, "Decorating our homes for the holidays is a beautiful tradition, and to ensure that this holiday season is a safe and happy one, CPSC is releasing the following safety tips."

Trees:

· When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

· When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when bounced on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.

· When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces and radiators. Because heated rooms dry live trees out rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.

Lights:

· Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.

· Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and discard damaged sets.

· Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

· Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.

· Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).

· Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations:

· Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.

· Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

· In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

· Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Fireplaces:

· Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.

· Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

In addition to those above, keep all cords to your decorations secure to prevent someone from injury. Also, be mindful of where water collects and keep deicer or salt to remove any ice which could lead to someone slipping and becoming injured.

When we think about the holiday season, pleasant and joyous thoughts come to mind. It is important for your safety and the ones you love to be proactive in taking these extra measures to ensure a wonderful holiday season.

I would like to thank Leona Crowe, our legal assistant, for helping me research this important topic.

http://www.cpsc.gov/

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sach Oliver

Safety Guidelines for Safer Christmas Toys

Ryan Scott — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:52:15 GMT

We have had a Christmas tree up in our house for nearly a month now! I tried to tell my wife that it wasn't even Thanksgiving, much less, Christmas season. However, I was told that it was never too early for the Christmas spirit. It was about that time that I noticed a steady increase in the number of shiny and noisy things meant for someone else, namely, my little boy.

Being only six months old, I wanted to make sure each toy was safe. That is when I found some very helpful guidelines at KidsHealth.org. At this website you can find guidelines for selecting age appropriate toys. Also, the site offers tips as to what to look for on a toy label before you buy.

According to the Home Safety Council's State of Home Safety in America™ (2002), emergency departments reported nearly 170,000 visits due to injuries related to toys at home in a single year. Before choosing toys and games for little ones on your shopping list, consider each child's age, skills and abilities. Toys that are beyond your child's age and developmental ability can be unsafe for him or her, so select toys that are appropriate rather than those children can "grow into". By doing this, you can insure a safer and happier Christmas for your little ones.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ryan Scott

Is the Tanning Booth a Cancer Trap?

Ryan Scott — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:42:35 GMT

Is there such a thing as a "safe tan"?

According to a joint British and American research team, the answer is a resounding “No”. They said in their review of published studies that tans and skin cancer both begin with DNA damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet light but many people, especially the young, ignore or are unaware of this danger in a quest for a bronzed body. The researchs note that there is virtually no deviation between a beach-rendered tan and a tanning-booth tan.

"The signals in the cells that induce sun tanning appear to be DNA damage," said Dorothy Bennett, a cell biologist at St. George's, University of London, who wrote one of the papers.

"DNA damage is the first step in getting a mutation in cells that could lead to cancer, so there can't be anything like a safe tan."

The World Health Organization estimates that as many as 60,000 people each year die from too much ultraviolet light, mostly from malignant melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer.

The link between skin cancer and damage from ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning booths is well known but the review published in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research suggests that even a little exposure is dangerous.

Another problem is that while genetic and other factors also contribute to skin cancer risk, mixed messages about the safety of ultraviolet light confuses the public, Bennett added in a telephone interview.

Getting some sunshine is important because ultraviolet light spurs the body to produce vitamin D. But people need far less ultraviolet exposure for this than it takes to tan, she said.

"A lot of young people don't know about the scientific evidence," she said. "Anything that causes mutations in your cells increases your risk of cancer."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ryan Scott

Are You Feeding Your Child Cancer? A BPA Checklist

Ryan Scott — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:41:19 GMT

The controversy over the use of Bisphenol-A, (BPA) in plastic baby bottles and food containers is not new to InjuryBoard members and vigilant consumers. As reports linking BPA to developmental disease and cancer grow, so too have the the tools available to those of us who want to do everything possible to keep ourselves and our family safe.

BPA is a chemical that is used to make plastics clear and shatter-resistant. The chemical is commonly used in the manufacturing of baby bottles, water bottles and food containers. While the Food and Drug Administration has not yet called for a ban on the use of BPA, recent scientific studies have pointed to BPA as posing a health risk. The National Toxicology Program and the Science and Environmental Health Network are a couple of the most outspoken groups against the use of BPA. The national group says there is “some concern” that BPA can cause changes in behavior and the brain as well as reduce survival and birth weight in fetuses. According to the Network, animal testing showed low-level BPA exposure during fetal development can alter the development of breast and prostate glands which can increase the risk of cancer.

What can concerned parents do?

As awareness of the possible damaging effects of BPA are brought out, the tools for the concerned consumer also grow. Specifically, the "Z report" has become the authority on products that contain BPA. the brainchild of two parents who began reviewing products and blogging about them when they couldn't find a central resource for BPA-free baby products for their daughter, the latest Z report reviews sippy cups, bottles and pacifiers from 52 companies and groups them in four categories: excellent, good, fair or poor. Now parents can visit the z report website and find out if their drink bottles, their baby's bottles, or their pacifiers contain BPA. The report has added a new feature this year. Now, anyone can text "69866," type in "zrecs" and a company's name, and find out whether its brand of plastic baby bottles is free of BPA.

As the parent of a 3 month old, I will be checking the website before I put a plastic bottle in my child's mouth. Isn't it worth it to err on the side of caution?

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ryan Scott

Heparin Fatalities up to 62 in Number

Jeanie Oliver — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:34:14 GMT

As I checked the New York Times over the weekend, I found that updates on Heparin were available. Heparin, a blood thinner, primarily used in dialysis and many types of surgeries has now been linked to 62 suspicious deaths across the United States.

The FDA defines suspicious deaths as those that involve allergic reactions or blood pressure drops. These deaths are connected to the Baxter International Drug Company produced heparin that was made with ingredients provided by a Chinese supplier.

Heparin is made from pig intestines. Specifically, the mucus membranes of these intestines. Drug regulators in China have reported tighter supervision of thousands of small family workshops that gather and treat the raw materials of the pigs then used in heparin production.

Another fatal aspect associated with heparin in the last few months have been deadly allergic reactions. Heparin drug lots that were tested by the FDA were shown to contain a substance similar enough to heparin to pass initial testing. But it was not heparin. It was an additive called oversulfated chondroitin sulfate which caused the deadly reactions.

If you, or a loved one have more questions about the possibility of heparin causing a death or adverse reactions, contact us a Bailey and Oliver Law Firm. This issue is of great concern to us as our loved ones have been administered heparin in the past.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeanie Oliver