Houston Personal Injury Lawyer

Over 12,000 Faulty Defibrillators Recalled

Scott Kappes — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:03:50 GMT

Cardiac Science Corp. has begun the voluntary recall of about 12,200 external defibrillators because they may not function under certain conditions, which could lead to patient death.

The problem was detected by Cardiac Science through their internal quality control system, and there have been no reports of this occurring in actual products in the field.

Models affected by the recall were manufactured between October 19, 2009 and January 15, 2010. Affected models include:

Powerheart	9300A
	9300E
	9300P
	9390A
	9390E
CardioVive	92532
CardioLife	9200G
	9231

The Cardiac Science website features a database that allows consumers to determine if their defibrillator is affected by the recall.

Defective defibrillators will be replaced free of charge by Cardiac Science and are expected to start shipping on February 15^th.

For additional information on the recall and how to replace a potentially defective model visit the Cardiac Science website here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

10 Ways to Stay Safe While Driving in the Rain

Scott Kappes — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:52:41 GMT

We are looking at a wet weekend here in Houston and the surrounding areas, so I thought it would be a good chance to offer some safe driving tips for rainy weather. As we all know driving in the rain can be a little bit scary especially in a city like Houston, where everyone drives. The chances of being involved in an accident are raised significantly in wet road conditions; however, with a little common sense and patience you can minimize the likelihood of being involved in an auto accident.

1: Concentrate on driving! While this seems like a simple concept, a surprising number of accidents are caused by a lack awareness and concentration. More times than not an accident can be avoided if a driver is paying attention to the road and the other drivers around them. Avoiding distractions like cell phones and changing the radio station will help drivers remain cognoscente of ever changing road conditions.
2: Drive with your headlights on! Driving with your headlights on can greatly increase the ability for other drivers to see you. This is even more important in rainy weather conditions where visibility is reduced and the ability to stop or swerve to avoid an accident is impeded.
3: Keep more distance between you and the car in front of you. Keeping a safe distance between you and the driver in front of you is one of the fundamental rules for safe driving. This is even more important when driving on wet roads. The general rule of thumb is a to keep two seconds between your car and the driver in front of you; however, in wet or rainy conditions this distance should be increased to three or four seconds.
4: Slow Down! You should remember that the posted speed limit is the maximium speed that should be driven in ideal driving conditions. Driving slower can greatly increase the amount of time that you have to stop or avoid a potential accident.
5: Be aware of the condition of your tires. Your ability to stop and the traction that you have with the road is directly dependent upon the condition of your tires. Tires with less tread have a lessened ability to channel water away from the road surface which reduces friction with the road. This can in turn hinder a driver’s ability to avoid an accident.
6: Avoid high water and flooded areas. Driving through deep water can cause catastrophic failure of your engine if water makes its way into your air intake. You should never attempt to drive through deep or moving water unless it is absolutely necessary. Flowing water can actually sweep your car off the roadway placing you in great danger.
7: Beware of hydroplaning! Hydroplaning is when your car actually travels across the surface of a pool or puddle of water. Hydroplaning causes the tires to completely or almost completely lose contact with the road surface allowing for almost no traction. If faced with a hydroplaning situation it is important to remain calm and not to make sudden movements. Letting of the accelerator and steering the vehicle straight or slightly in the direction of you would like to go is the best way to stay under control in a hydroplaning situation.
8: Use your defroster. Using the defroster in your vehicle can greatly increase your visibility. Houston drivers know all too well that hot and muggy outside conditions can quickly fog up the windows. Using the A/C while defrosting can reduce widow fog more quickly than using non air conditioned air.
9: Understand the effects of water on your brakes. Drum brakes are more susceptible to the affects of water; however, disc brakes may also have diminished stopping power in wet condition.
10: Avoid pooling water. Water that is pooling low areas like potholes or ruts can greatly increase the likelihood of hydroplaning. It is also important to be aware of areas of pooling water that the drivers around you may hit. This could cause them to hydroplane or splash water on your windshield causing you to lose the ability to see the road and vehicles in front of you.

Driving in inclement weather is always dangerous, but making an effort to be more conscientious of weather conditions and adapting to them can greatly increase your ability to navigate the road in any weather condition.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

One Dead, Another Injured After Chemical Leak at NE Texas Gas Plant

Scott Kappes — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:18:45 GMT

Federal authorities are investigating to determine exactly what happened at natural gas processing plant in northeast Texas that left one worker dead and another severely injured.

The fatal accident occurred when toxic hydrogen sulfide was accidentally released or leaked from an Enbridge Inc. processing plant near Bryan Mill, Texas on Saturday night.

An Enbridge spokesperson said she did not know the cause of the leak, but that OSHA officials and the company are still investigating the accident.

A 56-year-old, 30 year veteran of the plant was pronounced dead at the scene, and another injured worker was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Woman Killed in Collision with CenterPoint Truck

Scott Kappes — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:56:35 GMT

Late Saturday night a woman killed in collision with a utility bucket truck at the intersection of Becker Rd. and FM 2920. According to the Chronicle the accident occurred about 30 minutes before midnight when a woman driving a white Honda Accord pulled into the intersection where it was struck by a CenterPoint Energy bucket truck that was eastbound on FM 2920.

It is believed that the driver of the Honda failed to yield right-of-way and that the bucket truck was able to stop, resulting in the fatal collision.

The accident is still being investigated by authorities.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Houston Company Hit with $1.5 Million in Proposed Fines from OSHA after Fatal Accident

Scott Kappes — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:29:28 GMT

Today the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that they are proposing almost $1.5 million in fines for Houston-based CES Environmental Services Inc., after an explosion left a worker dead last year.

The accident occurred at the Houston CES facility last July when an altered piece of equipment ignited flammable vapors inside the tank 45-year-old Bruce Howard was cleaning.

Attorneys for CES say that they will fight the penalties and that the company is committed to ensuring the safety of its employees.

The Houston Chronicle reports that company president Matt Bowman has said that the worker disregarded safety rules; while Howard’s family claims that he was not afforded adequate safety training.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Multiple Car Accident on Highway 6 Leaves 10 Hospitalized

Scott Kappes — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:33:45 GMT

According to police last night around 9:15 pm a car traveling southbound on Highway 6 near Patterson lost control and veered into oncoming traffic. A car traveling northbound collided with the car as it skidded across the lane. Another car then slammed into the wreckage.

The chain reaction accident shut down traffic in both directions on Highway 6 for over two hours. In all 10 people were transported to the hospital including two individuals who were airlifted to Memorial Hermann in serious but stable condition.

This is the second serious accident in only three days over this stretch of Highway 6. Another accident involving a vehicle that veered into on-coming traffic in the morning hours New Year’s Day left two dead and an additional seven hospitalized.

Some believe that a barrier should be installed to prevent traffic from veering into oncoming lanes; however, it is unclear if this is being considered transportation authorities.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Deaths and Near Strangulations Prompt Roman Shade Recall

Scott Kappes — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:17:03 GMT

Over the past several years the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has received numerous reports of near strangulation and deaths associated with the use of Roman shades and roll up blinds. In fact since 2006 the agency has received reports of 5 deaths and 16 near strangulations related to Roman shades alone. An additional three deaths have been reported in association with various types of roll up blinds since 2001.

In response the CPSC in cooperation with the Window Covering Safety Council and multiple vendors have issued a recall to repair millions of Roman shades and roll up blinds due strangulation hazards they pose to young children.

Strangulations in Roman shades can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck. Strangulations in roll-up blinds can occur if the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

Customers that have Roman shades or roll up shades in their homes should contact the WCSC as soon as possible at www.windowcoverings.org or toll free by phone at (800) 506-4636 to obtain a free repair kit.

To help prevent child strangulation in window coverings, CPSC and the WCSC urge parents and caregivers to follow these guidelines:

Examine all shades and blinds in the home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC and the WCSC recommend the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
Do not place cribs, beds, and furniture close to the windows because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.
Make loose cords inaccessible.
If the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.

More information and images that demonstrate potential dangers can be found on the CPSC website here. A full listing of all shades and blinds associated with this recall can be found here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

ATV’s Recalled Due to Loss of Steering Control

Scott Kappes — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:06:23 GMT

Last week, in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, Can-Am ATV’s issued a recall of about 2,400 ATV’s because of a potential for steering failure associated with the all-terrain-vehicles.

The recall includes 2010 Can-Am Outlander and Rengade models.

Failure of dynamic power steering in these ATV’s can result in a loss of steering control which poses a significant risk of injury and even death to the rider.

The firm has received one incident report with no injury and no material damages.

Consumers are encouraged to stop using the rexcalled vehicles immediately and contact a Can-Am dealer to schedule a free repair.

Mor information is available at the CPSC website here and the firm website here. The manufacturer can also be reached toll-free at (888) 638-5397 for additional information.

A complete list of recalled models has been included below.

Model Name	Model Number	Color
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT 4X 800EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT 4X 800EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX LTD 4X 800EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT 4X 650EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT 4X 500EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT 4X 500EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT-P 4X 800EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT-P 4X 800EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT-P 4X 650EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT-P 4X 650EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT-P 4X 500EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX XT-P 4X 500EFI	Black
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	MAX LTD 4X 500EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® OUTLANDER™	XT 4X 650EFI	Yellow, Viper Red, Camo
Can-Am® RENEGADE™	XXC 4X 800EFI	Black

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Valproate Sodium Products Linked to Risk of Birth Defects

Scott Kappes — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:42:00 GMT

Yesterday the FDA notified healthcare professionals about an increased risk of neural tube defects and other major birth defects. Healthcare professionals should warn women of child bearing age about these potential birth defect risks and consider possible alternative therapies for the treatment of migraines and other non-life-threatening conditions.

Valproate should only be used in women of childbearing when it is necessary to manage their medical condition.

Women of childbearing potential should only use valproate if it is essential to manage their medical condition. Those who are not actively planning a pregnancy should use effective contraception, as birth defect risks are particularly high during the first trimester, before many women know they are pregnant.

Pregnant women using valproate should enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug Pregnancy Registry at www.aedpregnancyregistry.org

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

FDA Warns of Increased Risk of Sudden Death Associated With Antidepressant Drug

Scott Kappes — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:38:47 GMT

Yesterday the FDA and Sanofi-Aventis notified healthcare professionals of changes made to the prescribing information of the prescription antidepressant medication Norpramin. The changes include modifications to the “Warnings” and “Overdose” sections.

According to the FDA’s Dear Healthcare Professional Letter, extreme caution should be used when giving Norpramin to patients with a family history of sudden death, cardiac dysrhythmias, or cardiac conductions, as the drug may increase the likelihood of these events.

Both Sanofi Aventis and the FDA said that Norpramin overdose is more likely to result in death than other tricyclic antidepressants.

If you are taking this medication and have a family history of sudden cardiac arrest you should contact you doctor immediately and talk about switching medications to a safer alternative.

The FDA is encouraging people to report any adverse events associated with this or any other medication be reported to the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting System.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes