Beaumont Personal Injury Lawyer - Head & Brain Injuries

MRIs Prove Secondhand Smoke Damage

Courtney Mills — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:32:06 GMT

People who have been exposed to high levels of second hand smoke have lasting damage to their lungs, MRIs show in a recent study of several non-smokers.

Researchers examined study participants using a special kind of MRI scan to evaluate changes in the lung tissue of secondhand non-smokers. Researchers used a special kind of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to review the lungs of non-smokers. The study revealed that one-third of nonsmokers exposed to extensive periods of smoking experienced structural changes in their lungs.

This study is significant because it was the first study of its kind to investigate secondhand smoking and the effects it has on other people. Scientists in this experiment were able to assay lung structure with MRIs to reveal epidemiological changes.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Lead Toy Jewelry Recalls from Dollar Tree

Courtney Mills — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:05:20 GMT

The Dollar Tree Chain of Stores in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall on certain child toy jewelry products the company sells that contain excessive amounts of lead.

The chain is recalling almost 200,000 pieces of play jewelry made in China, sold under the names Beary Cute, Expressions, and Sassy and Chic Children's Metal Jewelry. If eaten by young children, the pieces could have serious adverse health effects. The toy items recalled are designated with item numbers 855589, 873091, 873097, or 903950.

Lead is a highly toxic heavy metal, and can cause a wide variety of ill health effects and neurological problems, especially if ingested accidentally by developing young children. While lead paint in old buildings was of primary concern in the past, the problem of lead poisoning in the U.S. was thought to have been largely eradicated. It is for this reason that the recent spate of U.S. lead-related toy recalls is so alarming.

The toy jewelry items were sold at Dollar Tree, Dollar Bill$, Dollar Express, Greenbacks, and Only 1$ stores from December 2005 to July 2007.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Defective and Dangerous Products.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Courtney Mills

Oxnard Man Suffers Head Injury After Falling in Pit

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:53:18 GMT

Oxnard firefighters rescued a construction worker who suffered a head injury while working in a 40-foot-deep pit, on the 5700 block of Perkins Road today at 1:20 pm, according to authorities.

The man was working in the pit of an industrial construction site when he fell about 8 feet from a ladder or scaffolding, said Chief of the Oxnard Fire Department.

The construction worker sustained a moderate head injury in the fall. Firefighters extricated the man at 1:50 pm and transported him to a local hospital for treatment, according to a spokeswoman for the Oxnard Fire Department.

The accident is still being investigated by officials, his current condition is unknown.

If you or a loved one have suffered a head injury, please see our section on Head & Brain Injury for more information.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Man Falls 20ft from Rig

Christina Cole — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 13:23:37 GMT

After falling 20ft in a rig accident, an offshore rig worker has been airlifted to the hospital with severe head injuries.

The drilling rig was being towed twenty miles offshore when the accident occurred early Sunday offshore from Portland in Dorset. Portland Coastguard was able to land on the rig although the sea conditions were rough and experiencing storm force winds.

The 22-year-old worker was airlifted to the specialist neurological unit at Southampton Hospital. In extreme conditions the crew was able to land the helicopter onto the rig platform 112 feet above sea level. The derrick (framework holding the drilling machine) on the right would make winching a casualty too dangerous so a landing was necessary.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole

District Sets Helmet Rule After Ballplayer's Death

Christina Cole — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:47:48 GMT

When using a Grapevine-Colleyville school district batting cage, all persons will now be required to wear a helmet under new rules that were adopted in response to a baseball player's recent and tragic death.

Dallas area school district has new safety regulations in place, just three days after a 17-year-old boy died from a head injury he suffered when a baseball hit him in the back of the head.

The rule applies to both pitchers and batters in the district's baseball or softball batting cages. This new rule also calls for district employees to inspect batting cage equipment regularly for problems with netting. Any holes or tears will force closure of the batting cages until they can be repaired.

A layer of secondary netting that had been missing from Grapevine High's batting cages was added Tuesday, officials said. "I think a review of safety policies and procedures is always a good idea," Chris' father said, declining further comment.

Chris's death has also raised the helmet issue among officials with the University Interscholastic League, the governing body of Texas public high school sports.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole