Florida Child Injury Lawyer Blog

Bicycle helmets save lives and reduce the risk of minor, serious, or severe personal injuries to children. Every year 350,000 children visit the emergency room due to bicycle-related injuries. Out of those 350,000 visits, 130 children child sustain head injuries and approximately 200 children die. Wearing a helmet can decrease a child's likelihood of sustaining injuries by as much as 85%.

It is important to purchase your child a helmet that fits him or her appropriately and is up to date with the current industry standards. Good bicycle stores will help with fitting and suit of the helmet. Both aspects are very important for child safety. Because a child's head develops slower than his or her lower limbs and feet, it may not be necessary to purchase a new helmet every year. In fact, most helmets have removable padding to adjust to your child's growth. The key issue to remember here is that although not all helmets are the same. Wearing a helmet is better than wearing nothing at all.

However, there are some items that all helmets should have. First, your child's helmet should have a rear stabilizer - this cradles the back of your child's head and assists the helmet in staying in the appropriate position. The helmet should come with chin straps and should fit snuggly so as not to move from side-to-side. As a general rule, if your child can fit two fingers between the helmet and his or her temple, the helmet is too big. If you would like to read more on this topic please see Helmets are crucial for protecting your child from sustaining bicycle-related personal injuries.

Parents and guardians should stress the importance of helmet safety. If your child has reservations about wearing a helmet because he or she thinks it is not cool to wear a helmet, let your child pick out his or her own helmet. Just make sure the fit and other safety aspects are not compromised. If you would like to read more on properly fitting your child's helmet please see Properly Using and Fitting Bicycle Helmets - Key TIps for Safety of Children.

Victoria Powell, a 9-year-old girl of Lake City, Florida, escaped serious personal injuries after she was hit by a pickup truck while waiting for her school bus. According to Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Trooper J.M. Farnell, the 1999 GMC pickup truck rear-ended the school bus then spun onto the unpaved shoulder of the highway where Victoria was waiting to board. The truck hit Victoria before its driver could stop. The child was treated at the scene of the accident for minor injuries.

Neither the bus driver nor any of the 12 children on the bus were injured. The driver of the pickup, James Derringer, 45, was cited for careless driving. If you would like to read more on this incident please see School girl who was hit by truck while waiting for bus sustains only minor injuries.

This accident had the potential of being very serious, if not deadly. Drivers need to pay attention and keep their focus on the road at all times while driving. Driver attention and focus are especially important during times of heavy traffic, for example, during morning and afternoon commutes. During these busy times, roads are cluttered with cars and drivers will be subject to a stop-and-go traffic flow. Therefore, drivers do not need to speed or drive aggressively and keep distractions to a minimum.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Graco Children's Products, of Atlanta, Georiga, is announcing a recall about approximately 2 million Graco strollers and travel systems due to a risk of entrapment and strangulation. The agencies have received four reports of fatal infant strangulations that occurred in these strollers between 2003 to 2005. Also, CPSC is knowledgeable of 5 incidences of infant entrapment that resulted in cuts and bruises and one report of an infant struggling to breathe.

Infants younger than 12-months-old are very susceptible to entrapment and strangulation if they are not properly harnessed. A common occurrence is that a child who is improperly harnessed can get through the opening between the stroller tray and seat bottom, but his or her head and neck can become entrapped by the stroller tray. Those infants who become entrapped around the neck can potentially be strangled.

Among the items being recalled are: older versions of the Graco Quattro Tour(tm) and travel systems manufactured prior to November 2006 and MetroLite(tm) strollers and travel systems manufactured prior to July 2007. These products were distributed between November 2007 and December 2007. These products could have possibly been in store inventories well up to the week the recall was made public. Models included in the recalled by be found on the Graco website. If you would like to read more information on this recall please see Millions of Graco strollers recalled due to infant strangulation.

It is important that your child fits securely in his or her stroller. If a child is able to move around too freely, the risk of entrapment and strangulation dramatically increase.

Two teenage boys riding bicycles were seriously injured after being involved in an accident with an automobile. The two boys were identified as Jim Allan Bass, Jr., 17 and Deyven Lee Bottner Scott, 16; the teenagers are listed in serious and critical condition respectively. The driver of the 4-door Chevrolet that was involved in the accident was identified as 55-year-old William Edgar Futch of Sebring. According the Florida Highway Patrol's report, both teens were riding on one bicycle and traveling north on the east shoulder of U.S. 27. The bicycle crossed in front of Futch, hitting the Chevy. After coming into contact with the automobile, Bottner Scott was trhown onto the road and came to rest in the center lane on U.S. 27; Bass was thrown into the east shoulder and the bicycle was lodged under the right from bumper of the Chevrolet.

All north bound lands had to be closed in order to let a medical helicopter pick up the teenagers and transport them to a hospital. Bass was taken to Florida Hospital and Bottner Scott, whose injuries were more severe, was transported to Tampa General. The report revealed that alcohol was not a factor in the accident. If you would like to read more on this story please see Two teenage boys in serious and critical condition after their bike collides with an automobile, each teen sustains severe personal injuries.

Florida roadways can be extremely dangerous to drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Many accidents involving automobiles, bicycles, or pedestrians that cause personal injuries could have been prevented with better safety awareness. Driver distraction is a huge problem in the state of Florida and Florida has no laws regulating the use cell phones while driving. Therefore, drivers are solely responsible for keep their distractions to a minimum when driving. Doing so will make Florida roadways a safer place for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

In Leon County, Florida, detectives recently arrested Barbara J. Knight for charges related to the death of a 5 month old - Peyton Joshua. This child died on September 17, 2010. He was observed to be unresponsive and cold by day care works at Kids Club Day Care. While life saving techniques were attempted, the child died.

The subsequent autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. The Florida Department of Children and Families conducted an investigation that ultimately concluded that the blunt force type injuries took place while the child was in the sole care and control of Ms. Knight. See Detectives Charge Day Care Worker with Infant's Death.

Of course, Ms. Knight will be entitled to representation by a criminal defense attorney or the public defender's office. It appears that the prosecution and defense of this case will hinge on the evidence obtained and observed during the autopsy of the child.

Day care centers should be safe havens for children. Day care providers and child care workers should use their best efforts to provide for the safety and well being of the children. For more information regarding the responsibilities of day care centers and the rights of children, you can read the book - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know. You can click here to receive a free copy of the book.

In Lake County, Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reported that a tragic accident took place involving a 2 year old child. Natalie Santiago was run over by a pick up truck. The driver was not aware that the child was outside or near his vehicle. The child later died at South Lake Hospital. The death of Natalie Santiago is a great loss for her family and the community. See Pick Up Runs Over - Kills Two Year Old in Lake County, Florida.

Accidents like these unfortunately continue to be reported. Toddlers and young children have poor safety awareness. Because of the height of these children and the typical visual field of a driver, it can be very difficult to see a child who in in a driveway or who runs into a street.

Parents and drivers should do their best to provide for the safety of small children especially in and near driveways, parking lots, and road ways.

In Lee County, Florida, a field trip waiver form caught some parents by surprise. The waiver of liability form also angered some parents. The form contained the following language:

By signing the waiver, parents agree to give up your child's right and your right to recover from (school name), its agents and employees in a lawsuit for any personal injury, including death, to your child.

The enforceability of such waiver could be challenged if a child was injured as a result of the negligence of a school or school employee. Just because a waiver form is signed does not mean that it is valid, legal, or enforceable. There are strong public policy arguments that could be made against the enforceability of such a waiver. School employees and schools should not be given free reign to act negligently without any consequence or avenue of legal recourse by the parent and child.

You can read more about this story at Florida School Field Trip Waiver Questioned by Parents in Lee County, Florida.

Some coaches of youth sports may be inexperienced and under-educated when it comes to treating personal injuries sustained by their youth players. Typically, to become a youth sports coach all one need to do is complete coaching courses, which usually do not run longer than 5 days and barely cover injury management. Even the American Red Cross first-aid course barely touches on the types of injuries seen in youth sports. Although coaches are not expected to be doctors, coaches are left with the difficult decision to play a youth after the youth has suffered a personal injury.

To help with this problem, orthopedic surgeon, Dev Mishra, has created an online site called SidelineSportsDoc.com - "The Coach's Guide to Youth Sports Injury Management." In his long line of experience, Dr. Mishra has witnessed a numerous amount youth players with significant injuries that started out as minor injuries. Dr. Mishra estimates, based on his experience, the number of secondary injuries suffered by youth athletes nationally is 1 to 2 million per year. Secondary injuries are defined as those personal injuries that became worse because a youth athlete was returned to play before his or her injury had recovered. On SidelineSportsDoc.com, coaches and parents can find reader-friendly documents that covers the most common injuries. If you would like to read more on this topic please see Simple guide on injury management for youth athletes, made for coaches and parents.

Many serious personal injuries sustained by youth athletes are secondary injuries, thus these personal injuries are preventable at an earlier stage. The more coaches and parents understand and educate themselves on the issue of personal injuries sustained by youth athletes the less likely youth athletes will sustain severe personal injuries.

Disney pairs its character Bambi with Smokey the Bear to encourage elementary school kids to help prevent forest fires. The timing of these public service announcements could not be better; currently, brush fires are popping up all over Central Florida. The PSAs show scenes and characters from the Disney movie, Bambi, with Smokey the Bear's message: "Only you can prevent wildfires." Many people are under the belief that wildfires are started by lightening. However, according to the Advertising Council, 90% of wildfires are caused by people. The most common ways wildfires are started include unattended campfires, burning debris on windy days, arson, carelessly discarding smoking materials or barbecue coals. If you would like to read more on this topic please read Disney pairs its character Bambi with Smokey the Bear to spread awareness on the prevention of wildfires to elementary school children.

A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or wilderness area. Forest fire use to be the term to describe these types of fires, but the term forest fire was replaced with wildfire in 2001. Parents should teach their children not to play with fire or fire-starting objects. Children should be taught the dangers and risks of injury or death regarding fires. The more children are educated and understand the dangerousness of fires the better children can help prevent wildfires.

Leendra Glene Dasher, a 21-year-old woman, has been charged with aggravated child abuse after her 15-month-old daughter was found in a gym bag. Dasher called Jacksonville, Florida police on October 5 to report her child missing. Shortly after Dasher reported the toddler missing to local authorities, the toddler was found locked in Dasher's car and inside an 18-by-10-by-10 inch gym bag. According to John Harrell of the Florida Department of Children and Families, the child is being cared for by relatives.

According to the police report, Dasher told police she put her daughter to bed around 11 p.m. the night before she reported her child missing; Dasher was not awaken by any mysterious noises. The report also revealed that Dasher had been alone with a child since 3 p.m. and no one else had access to the toddler. Dasher did not admit to putting the child into the bag or the car. However, Dasher was still arrested. She is being held on $150,000 bail and will be entitled to a criminal defense attorney. If you would like to read more on this story please see Police find Jacksonville, Florida toddler in gym bag.

Leendra Dasher is entitled to defend herself against the charge aggravated child abuse. Victims of child abuse, whether physically or emotionally, can suffer lifetime consequences as a result of the abuse. If you suspect someone is a victim of child abuse you should report the abuse to local authorities immediately. Reporting the abuse will prompt officials to initiate an investigation into the abuse and, hopefully, stop the abuse.

In Broward County, Florida, it was reported that a high school student was hit by an automobile at Archbishop McCarthy High School. The 17 year old senior was serving as an ambassador host to younger students (8th graders) visiting the school. The student was hit by an elderly woman who was driving a Toyota Corolla. It was reported that for some reason - the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit the student. This was truly a horrific and tragic incident for the student and her family to have to deal with for many years to come. Due to the severity of the injury, the student was airlifted by helicopter for treatment at Memorial Regional Hospital located in Hollywood, Florida. See Student Suffers Lose of Leg Resulting from Pedestrian / Automobile Accident at Archbishop McCarthy High School in Broward County, Florida.

Florida like other States has laws in place for the protection of pedestrians. With the privileges of driving the State of Florida come the responsibility to drive safe and remain alert any time that a person is operating a motor vehicle. Florida also has what is called the Dangerous Instrumentality doctrine. This doctrine provides that there is liability / financial responsibility of both the driver AND the owner of vehicle when negligence is the cause of injuries and damages.

Due to the presence of children, school zones and parking lots can be dangerous areas and often times are the site of incidents like the one that took place at Archbishop McCarthy High School. Safe driving is a must in and near school zones and parking lots.

The digital world and the Internet has its disadvantages and advantages, especially concerning children. However, Polka Dots Childcare Center, a day care center in Stratham, New Hampshire, has used the Internet to allow parents to watch their children while at daycare. Polka Dots set up cameras in the indoor and outdoor play areas of its facility and stream live video over the Internet. The live stream is only available to parents or those people who the parents designate can log onto the live video stream.

Video monitoring in day cares has caught on throughout the nation. Specifically throughout the South, California and Texas, 27 day cares now use the service provider used by Polka Dots, Share In My Day technology. If privacy is an issue, parents need not be worried, Share In My Day strategically angles cameras so as not to view changing tables, bathrooms or other private areas. If you would like to read more on this topic please see Video monitoring of day care centers gives parents a new-found sense of relief.

This new use of cameras in day care centers have given parents some peace of mind. Some parents claimed to be more relaxed just by knowing they can check on their child at any time. Parents should also keep in mind that cameras are not a substitute for on site visits during drop off, pick up, and other times.

Jarvis Antoine Brown was struck and killed by a passing train in Lawtey Florida.

Multiple tracks are extremely dangerous. The ability to see and hear two trains moving on tracks nearly simuntaneously is made very difficult by the fact that the tracks are so close together, plus the train's mandatory audible signal is obscured by another train approaching from the opposite direction. Since the 1970's, train companies have been put on notice that train horns are ineffective warning devices, based upon a study commissioned by the Federal Railroad Administration.

Also, pedestrian crossing cases present a unique danger. Often, railroad companies are aware that particular places are used by chidren to cross tracks, and yet the railroad companies ignore the dangers these pedestrian crossing points pose to the children and continue to operate at breathtakingly dangerous speeds instead of taking precautions to protect the public.

It was reported that Jarvis was 19 years old at the time of the incident. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jarvis was attempting to cross railroad tracks located near U.S. Highway 301. The CSX train heading Southbound had passed. It was the Northbound CSX train that hit Jarvis. It was reported that the train was going approximately 60 miles per hour at the time of the incident.

A full investigation will be conducted into this matter. It is quite tragic that a young man lost his life in this manner. You can read more about this story at Teen Loses Life After Being Hit by CSX Train in Lawtey Florida.

School children in Palm Beach County, Florida are being subjected to a risky form of prone restraint - a maneuver in which a child is held face down until he or she stops moving. This type of restraint is used mainly on special education students. For example, Joshua Foster, a 12-year-old boy with autism and cerebral palsy, was restrained by 5 men after he refused to attend art class. Five adult men pinned Joshua down, 2 men pinned his arms down, 2 men held down his legs, and another man had his knee in Joshua's back.

Six states have banned this form of prone restraint. However, the maneuver remains in use in Florida. In fact, according to a Palm Beach County analysis, schools in the county used the maneuver on disabled students more than 1,500 times in 2007, mainly on elementary or pre-kindergarten schoolchildren. Art Johnson, Superintendent of Palm Beach County schools, stated that prone restraint is the safest position to bring someone to rest when that person is a danger to himself or others.

Although this type of restraint may bring someone to rest, it is incredibly risky. For example, this form of prone restraint has killed 6 adults in Florida's mental health facilities. For children, injuries can occur in many ways: an adult may accidentally compress a child's chest, cutting of his or her air supply, or improperly used pressure can bruise or break a bone. Also, students with asthma or other respiratory or cardiac conditions are at special risk of injury or death. Because the children are pinned face-down it is hard to see signs of distress. If you would like to read more o this topic please see Form of prone restraint may be too risky for Florida schoolchildren.

A candlelight vigil was held for Kason Baily, a 16-year-old male of Winter Park, Florida. Baily was recently killed after he was struck by two trucks while he attempted to cross Aloma Avenue.

Many neighbors around the Aloma Avenue area complain that the street is especially difficult to cross because there are no traffic lights nearby. And although a crosswalk was recently added, neighbors still complain that the absence of a traffic light makes the existence of the crosswalk useless. Even though cars are suppose to stop, neighbors crossing Aloma Avenue say this is hardly the reality. If you would like to read more on this story please see Vigil held for 16-year-old male who recently died while trying to cross Aloma Avenue in Winter Park, Florida.

The death of this teenage boy is a tragedy for his family and community. Hopefully, the city will formulate a plan that will make crossing this street safer for pedestrians. In the meantime, drivers need to be courteous to pedestrians and stop to let them cross. It may be inconvenient at times to stop at crosswalks, however, drivers have a duty to yield to pedestrians.

Mark D. Moore, a 3-year-old boy from St. Johns County, Florida could not be revived after he was found in a pond near the apartment where he lived. The Sheriff's Office received the missing-child report around 4:30 P.M. after Mark's mother awoke from her nap and discovered the child was not in the home. A full search was conduced by the St. Johns County Sheriff's office. The search involved the use of helicopters and K-9 units. Residents also helped with the search. The official cause of death is pending an autopsy at the medical examiner's office. If you would like to read more on this story please see 3-year-old boy pronounced dead after being found in a pond nearby his apartment home.

Retention and stormwater ponds are common place in the State of Florida. Property owners should recognize the dangers of these wateways and take affirmative action to fence the area and post appropriate signage. A simple fence or gate can in essence save a life.

This child's death is a tragedy for his family and community. Florida is a warm state where weather conditions permit swimming for longer periods of the the year than other states. Therefore, families still need to stress safety tips about swimming to their children. If you have a pool at your home keep safety fences bordering the pool year-round. Also, parents and guardians should stress to their children to not go into water without the supervision of an adult or other responsible person. Keeping your children informed about the inherent dangers of water will decrease the likelihood of children sustaining water-related personal injuries or death.

In Marion County and other parts of Florida, children and parents rely on the school bus transportation system to get to and from school. It was recently reported that 10 children were transported to a local hospital after a 2008 Ford Mustang ran a stop sign and crashed into the school bus. The children were heading to Dunnellon Elementary School. The ten children transported to the hospital complained of neck and back pain. Two words come to mind when I read accidents of this nature: Red and Yellow.

Red. Stop signs are prominently displayed at intersections. They have a bold red color and contain the word "Stop". Yes, this is a very basic concept to write about. It is also a basic traffic regulation and posting that should be easily seen and followed. It is amazing that people still run stop signs despite their obvious placement.

Yellow. School buses are typically a bright or bold yellow in color. School buses are also quite large in size compared to other vehicles. Like a stop sign, the presence of a school bus is obvious and noticeable to any person paying a attention.

Accidents like the one reported in Marion Oaks, Florida are yet another reminder to all drivers to obey traffic signs and regulations especially when children are present. It is unfortunate that this accident took place when it could have been easily avoided. See Bus Crash in Marion County Sends 10 Children to Hospital.

In Deerfield Beach, Florida, the Miami Herald reported that a 12 year old boy suffered critical personal injuries after being shot in the head. The Broward County Sheriff's Office is investigating this matter. The incident took place in a neighbor's house. Detectives are working to determine more details and circumstances regarding the shooting. Issue that may arise on a case of this nature include the following:

Who owned the gun?

Who fired the gun?

What adult supervision was in place at the time of the shooting?

Was the gun stored or usually stored in a secure area away from the reach and access of children?

Who were the witnesses to the shooting?

Was the shooting accidental?

Was there anything that could have been done to prevent the shooting?

Of course, the shooting incident itself is a tragedy regardless of the answers to the above questions. Incidents like this should prompt all gun owners to take immediate action to make sure that a gun is secure and away from the access or reach of a child. Yes, the right to gun ownership is an integral part of our country's history and constitution; however, with these rights come great responsibilities. You can read more about the above story at 12 Year Old Boy Suffers Injuries After Being Shot at Neighbor's House.

Haile Brockington, a 2 1/2-year-old girl, died after being left and forgotten about in her child seat in van belonging to her day care center, Katie's Kids Learning Center of Delray Beach, Florida. Haile was trapped inside the van for nearly six hours. Haile's death sparked a public outrage, especially when another child died in Brevard County, Florida after being left unattended in a vehicle just two weeks after Haile's death.

Child safety advocates say there is an ongoing issue as to what to do about children being mistakenly left in vehicles. These advocates may find their answers by looking to other states that have enacted laws after facing similar tragedies. For example, Tennessee and Wisconsin require that childcare providers who transport a certain number of children must install a safety alarm in the transporting vehicle. Basically, the alarm sounds after drivers turn off the vehicle. The alarm will go off for one to four minutes requiring the driver to physically walk back to the car to turn off the alarm. If the alarm is ignored by the driver, an external car alarm kicks in, alerting passerbys that the vehicle has not been checked. If you would like to read more on this topic please see Parents and others push for safety alarms in day care vans and other vehicles.

Although the idea is simple, legislation passing laws requiring these types of alarms have faced roadblocks. In the meantime, drivers should place their briefcase, purse, or other object in the back seat, which will require the driver to check the back seat before exiting and locking their vehicles. Drivers should be aware of the major risk of hyperthermia children face. The temperature inside a vehicle can increase up to 20 degrees from the temperature outside. Also, children's bodies do not adjust to temperature changes as well as adult bodies.

Under Florida law, any person who sells, barters, lends, transfers or any other way gives a person under 18-years-old any weapon other than an ordinary pocket knife, without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian commits a first degree misdemeanor. It is also a first degree misdemeanor to give a person of unsound mind the same items described above. See Fla. Stat. sec. 790.17.

A person who knowingly or willfully sells or transfers a firearm to a minor under 18-years-old without the permission of the minor's parent or guardian commits a third degree felony. If the minor does have permission of his or her parent or guardian, the parent or guardian must maintain possession of the firearm. See Fla. Stat. sec. 790.17.

"Firearm" is defined as any weapon (including a starter gun) which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. This term does not include an antique firearm unless the antique firearm is used in the commission of a crime.

If you would like to read more Florida law regarding firearms and other weapons please see Florida Statutes, Title XLVI - Crimes, Chapter 790 - Weapons and Firearms.

Even if a minor does have the consent of his or her parent or guardian to possess a firearm, the parent or guardian must maintain possession of the firearm. Guns are extremely dangerous weapons. Guns / firearms can inflict serious personal injuries onto others. Worse, these weapons are also deadly. If you have a gun in your home, it is important to store the gun properly so as to restrict access to the device. In any place that a child lives or visits (i.e., homes, businesses) and a firearm is on the premises, the firearm should be stored or locked away in an area that is inaccessible to the child. Properly storing a firearm will decrease the likelihood of a minor seriously injuring his or herself and others. Yes, there are rights to gun ownership in the State of Florida and the rest of the United States. With these rights also come responsibility especially when considering the safety of children.

The Orange County School Board is considering implementing tougher policies regarding students "sexting". Under the new, stricter policy, students caught sexting (sending sexy photos or dirty text messages via cell phone) could be expelled. And, under Florida law those caught sending sexually explicit photos of underage students could be charged with transmitting child pornography. The changes could take place next month, after the School Board examines the proposed policies.

Under the new policy, students who send sexually explicit messages or photos from home or over the weekend could risk being expelled if the messages or photos cause a commotion at the school. Also, school officials are given broader authority to confiscate students' cell phones. The policy also tightens up on "cyber-bullying" - using electronic devices to pick on students or others. If you would like to read more on this topic please see The School Board of Orange County, Florida tightens up on sexting and cyber-bullying within its schools.

Hopefully more school districts across the State of Florida will follow Orange County's approach to sexting and cyber-bullying. Social networking websites and cell phones are so accessible to teenagers. Therefore, the rules and policies of every school district need to take into consideration the dangers that these sites and cell phones create.

Pursuant to Florida Statute sec. 790.22, minors under 16-years old are prohibited from using, for any purpose whatsoever, BB guns, unless the minor using the BB gun is under the supervision and in the presence of an adult who is acting with the consent of the minor's parent.

Also, a minor under 18-years-old may not possess a firearm. However, there are exceptions. See Fla. Stat. sec. 790.22 for a more detailed list of the exceptions. Any parent, guardian, or other adult responsible for the welfare of the minor who knowingly violates this statute commits a third degree felony.

If you would like to read more Florida laws regarding the use of minors and guns or other weapons please see Florida Statutes, Title XLVI - Crimes, Chapter 790 - Weapons and Firearms.

Although BB guns may not seem to be as dangerous as handguns or other firearms, the device still has the capability of inflicting injury onto others. Therefore, it is imperative for children who wish you use BB guns do so under the supervision of a responsible adult. Supervising a minor while using a BB gun will reduce the risk of the minor sustaining person injuries or inflicting personal injuries onto others.

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In Jacksonville (Duval County), Florida, a disturbing case recently went to a criminal trial. Robert Cowan, age 48, from Jacksonville, Florida was found guilty of using a minor child to produce images of child pornography, 2 counts of possession of child pornography, and 3 counts of receiving child pornography. The distribution and possession of child pornography is far from a victimless crime. It is a shame that people continue to exploit children in such a heinous manner. In this case, the facts are particularly frightening in that Mr. Cowan previously worked as a guidance counselor at Fort Caroline Middle School. The very person responsible for watching over and guiding children was the same person who was convicted of these crimes involving the exploitation of children. Years ago, one would never imagine such a person to commit such crimes. Mr. Cowan does not represent the majority of the solid teachers and counselors in place for the Duval County School System; however, it does give one cause to wonder how many other teachers and counselor like Cowan may be in the school system who have not been caught. You can read more about this story at Former Duval County Guidance Counselor Found Guilty of Child Pornography Production.

In Mims, Florida, a family and community is mourning the death of a 14 year old girl. It was reported by the Orlando Sentinel that Morgan Bell may have been raped and drugged according to her mother. Morgan was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital East on October 1, 2010. This story was also reported on WESH Channel 2 television based in Orlando, Florida. An autopsy has been performed and toxicology results are pending at this time.

Hopefully, investigators will be able to solve a crime if one was committed. It is quite difficult for a family to deal with the death of a child especially one that involves many questions and issues like this one. You can read more about this story at Death of 14 Year Old Investigated.

If anyone has any information regarding this case or death, please contact the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

A collision with a school bus in Jacksonville, Florida sent one adult and two students to the hospital. The students riding in the bus were taken to the hospital as a precautionary matter and had no report of serious injuries. However, the other victim, which was also the driver of the other car involved in the accident, was sent to the hospital in critical condition after being cut from the vehicle.

According to police, the man was driving a Toyota Matrix and rear-ended the bus when the Mandarin High School bus stopped to pick up students. A tenth-grader said the impact from the collision caused the bus door to strike her in the face while she was attempting to board the bus. Anne Smith, Assistant Chief of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, said the bus was displaying stop flags and flashing lights when the accident occurred. If you would like to read more on this incident please see Rear-end collision with Jacksonville, Florida school bus sends 3 to the hospital.

Driving on Florida roadways can be extremely dangerous, especially during hours with heavy traffic volume. Florida drivers need to stay attentive and keep their focus on the road. Doing so will decrease chances of being involved in an accident and keep Florida roadways safer for all, especially children.

Christina Cinelli-McFall, a 30-year-old woman of Palm Coast, Florida was arrested on a criminal charge of child abuse. Cinelli-McFall was the operator of Chrissy's Cottage, an unlicensed day care. She was arrested after a 1-year-old boy suffered injuries under her care. According to investigators, the child was either hit with a blunt instrument or shaken. The infant was hospitalized more than a month in Jacksonville, Florida and still requires medical care. If you would like to read more on this story please see One-year-old boy suffers severe personal injuries after being hit on the head or shaken at an unlicensed day care.

It is not uncommon for people to operate day care centers without the proper licensing required by the State of Florida. Researching different day care facilities may be tedious to parents. However, conducting a full background search before selecting a day care facility is key to ensuring the safety of your child. If you would like to read more on how to conduct a proper search for selecting a day care facility in Florida please read Common Sense Tips in Selecting or Researching a Florida Day Care Center for Your Child.

Sadly, two Bradford County High School students died in a recent accident that was reported on State Road 16. A story posted in news described an accident that took place when the vehicle occupied by the teens made a U turn in front of another vehicle. The accident victims who died were Kendell Morgan (age 17) and Lindsey Beck (age 15). Other people who were the vehicles were reported with minor injuries. Since this accident involved a fatality, the Florida Highway Patrol and / or the Bradford County Sheriff's Office will conduct a full homicide accident investigation in order to better determine the cause of the accident including the speed of the vehicles, the availability and use of seat belts, the comparative fault (if any) of each driver, measurements of skid marks (if any), and other factors. It is tragic that two lives were loss. The death of a teen is especially difficult for the family, community, and the local high school. You can read more about this story at Two Teens Die in Bradford County, Florida Automobile Accident.

In Miramar, Florida, the Associated Press and The Miami Herald recently reported that a 1 year old girl (Kimberly James) died after being left in a vehicle during a church service. It is October but it is still quite hot in the State of Florida. It should also be pointed out that the heat factor in a vehicle is typically higher than it is outside. It was reported that the child was left in the vehicle for 3 hours. An autopsy will probably be performed in a case like this. It appears that the child died of hyperthermia unless the medical examiner / pathologist finds another cause of death of this child.

The death of this child is quite a tragedy for the family, church, and the community. It is yet another reminder to parents, babysitters, child-care providers, day care centers, and schools to make sure that all children are removed from a vehicle once it is parked. For more details on this case, see Girl, 1, Died After Being Left in Hot Car in Miramar, Florida. For a similar story, See Miami Dade Florida 3 Year Old Boy - Left in SUV - Dies (Dangers of Hot Cars to Small Children).

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, a governmental agency, Florida has among the worst child safety laws in the county. The NTSB has recommended, since 1996, that there should be safety seat / restraint laws in effect for children up to 8-years-old. However, Florida only requires safety seats for children 3-years-old and younger.

Although child restraint laws may be weak, seat belt usage seems to be on the rise in Florida, especially after the state's "Click it or Ticket" campaign. Florida's Department of Transportation and DHSMV report that 87.4% of those people on the roads are using safety belts. Florida's former safety belt law only allowed offers to ticket drivers not wear seat belts if they were pulled over for other traffic infractions. Now, Florida has a primary seat belt law, which has led to more safety belt usage, fewer crashes and fewer deaths as a result from a collision. If you would like to read more on this story please see Florida has among the nation's worst child safety restraint laws.

Drivers today face many obstacles that were once not present, especially with the advent of the cell phone. Because distracted driving is becoming an increasing problem in the nation, drivers need to ensure they use their vehicles' safety devices. Also, parents and guardians have a duty to protect their children. Therefore, parents and guardians should not neglect the importance of child safety restraint devices. Using these devices can save your child's life or at least lessen the impact of a crash to a child passenger.

A recent shooting occurred in a Miami Gardens, Florida day carecenter while dozens of pre-kindergarten-aged children slept nearby. The shooting was the result of a robbery. Luckily, no one was injured. According to the director of the day care center, (Skipper Chuck's Childcare Center) the robber came in and inquired about day care services for his child. After asking about the day care center's prices and age limits, the robber pulled out a gun and took the day care center emplopyee's gold necklace as well as some of her rings. The robber then left and was followed outside where he opened fire. According to the reports, the children at Skipper Chuck's Childcare Center were napping during the time of the robbery. If you would like to read more on this story please see Robber opens fire at Miami Gardens day care center.

This incident is absolutely horrific. Everyone involved is lucky to have not been injured. It is also fortunate that the children of the day care center were sleeping during the time of the robbery. Witnessing such a traumatic event could have devastating consequences on children. Unfortunately, people who commit crimes do not pay much attention to their surroundings or the risks of injury to children or others.

Following an altercation at a teen party at Club Menage in Jacksonville, Florida, three juveniles were shot - one fatally. According to Lt. Larry Schmitt, two of the victims were female. One female was treated and released at the scene while the other was transported to Shands Jacksonville with non-life threatening injuries. The other victim, who was fatally shot, was a male.

The shots were the result of an altercation outside Club Menage, a club that hosts teen parties for teenagers between the ages of 13 to 18. According to Schmitt, it appeared the boy who was fatally shot was involved in the altercation that continued outside of the club. The boys fatality becomes at least the 70th recorded homicide in Jacksonville, Florida (Duval County) for the year. If you would like to read more on this story please see 3 juveniles shot, one fatally, outside of Jacksonville, Florida club.

This boy's death is a tragedy for his family and community. A person who has killed or seriously injured another minor destroys two lives - the victim's and his or her own life. Parents and guardians should teach their child that violence is never the answer.

If there is a history of altercation or violence in or around a club, the management of the club should then take action to better secure the areas in and around the club. This includes security patrols, the use of off duty police officers, and good lighting in and outside the club.