How Many Children Are Injured by Toppling Furniture?

  • April 11, 2022
  • Evans/Reilley

Something many parents do not consider once their children start crawling, walking and climbing is that the children could suffer injuries when furniture falls on top of them. It often does not cross a parent's mind because they assume that since the furniture is heavier than the child, this means the child can’t move it. Sadly, though, injuries caused by overturned furniture are not terribly uncommon. Just how many children are injured from toppling furniture? According to studies, quite a few, especially children under six years of age. How Many Children Are Injured by Falling Furniture? According to a study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital as cited by The Washington Post, a child r[...]

As Heat Sets In, Remember How Hot Your Car’s Interior Can Get

  • June 28, 2019
  • Evans/Reilley

Every year, horrifying stories appear in the news about young children dying of heatstroke in hot cars. Sadly, despite widespread media coverage and educational efforts by organizations such as the National Safety Council, this epidemic — one of the leading causes of vehicular death for children under 15 (second only to crashes) — is not going away. In 2018, 51 children died of pediatric vehicular heatstroke, making it the deadliest year on record. Many parents believe this is something that just won’t happen to them. That “forgetting” a child is an issue of negligence. This is a dangerous mindset. As quoted in USA Today, psychologist Gene Brewer of Arizona State University said, “Often these stories involve a distracted pare[...]

Child Seat Safety Is Highly Questionable in Texas

  • May 28, 2019
  • Evans/Reilley

The statistics are alarming. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14 in the United States. In 2016, 35% of kids who died in crashes were not restrained at all. Even among parents who do use car seats and other restraints for their young children, misuse is rampant. An estimated 72% to 84% of kids are not properly buckled into correctly installed seats appropriate for their age and size. This is startlingly incongruous with another stat: 96% of parents say they believe their children’s seats are installed the right way. This ignorance puts young lives in danger — across Texas and the entire country. The good news: Texas lawmakers, led by representative Chris Turner of North Texas, are takin[...]

Car Seat Safety and Legal Guidelines in Texas: Protecting Your Child on the Road

  • August 19, 2015
  • Evans/Reilley

Car seats are designed to keep children safe in motor vehicles, but in order to be effective, they must be installed properly and be the right size. Seats that aren’t secured or are the wrong size can put children at risk of injury. In Texas, the law requires children to be secured in car seats or booster seats if they are 8 years old or younger. However, age is less important than a child’s size, when it comes to determining what type of car seat they need. For example, a child who’s 3 years old and therefore legally able to be placed in a forward-facing car seat might need to ride in a rear-facing seat, if he’s small for his age. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends the following general guidelin[...]

ATVs and Children: A Dangerous Combination

  • August 4, 2015
  • Evans/Reilley

Riding across an open field in an all-terrain vehicle can be a great way to unwind on the weekend. But it’s also an activity that can cause serious injuries for children. On June 11, 2015, an ATV accident in a Chambers County pasture killed two children. The four-seat ATV was carrying six people – all between the ages of 5 and 16 – when it rolled over. The 5-year-old boy died at the scene, and his 7-year-old sister died the next day. A week later, in Brazoria County, a 12-year-old boy died when he lost control of the ATV he was driving and crashed into a tree. Tragedies like these are becoming too common. And not just in Texas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that in 2013, 99,600 people nationwide were treated in[...]