Child Poisoning & Child Suffocation
Los Angeles, Claremont, and Pasadena Attorney
Children are naturally curious. It is normal for young children to put things in their mouths. They explore their world by touching, seeing, smelling, hearing, and tasting. However, this inquisitiveness can be dangerous and lead to child injuries related to poisoning and suffocation.
Many people keep lots of chemicals below their kitchen sink and in their garages. People also keep medications in medicine cabinets and bathroom drawers. Curious children will often investigate, and sometimes try to eat or drink, anything they can get into. This includes medications and chemicals. Many of these chemicals and medications are poisonous.
Suffocation is also a danger for children, especially young children. They will often put things in their mouth to taste or swallow. Food and small toys can lodge in a child’s throat and cause choking and suffocation.
Child Suffocation and Poison Statistics
- Every day, over 300 children in the United States ages 0 to 19 are treated in emergency rooms, and two children die, as a result of being poisoned.
- Sixty percent of infant suffocation occurs in the sleeping environment
Your Child’s Rights as a Suffocation or Poison Accident Victim
It is devastating to a family to have their child seriously injured or killed because of poison or suffocation. As parents or family members, the first thing we often do is blame ourselves. Could we have, should we have, what might we have done differently? However, suffocation and poison accidents are often more complex than we realize. They often involve a set of circumstances that may point to liability in areas we do not fully understand like improperly packaged or labeled chemicals. There may be insurance available for these accidents. An experienced child injury lawyer can help address these issues.
If your child was poisoned on someone else’s property, is the property owner, commercial or individual potentially liable? Might a homeowner policy cover certain injuries? If your child suffered suffocation injuries while in the care of another, is that person potentially liable? Child poisoning and suffocation injuries caused by the negligence and intentional misconduct of others are actionable.
Product manufacturers and sellers cannot sell defective or unsafe products. If a manufacturer of children’s cribs, mobiles, crib bumpers, toys or furniture manufactures or sells unsafe or defective products they may be liable for your child’s injuries. If a manufacturer of chemicals manufactures or sells chemicals that are packaged dangerously or have improper warning labels, they may be liable for your child’s injuries.
People entrusted to supervise or care for children may have certain standards of care they must meet. If they failed to properly supervise your child, or encouraged reckless and dangerous activities then they may have breached a required standard of care. If that breach is the cause of a child’s injury you may have a case and the ability to recover damages for your child.
The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky can help identify who might be liable, and who might have the resources and insurance coverage to properly cover the liability. For a free consultation, call us at (626) 604-6973 or send us an inquiry form by clicking here.
Recoverable Damages in A Child Suffocation or Poisoning Accident
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering; mental anguish
- Loss of earning capacity
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of service to family
- Punitive damages in some cases
Child Poison Prevention Tips
Lock Them Up
Store medicines and toxic products in their original packaging where children can’t see or get them. Whenever possible, use locked and latched cabinets and storage compartments.
Know the Poison Control Number
Put the nationwide poison control center phone number,(800) 222-1222, on or near every telephone in your home and program it into your cell phone.
Follow Label Instruction
Follow label directions and read all warnings when giving medicines to children.
Don’t keep it if you don’t need it.
Safely dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs
Suffocation Prevention Tips
Ensure Safe Sleeping
Learn the proper way to put children to sleep (e.g., place infants on their backs on a firm surface every time they are laid down for sleep, etc).
Keep Meal and Play Time Safe
Use age-appropriate food and keep bites small. Supervise infants and young children during meals. Encourage children to eat safely – chew their food thoroughly, don’t eat while playing, or laughing. Read and follow choking hazard labels on toy packaging to determine suitable toys for children.
Learn Basic First Aid and CPR
Seek out and take classes in first aid and CPR. Call your local Red Cross, YMCA or Senior Center for classes or class referrals.
Resources:
Center for Disease Control & Prevention – Poison Prevention Tips
Center for Disease Control & Prevention – Suffocation Prevention Tips
