November is Child Safety Awareness Month

November is Child Safety Awareness Month, but for parents, everyday is spent trying to keep their children safe. While many hazards are well-known to parents, there are some dangers that parents may not know about. Here are just a few hazards and tips for addressing those hazards:

1. Improperly Installed Car Seats: Most parents know that their children are safest while travelling in a car seat and believe their car sear is properly installed; however, in fact, seven out of ten children are improperly restrained. Parents can determine what type of car seat their child should use by reviewing NHTSA's recommendations. Parents can also check to make sure their child's car seat is properly installed by visiting a car seat check or scheduling a free appointment to have the seat installed correctly. In Cedar Rapids, this can be done by contacting the Fire Department. For other car seat installers throughout Iowa, click here.
2. Lead Poisoning: Lead poisoning most frequently occurs among children because the child has been exposed to chipping and peeling lead-based paint in an older home. Unfortunately most children who have been lead poisoned do not have visible symptoms but can sustain permanent brain injury from exposure to lead. If you believe your child has been exposed to lead paint or if you live in an older home tell your child's doctor so your child can be screened for lead poisoning. For more information on lead poisoning prevention visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website.
3. Dangerous Products: It is easy to assume that products made for children are in fact safe for children. However, a number of children's products have been recalled due to hazards discovered after the product was already on the market. A list of recently recalled children's products can be found here.

At Brady Preston Gronlund we realize how hard parents work to keep their kids safe and that sometimes, despite parents' best efforts, children are injured because of another's negligence. One of our most important jobs as lawyers is representing children and their families when those children have suffered a preventable injury. If your child has been injured and you would like to know if you have a claim, please contact us.