Pulley, Watson, King, & Lischer, P.A. - Attorneys at Law

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Pulley Watson is Serious About Safety

As a personal injury law firm, Pulley, Watson, King & Lischer understands the potential dangers of children in unsafe surroundings. We have witnessed the outcome of accidents that could have been easily prevented if safety measures had only been taken. Because even the smallest safety reminder can make a huge difference, we want to do all we can to spread the word and prevent common child-related injury accidents. We believe awareness is the first step – that’s why we’ve dedicated a section of our website exclusively to useful child-safety information. You will find simple, but serious tips on topics including playground safety, buckling up, and the real dangers of drinking and driving.

Be Prepared

It's important to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Did you know that in your absence, no one caring for your minor children can authorize their medical care without your written permission? CLICK HERE to download a consent form to complete and leave with your caregiver when you are working or traveling. This will ensure that in an emergency, your child will receive prompt, necessary medical care even if you are not there to give consent. Remember to also provide your child's physician contact information, health insurance details and any important medical history (chronic conditions, allergies, etc.).

About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives. Alcohol is the No. 1 youth drug problem in America and more young people die from alcohol-related causes than from all other illicit drugs combined. Pulley, Watson, King & Lischer believes it’s important to celebrate, have fun and stay safe. Read more to find tips on designating a driver, planning a safe party and protecting your teen from underage drinking.

• On average someone is killed by a drunk driver every 45 minutes. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving related crashes.
• By ages 19 and 20, 70 percent of all drinkers engage in heavy drinking, suggesting that the majority of young people are at great risk of making poor decisions that have significant long-term consequences.
• In 2008, 92.2 percent of twelfth graders, 81.1 percent of tenth graders and 64.1 percent of eighth graders reported that alcohol is “very easy” or “fairly easy” to get.
• A first time drunk driving offender on average has driven drunk 87 times prior to being arrested.
• Fifty to 75 percent of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.

Being the designated driver doesn’t mean the “least drunk” person drives home. It means that, before celebrations begin, an adult is designated to provide safe and sober transportation home and only drinks non-alcoholic beverages.

As the designated driver, you are the "life insurance" for your group. You will also help your family and friends avoid embarrassment, keep their licenses, avoid fines and jail time if they were to get a DUI. You will also be making the streets safer for everyone.

There’s a reason it’s called throwing a party—a host has to be ready to catch some curve balls and juggle the unexpected when it comes to staging an event that’s fun, entertaining and safe for everyone. Responsible hosts know that part of showing guests a great time is making sure they get home safely. Dealing with safe driving is an important hosting duty so we’ve compiled some quick tips to help you throw a memorably successful party without tossing caution to the wind.

• Plan activities like party games, door prize drawings or amateur fortune-telling. Planned activities engage people, make for less active consumption of alcohol and ensure that your friends remember the great event long after the last piece of confetti has settled.
• As guests RSVP, confirm that at least one person in each group is prepared to be the non-drinking designated driver.
• Provide plenty of food to keep your guests from drinking on an empty stomach.
• Avoid too many salty snacks, which tend to make people thirsty and drink more.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages or Mocktails for designated drivers and others who prefer not to drink alcohol.
• If preparing an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base, like fruit juice. Alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream faster with a carbonated base.
• Be prepared by having the number of a taxi service on hand for those who need a ride. Also, be ready with some clean linens so you can turn your sofa into a hotel for guests who need to sleep it off.

• Never serve alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age, and never ask children to serve alcohol at parties.
• Don’t let guests mix their own drinks. Choosing a reliable “bartender” will help you keep track of the size and number of drinks that guests consume.
• If a guest appears to be drinking a bit much, offer to freshen his or her drink with a virgin version.
• Do not push drinks! Drinking at a party is not mandatory for having a good time.
• Have fun, but not too much fun. To be a good host, you should stay within your limits in order to make sure your guests stay within theirs.
• Close the bar 90 minutes before the party ends and serve a great dessert treat with coffee. Remember, only time sobers someone who has been drinking.
• If, despite your efforts, some of your guests have had too much to drink, drive them home, arrange for a ride with another guest who is sober, call a taxi, or invite them to stay over.

• Don’t rely on coffee to sober up your guests. Only time can make someone sober.
• Beer and wine are just as intoxicating as hard liquor. A 12-ounce can of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce wine cooler and an ounce and a half of liquor contain the same amount of alcohol.
• Don’t rely on someone’s physical appearance to determine if he or she has had too much to drink.
• Mixers won’t help dilute alcohol. Carbonated mixers like club soda or tonic water cause alcohol to be absorbed into a person’s system more quickly. Fruit juice and other sweet mixers mask the taste of alcohol and may cause people to drink more.

Approaching a guest who has had too much to drink can feel a little awkward. And, the first time is the hardest. But it is certainly easier to deal with than your quest becoming a statistic.
Approach your guest and explain that your actions could save his or her life and that you cannot let them drive home because you care. Offer to let the guest spend the night, call a cab, or ask a sober guest to drive the intoxicated person home.
If you see a guest who is starting to consume too much alcohol, here are some tips you can use:

• Engage him/her in a conversation to slow down the drinking.
• Offer high protein food.
• Offer to make the next drink and use less alcohol.
• Don’t be afraid to insist that they switch to beverages of the non-alcoholic variety– sparkling cider makes a great substitute for a glass of champagne.

Alcohol affects the central nervous system, impairing vision, coordination, judgment and reaction time. When someone is driving impaired, they may overcompensate for these impaired functions in an effort to make their driving appear normal. In fact, some drunk drivers may actually appear as if they are just overly cautious drivers.

Here are signs that a driver may be impaired:

• Turning with a wide radius
• Driving below the speed limit
• Straddling the center of the road or lane marker
• Drifting or moving in a straight line at a slight angle to the roadway
• Driving with headlights off at night
• Erratic braking or stopping without cause
• Slow response to traffic signals (sudden stop, delayed start)
• Nearly striking an object, curb, etc.
• Weaving or zigzagging across the road
• Driving on the wrong side of the road or completely off the roadway
• Tailgating
• Appearing to be drunk (eye fixation, face close to windshield)
• Swerving or abruptly turning away from a generally straight course
• Turning abruptly or illegally
• Signaling that is inconsistent with driving actions

If You Spot a Drunk Driver 

If you spot a drunk driver, create a safe distance between you and the other driver. Write down a license plate number, a description of the vehicle and the direction it’s traveling. Then call 911 to report the driver. If you’re calling from your cell phone, make sure to pull over safely before making the call.
It’s also important to know what not to do if you spot a drunk driver.

• Try to stop the vehicle
• Disregard traffic signals or laws in an attempt to keep the driver in view
• Follow the drunk driver too closely in case of sudden stops
• Try to detain the drunk driver if the vehicle stops
• Act in the capacity of any police, fire or medical person unless you’re properly trained and authorized to perform that function
• Assist any law enforcement officer who’s apprehending a drunk driver

Preventing your teen from drinking before he or she is 21 can often be one of the most difficult issues you—or any parent—may face. Don’t panic. Below is some helpful information so that you can talk to your child about making the smart, responsible and legal choice to stay alcohol free until the age of 21.

Start by understanding some of the reasons teens say they drink:

• Bored and drinking gives them something to do
• Feel pressured by others to do so
• Trying to escape from the challenges of their lives
• It’s a way to celebrate or blow off steam

Then, arm yourself with information.

Alcohol is the No. 1 youth drug problem in America and more young people die from alcohol-related causes than from all other illicit drugs combined. And, it is a factor in the three leading causes of death for teens. It can also seriously damage long- and short-term growth processes.

Underage drinking is not just a harmless "rite of passage." Compared to their non-drinking peers, underage drinkers are more likely to:

• Drive under the influence of alcohol
• Ride with a drinking driver
• Get into fights
• Drop out of school
• Commit a violent crime
• Be a victim of a violent crime
• Commit suicide
• Become alcohol dependent

Talk to your teen. You may think your teen won’t listen to you, but think again. In study after study, young people cite their parents as a primary factor in their decisions and they typically cite their parents higher than the emphasis placed on friends.

Here are some tips to help you protect your teen from drinking alcohol:

• If you know of a parent, convenience store, bar or restaurant that provides alcohol to those under 21, either address the problem or make an anonymous tip to law enforcement about the activity.
• Every family set its values—whether supporting appropriate behaviors in the how to speak to parents or their stand on drug use. Discuss underage drinking and the consequences at home if your teen disobeys this rule.
• In many families, the family car is a coveted reward for a teen. Losing driving privileges can be a meaningful discipline.
• Don’t give mixed messages to your child. Only stating that your child should never drink and drive is giving your child permission to drink. This is a very slippery slope that could lead to tragic consequences.
• Set clear rules, including rules about alcohol use, and enforce them.
• Encourage your teen's growing independence, but set appropriate limits.
• Support your teens and give them space to grow.
• Be involved in your teen’s life.
• Make it easy for your teen to share information about his or her life.
• Get your teen involved in family life, such as doing chores or caring for a younger brother or sister.
• Don’t let your teens attend parties where alcohol is served. Make sure alcohol isn’t available at teen parties in your own home.
• Never provide alcohol to your child. It is not only be illegal, but deadly.
• Don’t keep alcohol in the house or, if you do, lock it up and/or monitor alcohol use in the home. Alcohol should not be readily available to your teen. 
• Don’t provide alcohol to your teen or any other teen, it sends a mixed message. Your child may think that you don’t support the 21 law or that he or she is above the law.
• Show your support of law enforcement as they enforce underage drinking laws. 
• Work within your community to prevent underage drinking.
• Tell your teen to avoid dangerous situations such as riding in a car driven by someone who has been drinking.
• Help your teens get professional help if you’re worried about their involvement with alcohol.

Information courtesy of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

Each year in the United States, emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries (Tinsworth 2001). About 45% of playground-related injuries are severe-fractures, internal injuries, concussions, dislocations, and amputations (Tinsworth 2001). We've compiled a list of tips and information you can use to ensure your children have a fun and safe place to play.

Age/Developmentally Appropriate:

Surface of Play Area:

All children under 12 years of age should be placed in the back seat of the car, especially if you have passenger side air bags.

Always read the instructions that come with the safety seat. Also read the section on safety belts and child safety seats (child restraints) in your vehicle owner’s book. If you don’t understand the instructions, either call the manufacturer or go to a car seat inspection station to see if you are using your seat correctly.

INFANTS
Infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or convertible seat until they are 1 year old AND twenty pounds. Children who reach twenty pounds before their first birthday still need to face backward and can be moved into a rear-facing convertible seat. Smaller infants who don't reach 20 pounds until after their first birthday should also continue to face backward. One year and 20 pounds is the minimum - many people advocate continuing to sit toddlers rear-facing in a convertible seat until they outgrow it for added safety. Never place an infant in a rear-facing child seat in the front seat of a car with a passenger side air bag.

Infant seat with base installed, with baby

When using an infant seat:

• The harness chest clip should be positioned level with your child’s armpit so that the shoulder straps are in the correct position.
• The harness straps should be snug and straight.
• The harness straps should be positioned at, or slightly below, your child’s shoulders.
• The seat belt should be threaded through the correct seat belt path and locked properly using the car’s built-in locking system, a locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate.
• The seat should recline at about a 45 degree angle.

Rear-facing convertible seat installed, with baby

When using a rear-facing convertible seat:

• The harness straps should be positioned at, or slightly below, your child’s shoulders.
• The harness chest clip should be positioned level with your child’s armpit.
• The harness straps should be snug and straight.
• The seat belt should be threaded through the correct seat belt path and locked properly using the car’s built-in locking system, a locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate.
• The seat should recline at about a 45 degree angle.

TODDLERS

Forward-facing convertible seat, with baby

When using a forward-facing convertible seat:

• The harness straps should be positioned at, or slightly above, your child’s shoulders. 
• The harness straps should be snug and straight.
• The harness chest clip should be positioned at your child’s mid-chest or armpit area.
• The seat belt should be threaded through the correct seat belt path and locked properly using the car’s built-in locking system, a locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate.

Combination seat with harness

When using a forward-facing/combination seat:

• The harness straps should be positioned at, or slightly above, your child’s shoulders. 
• The harness clip should be positioned at your child’s mid-chest area and be snug and straight.

Combination seat in belt-positioning booster seat mode

• Once your child reaches 40 pounds and if the harness straps are below the child’s shoulders, remove the harness straps and use your car's lap/shoulder belt.
• The seat belt should be locked properly using the car’s built-in locking system, a locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate and threaded through the correct seat belt path.

Highback booster seat

When using a belt-positioning booster seat:

• Always use the lap/shoulder belt combination with a belt-positioning booster. Never use a lap belt only. This includes no back and high back booster seats.
• The shoulder belt should rest snugly across your child’s chest, should rest on the shoulder and should NEVER be placed under your child’s arm or behind his/her back. 
• The lap-belt should rest low, across the lap/upper thigh area, and not across the stomach.

Backless booster seat

When using Car Seat Belts only:

• You may start using car seat belts only once your child is 80 pounds and is 4 feet 9 inches tall.
• The shoulder strap should fit across your child’s shoulder, not his/her neck.
• The lap belt should fit across your child’s hips, not his/her stomach.

Proper use of adult seat belt by 11-year-old

Common Mistakes

• The harness straps are too loose or in the wrong position.
• The harness chest clip is in the wrong position.
• The seat belt is not locked properly using a locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate. Keep in mind that newer seat belt systems have a built-in locking mechanism.
• The car seat is not secured correctly because you are either using the wrong seat belt path or not making the seat belts tight enough.
• Placing an infant seat in the path of an air bag.

Never use a car seat that:

• Has been recalled.
• Was involved in a crash.
• Is more than 10 years old (or depending on the manufacturer, more than 5-6 years old).
• Doesn't have a label with the date it was manufactured and the seat name or model number.
• Doesn't have instructions.
• Is missing parts or has cracks in the frame.

Information courtesy of www.keepkidshealthy.com
Illustrations courtesy of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

 

Holiday

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.”
• 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 tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways.
• Cut a few inches off the trunk of your tree to expose the fresh wood. This allows for better water absorption and will help to keep your tree from drying out and becoming a fire hazard.
• Be sure to keep the stand filled with water, because heated rooms can dry live trees out rapidly.

Toy Safety

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1-1/4 inches in diameter and 2-1/4 inches long.
• Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death – after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Choosing who cares for your child is one of the most important, and difficult decisions you'll ever have to make. To help you better judge quality when you're considering which child care program is right for your child, NACCRRA has created an easy to use checklist. The checklist contains a list of 38 questions that you can ask to evaluate child care programs. All of the questions are based on research about what is important to your child's health, safety and development. Find peace of mind knowing that your child is in high-quality care that will keep him or her safe, healthy and happy by downloading and reviewing this checklist.

© NACCRRA 2011 - all rights reserved.