Staten Island Injury Law : New York Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Frank Dito : Decker, Decker, Dito & Internicola Law Firm : Traffic Accidents, Transportation Safety

A bill to provide September 11 first responders with compensation and medical treatment has failed to pass the House of Representatives. The bill would have provided up to $7.4 billion dollars for free health care and lost wages for those that were sickened by the dust and ash inhaled at the World Trade Center site. Instead, the approximately 10,000 workers that helped clean up the WTC site are only left to look to the $713 million dollar settlement recently negotiated by lawyers for those suffering illness, but has yet to be approved by the victims.

The proposed settlement would pay out large sums of money only to those police officers, firefighters and construction workers who have developed severe respiratory problems and other illnesses from inhaling the dust at the WTC site. The settlement was approved by a federal court Judge after he urged the lawyers to reduce their legal fees to sweeten the pot. The worker's still have not approved of the terms of the settlement.

Kenneth Feinberg, the former administrator of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, has come to Staten Island recently to urge the workers to approve the settlement. As I represented survivor's of the World Trade Center collapse in the Victim's Compensation Fund, I attended numerous meetings at which Mr. Feinberg spoke. At those meetings, his pleas now echo the same: its the only game in town. Take the settlement. As a lawyer, I am used to the "strong-arm" tactics and see it as part of the game. As a citizen who watched those towers collapse, I am offended that after asking thousands of our countrymen to work in a caustic cloud of ash and dust, we are now trying to settle their claims for pennies on the dollar. The government already made deals with the unions to protect auto workers, who don't suffer from any rash of occupational diseases, but they apparently feel that it was money better spent. Day and night, the first responders searched for any signs of the living, then the dead and then cleaned up what was destroyed so we could rebuild, stronger then ever. We asked for their help, now they are asking for ours. We need to ensure the future of our first responders and their families by reaching a fair settlement, under inflated from the lack of federal payments.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A federal judge has awarded $500,000 to Michael Grynberg, a 40 year old Staten Island resident injured in the crash of the ferry boat Andrew J. Barberi on October 15, 2003 for what the headline states his injuries "stopped him from dating." The purpose of the article is clear; its not to report news but to comment on what a reporter thinks is another case for "tort-reform." The report summarizes the claim in that it is alleged that Mr. Grynberg's injuries have hampered his social life. The article also discloses that Mr. Grynberg has previous lawsuits, which somehow discredits any of his claim.

The judge, Frederic Block, noted in his decision that Mr. Grynberg suffered a jaw injury that forces him to eat liquids and pureed foods. The jaw injury caused Mr. Grynberg to break off his engagement and to avoid dating all together. The "social changes" that the jaw injury caused were the reason for the Judge's award.

In order for Mr. Grynberg to make these claims, his attorneys were required to present evidence as to what caused the jaw injury and how it has affected him. The proof requires the testimony of a physician and the introduction of Mr. Grynberg's medical records. The City of New York was entitled to present their own physician to testify as to his opinion of Mr. Grynberg's injuries. As the trial was what is known as a "bench trial", meaning that the judge decides the case, it's obvious that the Judge Block believed Mr. Grynberg and his physician, finding their testimony more credible than the City's witnesses.

What i have been unable to understand is why a person's previous history of lawsuits makes any difference as to their credibility in bringing another claim. People differ in their view of lawsuits and citizens rights to bring them. People also differ as to what is the just compensation for someones injuries. We can all agree that most of us were not in that courtroom during the trial and that we have not experienced what Mr. Grynberg is going through. We instead have made our decision regarding his claim from reading a 5 paragraph newspaper article, while Mr. Grynberg has been living his life for 7 years. What if you lost your fiance because you were riding the Staten Island Ferry when it crashed into a concrete dock, all because the City of New York didn't follow their own rules? What if you needed to eat pureed foods or liquids because your jaw hurt too much to chew? Would you take his claim so lightly? I would hope not as although it may not seem like very significant to you, someones enjoyment of their life was changed forever.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Yesterday, after 2 intense days of negotiations, the City of New York reached a settlement with the Estate of Sean Bell, who was killed by undercover New York City Police detectives the morning of his wedding. There are many out there who believe that since the police were justified in the discharge of their weapons, the Estate is not entitled to any compensation. I will not attempt to pass judgment on what occurred the night of the shooting as I am neither judge nor jury but will attempt to explain how the money was distributed. The Estate will receive $3.25 million before attorneys fees and Joseph Guzman, who was wounded in the shooting, will receive $3 million. What is glaring to me is the difference between someone alive and someone who is killed is apparently only $250,000. 

The explanation for the disparity lies in New York's archaic wrongful death laws. In New York, financial compensation is only awarded if the decedent experienced conscious pain and suffering before his death or provided financial support to his dependents. In the Sean Bell case, since he was yet to be married, his wife would be unable to claim that she was a dependent. However, Mr. Bell was the father of 2 young children and a large portion of that award will be placed in trust for their benefit by order of the Surrogate's Court, the court that has jurisdiction over estates of those who died in New York. Since Mr. Bell died instantly in the shooting, his estate receives no money for his conscious pain and suffering before he died.

Mr. Guzman was shot numerous times, shattering bones and leaving some bullets still lodged in his body. His recovery was for past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical care and lost wages from work. The amount of money that Mr. Guzman received was not based upon if he was married or if he has any children, but rather what injuries he suffered in this shooting.

As an attorney, the most difficult conversation that I have to have is when I need to explain to a mother that her son who recently died isn't worth anything but a token amount. They take solace in the fact that their child did not suffer but can't comprehend that a life can be worth so little. I have always lobbied for a change in New York State law to allow the loss of a life to be compensated, to be worth something. We have to realize that a human life is worth something.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Last week, Staten Island University Hospital's Emergency Room went paperless. The hospital introduced a computer based system that will eliminate the traditional paper based chart that has led to untold medical errors because of their unavailability and physician's notoriously bad handwriting. Studies have shown that the use of paperless charts and prescriptions, know as "e-prescriptions", have reduced a doctor's prescription errors from 42.5 per 100 to 6.6 per 100 prescriptions, a startling reduction.

Numerous medications have similar names and when written quickly across the prescription pad by a physician, the results can be deadly. Some prescription medications have remarkably similar trade names and dosages. In one particular instance, the drugs Flomax and Volmax, besides sounding similar, are also dispensed in similar doses, separated by a decimal point. As the proper dosage is .4 mg or 4 mg depending on the drug, As the ".' (decimal point) is easily left out, especially since many physicians fail to use the proper "0.4" to designate the proper dosage, patients lives were placed at risk.

The paperless hospital is meant to eliminate most, if not all, of the errors associated with illegible handwriting. The technology behind the paperless hospital makes use of symbols and bar coding to eliminate errors in testing and administering medication. The paperless hospital also allows the use of "templates" or "care sets", for medical care. When a patient is treated for a specific illness, they can be assigned a care set which orders specific tests and medications to help treat their symptoms. This automation greatly reduces errors in physicians failing to order tests or administering the wrong dosages.

My question is why has it taken so long to embrace technology? Sadly, despite attempts by many hospitals to implement such a program, the steadfast refusal of physicians and staff to embrace the technology has led hospitals to abandon their efforts. In the end, the only ones who suffer are you and I, the patients and their family.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

When I was a child, my father would always put me to bed with a few words; "don't let the bed bugs bite." As a child, I never knew what that saying meant as I can't recall ever being bitten by a bed bug. What was once thought of as a "monster in the closet" good night has now become something to worry about. Reports of bed bug infestations have doubled each year since 2005.

Bed bugs don't live on people, and they are not transported on skin. They move from place to place in luggage, clothing and computer cases. They hide out in the day, and, unfortunately, feed on you at night, although painlessly. What makes the bug difficult to eradicate is that the first signs that you were bitten don't normally appear until about a week after it happens. Since the signs don't appear immediately, it is difficult to tell where the bugs were when they bit you. Coupled with the high cost and time of eradicating the bugs, about $800 to $1200 for a one-bedroom apartment, the down turn in the economy has resulted in an a dramatic increase in the cases of bed bugs.

Back in 2006, a Chicago woman who was staying at the Nevele, a well-known hotel in upstate New York, sued the hotel owners after she was bitten by bed bugs more than 500 times! When she awoke the next morning, she noticed blood on the sheets. Her husband, who was not as badly bitten, tore the bed apart and found a swarm of bed bugs under the linens. Although bed bugs generally do not transmit diseases, their bites leave red welts that fade soon after they appear. However, some people may suffer anaphylactic shock or secondary bacterial infections from the scratching involved. Guests at a Motel 6 in Chicago sued the hotel after they were bitten by bed bugs and awarded $372,000 in damages by a jury.

Once thought to be eradicated, the banning of certain pesticides and the downturn in the economy has led to their resurgence. as the bed bugs generally don't transmit diseases, the Centers for Disease Control has not stepped up their efforts to control the pests, although some experts feel that they should. If you have unexplained welts appearing on your body or small droplets of blood on your sheets, seek treatment with a physician and then contact a licensed exterminator to help to eradicate the problem.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

This blog wrote about the most recent crash of the ferry boat Andrew J. Barberi. In that posting, I questioned whether the ferry boats were being properly maintained, especially in times of tightening budgets for all municipal agencies. After a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (pdf), the United States Coast Guard yesterday issued a Safety Alert regarding the proper maintenance of systems, equipment and components. Although silent as to the particular vessel the Coast Guard was directing the Safety Alert, the website Professional Mariner confirmed that it was indeed the Andrew J. Barberi.  

In the Safety Alert, the Coast Guard called into question the maintenance being performed on the Staten Island Ferry by the New York City Department of Transportation. In particular, as the crash was attributable to a failure of the propulsion at the New York end of the Ferry, certain parts were identified as possibly defective and replaced. After their replacement, the engine worked properly throughout numerous sea trials. The NTSB took samples of the engine oil, as direction of the ferry is controlled by numerous valves through which flows engine oil. The NTSB took samples of the engine oil for testing as the valves were sluggish and did not open and close properly. Preliminary reports show that the oil was highly contaminated, possibly leading to the failure of the engine.

 The Safety Alert recommends that two oil filters on the propulsion systems be changed periodically.  The shocking assertion made by the Coast Guard is that the DOT engineers never knew to replace the oil filters, despite the equipment Owners Manual requiring regular replacement. According to the DOT website, the Barberi entered service in 1981. Despite that length of time, no regular maintenance was performed on these filters and, in fact, no spare filters were even available. This shocking report comes as no surprise to me as an attorney that has represented numerous Staten Island residents hurt on previous ferry crashes. All too often, negligent maintenance has lead to a high percentage of the crashes. The remainder are attributable to the failure of the DOT to follow their own rules. People's first reaction shouldn't be that the "frivilous" lawsuits are going to start after each crash but that the the DOT continues to put our lives in danger each time we ride the ferry. Prevent the accident from happening and you prevent the lawsuits from occurring.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Staten Island residents awoke today to the tragic news of an early morning fire that claimed the lives of a mother, Lisa Jones, and her four young children. Apparently, two police officers on patrol early this morning smelled smoke and immediately began banging on the door of the multi-family home. Their heroic efforts lead to the rescue of 7 people but when they reached Ms. Jones upper floor apartment, the flames prevented them from rescuing Ms. Jones and her family.  When fire fighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed and they were unable to save the family.

These tragic deaths should never have occurred. The fire department has said that there were no smoke detectors in the building, a violation of New York law. The law requires that the landlord must install smoke detectors in your apartment but it is your responsibility to maintain them, which includes changing batteries and testing them weekly. If the landlord hasn't installed the smoke detectors, ask him to do so immediately or install them yourselves. It is recommended that each bedroom has its own smoke detector. Follow the instructions to properly install the smoke detector as the size and shape of your ceilings may prevent the detector from warning you of a fire.

As a Staten Island resident and attorney, as well as the father of two young children, I am sickened by this sensless tragedy. In an effort to stop this from happening again, my firm will provide free smoke detectors to those Staten Island residents that are unable to afford them. If you would like a free smoke detector, or maybe just a new battery, please fill out the contact form on my blog and ask for a free smoke detector. We need to act immediately to prevent such a tragedy from ever occuring ever again.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A Staten Island jury awarded a 4-year old boy $510,000 for injuries he suffered in during his delivery at Staten Island University Hospital. The jury found that the obstetrician, Paul Heltzer, and Staten Island University Hospital committed malpractice during the labor and delivery of Xzavier Hyman in 2006. The child suffered a brain injury from being deprived of oxygen.

The child's mother, Marquita Spicer, was admitted to the hospital in early labor. She was given pitocin, a drug that helps to speed along the contractions. The obstetrician then broke Ms. Spicer's water in a further attempt to deliver Xzavier. Labor lasted 19 hours before Ms. Spicer delivered Xzavier naturally. During the time in labor, the continued contractions pressed upon the baby, depriving him of oxygen and causing his heart rate to rise and drop. Another obstetrician testified that Xzavier should have been delivered by cesarean well before the natural delivery. The obstetrician testified that the hospital and Dr. Heltzer "deviated from standard medical practice" in not performing a cesarean delivery earlier. Xzavier suffered a brain injury and has deficiencies in his speech and his fine motor skills.

An article on SILive reporting the jury verdict also speaks to the cost of medical malpractice insurance for obstetricians and gynecologists. The author goes on to write about the legal claims against these doctors and their premiums, in some cases, being more than $200,000 per year. This author then goes on to make the connection that some of the claims are baseless as some birth injuries, such as cerebral palsy and other brain injuries, can be caused by circumstances beyond the doctors control. He then insinuates that the millions of dollars that juries award brain damaged babies, because their long term care costs are so high, are not always attributable to the doctor. The author makes no effort to support his conclusion with any medical evidence or that some jury awards were wrong. In fact, the tone of the article makes it seem that all malpractice claims are frivolous, although a jury just awarded over $500,000 based upon medical evidence presented at trial.

Insurance companies take the easy way out and blame the litigation for the increases in premiums. The author doesn't take into account that premiums reflect the insurance companies investments. When there investments drop, the difference must be made up in an increase in premiums. In 2001-2002, when payouts to malpractice victims declined, the premiums doubled. People are injured by a doctor's medical care and that cost can be significant over their lifetime. Does the article seem to suggest that its not the physicians' problem, but ours, as the cost of the injured victims medical care should be borne by the taxpayers? I hope we have not come that far.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

An article in today's Staten Island Advance tells of the filing of a lawsuit over an incident that occurred on February 12, 2010 in front of Morris Intermediate School. The lawsuit, filed today in State Supreme Court in St. George, alleges that the mother of a 12-year old Morris Intermediate School student was assaulted by a school safety officer as she went to pick up her daughter. As the mother arrived at school, she noticed that her daughter was being pelted with snowballs by some other students.The mom, Katherine Galindo, immediately ran over to her daughter to help to protect her. The confrontation eventually escalated to the point where the other students began to push the daughter and then Ms. Galindo herself. A school safety officer ordered Ms. Galindo to leave and threatened her arrest. Ms. Galindo explained that she was only defending her daughter. It is then alleged that the school safety officer pushed her and threw her into a gate. She was then arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct.

As the matter involved City of New York employees, a Notice of Claim was filed within 90 days after the incident happened, putting the City of New York on notice of what is alleged to have occurred. If the Notice of Claim was not timely filed, Ms. Galindo would be unable to bring a lawsuit for any injuries she sustained from this incident. The City of New York also requires that a lawsuit be filed within one year and 90 days after incident. These short time frames ensure that the City can properly investigate what occurred instead of years later when it becomes much more difficult.

The facts of this case are unusual but if the allegations are true, the school safety officer assaulted Ms. Galindo when he pushed her into a fence. What is most surprising to me are the 9 comments left on the SILive website. First, they all ignore what is alleged to have occurred - an assault committed on a 12-year old girl's mother, someones wife! Would anyone else be enraged if a school safety officer put their hands on your wife? I know I would. One comment even goes so far as to equate a physical assault with receiving a wrong order at Dunkin Donuts. And why would it be wrong to come to the aid of your 12-year old child? Should the mother have just stood by and watched? What would the comments have been then? I am at a loss to understand why a mom rushing to her daughter's aid was wrong to react the way she did. And if her story is proven to be true, she should be entitled to have her case heard in court. Even if she did raise her voice or was rude to the school safety officer, that does not give him the right to touch or assault Ms. Galindo to cause her injuries.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

High school aged Staten Island residents may soon be restricted from getting an indoor tan. New York law currently bans indoor tanning for residents under 14 and requires parent's permission from those 14 - 18 years of age who wish to tan indoors. The proposed law would ban indoor tanning by those under 18 years of age, regardless of their parent's permission. The increase in certain cancers attributable to tanning has lead to the proposal of this new law.

Recently, the World Health Organization listed tanning beds as a cancer causing carcinogen to humans, giving it their highest risk category. The evidence connecting tanning beds and melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, has been labeled "sufficient and compelling" by WHO doctors. Melanoma cases have doubled in the past 10 years, with 62,000 new cases expected this year.

The skin cancer risk is real, and not just limited to indoors. Sun tans, not from a lamp, are no safer than a tanning bed. Anytime you go out in the sun, you should wear a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Generally, 20 minutes of unprotected exposure to the sun will cause reddening in the skin. Prolonged exposures cause deep skin tissue damage and burns. When selecting a sunscreen, make sure that they offer protection from UVA and UVB rays. Reapply every two hours, as sunscreen does not remain effective for longer periods of time. Remember, no sunscreen can block all of the suns harmful rays. When your skin starts to turn red, you have already begun to do damage. Sunscreen alone is not enough, as you need to limit exposure as set forth in the Skin Cancer Foundation's Prevention Guidelines.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

A postal carrier recently came to the rescue of a woman while delivering the mail. Raymond Franca of Staten Island was stopped on the street by a woman who was screaming that there was a fire in her house. Franca immediately ran inside and extinguished the fire. Mr. Franca was recently honored for his efforts and my firm congratulates him as well for his heroic actions.

What lesson did Mr. Franca teach us? That we should be prepared for a fire in the event that one breaks out in your home. Every house should have one fire extinguisher at a minimum. The extinguisher should be an all-purpose type, known as an "ABC", which can be used upon all types of fires. Remember, never throw water on a grease fire as that will only serve to spread the flaming grease around your kitchen. The fire extinguisher you choose should be the largest size that you can comfortably handle. The more fire extinguishing chemical the extinguisher holds, the easier it will be to extinguish the fire. Make sure that the fire extinguisher is properly mounted and within easy reach. During a fire, its not the time to go searching for a fire extinguisher that's still in the box, stored away in a closet.

Make sure that you have working smoke detectors on each level of your house and outside of each bedroom. Develop an escape plan to quickly get out of the house in case of a fire. If you have children or elderly living with you, remember that they may need assistance to leave the house. Don't call the fire department from your house - get out of the house and call from a cell phone or a neighbors house.

The time to prepare for a fire is before one happens. Make sure your fire extinguishers are fully charged, your smoke detectors are working and have fresh batteries and develop and practice an escape plan. A few simple minutes can help to prevent the loss of a life.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

The New York City Special Commissioner of Investigation has released its report into the drowning of a 12-year old New York City public school student. Nicole Suriel was on a field trip to Long Beach, New York with her 6th grade class from the new Columbia Secondary School. Nicole entered the water and was apparently caught in a rip tide. She was found an hour and a half after she was reported missing.

This is an absolute tragedy, one compounded by the fact that it should never have occurred. The drowning occurred while no lifeguards were on duty. The lifeguards were off duty at the time of the trip and were scheduled to start working weekdays after the Memorial Day weekend. "No Swimming" signs were posted along the beach when the students arrived, advising that lifeguards were not on duty. The 24 children were accompanied to the beach by only three chaperones, an inadequate number given the location of the field trip, and that at least one could not swim.

The report (pdf) found that the teacher in charge, 26-year old Erin Bailey, exhibited "poor judgment" in allowing the students to swim without lifeguards on duty and that the school failed to provide enough chaperones for the trip. What surprised me is that the investigation revealed that the parents signed a "Universal" permission slip at the beginning of the year, but never one for this particular trip. The Universal permission slip allowed the school to take the children only short distances from school, unlike the trip to Long Beach, which involved a subway ride and a trip on the Long Island Rail Road. Parents were unable to make the choice as to whether they wanted their child to go on such a field trip. Given the fact that Nicole couldn't swim, I would be hesitant to allow my child to go on a field trip to the beach. I am sure if the trip was discussed thoroughly with the parents, concern would be voiced over the lack of adult supervision for 24 students. Instead, the field trip went ahead and the improper planning and lack of supervision caused the tragic death of a 12-year old girl.

As parents, we need to protect our children as they are too young to protect themselves. We need to be involved and make sure what they are doing in school each day, and to say "no" if the situation makes us uncomfortable. Hurt feelings will heal, this tragedy never will. As a parent, my prayers go out to her family as they try to recover from their loss.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

As we approach the height of the summer driving season on Staten Island, many may not be aware of the dangers that could be lurking in our cars, SUV's and mini vans. Everyday items that you keep loose inside the cabin of your car, such as portable DVD players, suitcases and even an empty child booster seat, may become missiles when you are involved in a serious car accident. A 20-pound object hits with over 1,000 pounds of force in a 55 miles per hour car accident. That is enough force to break off the arm of a crash test dummy. The injuries that a passenger could sustain would be deadly.  Even simple things like an empty child booster seat have the potential to cause serious injuries if you are involved in a car accident. In one car accident, a booster seat flew forward and hit a front seat passenger in the face, causing multiple facial fractures. The same problem happens when your rear seat passengers are unbelted; in an accident, they can be thrown about the car, causing you serious injury.

As you head out on your summer drive, make sure you follow some simple rules. Always make sure that everyone in your car buckles up. If you are traveling with an unoccupied child safety seat, either buckle it in or put it in the trunk. Be careful how much weight that you decide to lash to the roof of the car. Heavy weights on the roof of your car or SUV can change the center of gravity, making the vehicle more susceptible to rollover. Those anchors and tethers in the back of your SUV are there to help secure your suitcases, coolers, beach chairs, etc. Even your cell phone or sunglasses should be kept close at hand but put away in the front console or glove box. Left out, the cell phone may slide down into the driver's foot well, interfering with the operation of the brake or gas pedal.

It is also a good idea to check your tires before heading out for a long drive. Make sure the tires are at the correct pressure as listed on the sticker on the sill of the driver's door. The sill sticker is the only location where the correct tire pressure is located. The owner's manual contains only general instructions as to tire pressures, not the specific pressures as to the style and size of tire on your vehicle. Also make sure that you have sufficient tire tread depth a few days before you plan to leave on your trip. You can check the depth by placing a quarter into the tread, as recommended by the Tire Rack.

Summer is wonderful family time and creates wonderful memories of time spent together on vacation. Please make sure that your car is safe, loaded properly and you are not distracted while you are driving.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

Residents are well aware that Staten Island has two hospitals - Richmond University and Staten Island University hospitals. Residents may not know that what these two hospitals share in name, "university", means that they are both teaching hospitals. By definition, a teaching hospital is a hospital that provides clinical education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, in addition to delivering medical care to patients.

A recent article brings to light the incidence of in-hospital deaths related to medication errors rise dramatically during the summer months, especially July. Some have attributed the increase to the influx of medical school graduates into their residency programs. While others dispute the reason for the increase, July annually sees an approximate 10% increase in patient deaths due to complications from medication errors. Know as the July Effect, the spike in deaths has been consistent for the last 30 years and residency is the most easily explained reason for the increase.

For new residents, this is the first time when they are expected to perform autonomously. They are under extreme pressure to be perfect and that pressure may lead them to admit that they know more than they actually do, leading to mistakes. 

Since all the hospitals on Staten Island are teaching hospitals, what are you to do? Do you need to worry? I would suggest that you follow a few simple rules, regardless of the time that happen to go to the hospital. First, don't be afraid to ask to speak with an attending physician regarding your concerns. By law, all residents must be supervised by an attending physician and you have the right to speak with them if you are not satisfied with the answers you are receiving. Second, don't assume that the medication that you are receiving is correct. If there is a change in dosage, make sure that the staff is aware of it. Third, as with everything, ask questions. Asking three simple questions of your medical provider can help to reassure you that you are receiving the proper medical care. Staten Island residents should be assured that we have access to the finest medical care in the nation. You shouldn't be afraid to go to the hospital but don't be afraid to speak up if you feel something is wrong.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments (1)
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

As Staten Island swelters in the grip of a heat wave, parents need to take precautions to safeguard their children from heat related injuries. If you do take your child out for a playground visit, make sure that they drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and a hat. Make sure that they don't overheat. What many parents may not realize is that the public playground surfaces and rides may become so dangerous as to cause burns to young children playing on them.

Temperatures taken at New York City parks today registered over 170 degrees on artificial turf fields and over 140 degrees on the black mats covering playground surfaces. A child can be burned in less than 2 seconds when touching a solid surface, such as a metal slide, that is hotter than 140 degrees. Recently, newly installed metal play domes were removed from a Brooklyn park because they caused second-degree burns to a 13-month old girl who was playing on the domes.

If you do go to a playground, stay away from the metal slides and try to avoid the playgrounds with the black safety mats, unless they are in complete shade. Your best idea would be for your child to use the showers and sprinklers, safely cooling off and staying away from the surfaces that could cause serious burns. The extreme heat can cause blisters, severe burns, heat stroke and dehydration. The same rules apply to playground equipment that you may have in your backyard. Please make sure that your children are protected during this extreme heat wave.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

The news reported on the tragic death of a 6-month old girl at the Central Park Zoo last week. The little girl's mother was also critically injured when a tree branch 30 feet above a busy path broke and fell on them while they were posing for a picture. This is the latest of a string of incidents that have occurred in the park over the last year. In February, a falling branch struck and killed a 46 year old man and last July another park visitor was struck by a falling tree branch, causing serious injuries.

The park has over 26,000 trees, a number which makes it impossible for every tree to be inspected, especially since the Central Park Conservancy, the group responsible for the maintenance of the trees in the park, spends around $500,000 annually on tree maintenance. Even when an inspection catches a tree that needs maintenance, the delay in taking action can be deadly. The tree that the branch fell from in the February accident was targeted as a danger in December of 2009. Not until after the fatal accident was it actually removed. It's limbs were weakened by the weight of a recent snowstorm.

What is especially troubling is that it is not clear who is responsible for the maintenance of these trees. The branch that fell at the zoo belonged to a tree that either the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the zoo, or the Central Park Conservancy was required to maintain.  The lack of clear responsibility usually means that some trees are being overlooked, turning them into potentially deadly time bombs.

At Clove Lakes Park on Staten Island, another frightening accident occurred when a U.S Marine Corps V-22 Osprey, a hybrid airplane/helicopter, blew down tree branches while it was performing maneuvers for a Memorial Day air show. The branches injured over a dozen people. In this incident, the branches that fell were not weakened but blown down by the force of the blast. The trees in the park are the responsibility of the New York City Parks Department and a quick search of the Internet did not produce any reports of falling tree branch injuries in Clove Lakes park.

When you are outside, be aware of the weather. Although these accidents do not appear to weather related, a strong, gusty summer thunderstorm can cause a branch to fall down. When you are caught in a thunderstorm, don't hide under a tree. Despite the increased chance of the tree being struck by lightning, the chance of a falling limb dramatically increases. If you have any large trees that adjoin your property, it is a good idea to have them examined and pruned by a professional tree company. If you wait to find out that your tree is weakened, its usually after a large branch has fallen, possibly causing a serious injury to your family, your guests or your neighbors.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link

July 4th is just a couple of days away. Tradition dictates a barbecue for the holiday, if not the whole weekend. Besides fireworks, one danger confronting the Staten Island homeowner is the barbecue grill. Whether you choose natural gas, propane or charcoal, the heat generated by the grill easily tops 400 degrees. In the case of a charcoal grill, remember that it takes about 30 briquettes to grill one pound of meat. In other words, you will be cooking over 30 coals that are literally on fire, only inches away from your hands. It is important to exercise some basic safety precautions when barbecuing this summer.

First, make sure that the grates are clean and free of any grease before you light the grill. Once the grease is heated, it has the potential to ignite, setting the grill on fire and putting you in danger. Before you light, make sure that the grill is steady; once you turn on the grill, it should not be moved to another location nor is it the time to tighten the legs or that loose screw. If the grill falls, that would mean hot briquettes falling onto your feet and legs. Also, DO NOT USE GASOLINE to light the grill. Use lighter fluid sparingly and only in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. DO NOT pour on more lighter fluid once the coals are already lit as the fire could spread to the bottle, causing it to explode.

When lighting a gas grill, make sure to follow the directions. If the ignition doesn't work, don't leave the gas on while you go searching for a match. The gas will form a dangerous cloud which may ignite wile you strike the match, causing a dangerous fireball. Never leave the gill unattended, even if only for a few moments, especially if you have little children running around. When you are grilling, make sure that you wear a shirt and shoes. Food has a tendency to splatter hot grease and its helpful to have on clothing to prevent contact with bare skin. Remember to be safe and to enjoy your time outdoors this holiday weekend.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks
• Share Link