In this episode, Steve discusses: Occupational diseases can be any chronic ailment that occurs as a result of working conditions or occupational activity, even long term These do not occur overnight, they can take years to develop over a sustained period of time An employer can be responsible for medical treatment, lost wages, permanent disability compensation, prescriptions, and even vocational rehabilitation to get you retrained and back in the workforce if working conditions caused your injury Key Takeaways: There are currently hundreds of thousands of seniors who are suffering from occupational diseases and may not be aware of it 30% of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and adult asthma cases may be attributed to occupational exposure. 8 out of 10 long-term manufacturing workers have noise-related hearing loss Employers can be held responsible for “Occupational diseases could [be caused by] coal dust from the mines, grain dust from farming, cotton dust. The nurse or nursing assistant who is allergic to latex, the bartender or waitress who inhale secondhand smoke, the housekeeper or janitor who was exposed to the noxious chemicals from cleaning supplies. The factory worker who inhales metals and foundries, silica or fine sand.” — Steve Heisler To find out[…..]
Martha Kelso, Wound Care + CEO Discusses Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers
In this episode, Steve and Martha discuss: All bedsores are pressure ulcers, but not all pressure ulcers are bedsores Changes in long term care settings, including eliminating the use of restraints Many facilities don’t check to see if existing medications could be eliminated or replaced Many nurses and even doctors aren’t trained on wound care Key Takeaways: Bedsores are typically caused by laying in the same position for too long Wounds are often a barometer of health, a person with other health issues is more likely to get bedsores A wound may not appear for 3-10 days depending on the patient history and the time of the year Don’t feel guilty for asking questions about a wound found on your loved one “[A bedsore] can be so significant that they can result in deterioration of the skin and the tissue all the way down to bone. And then of course, they can become infected, that infection can lead to sepsis. sepsis can lead to complete organ failure and eventually death.” — Martha Kelso To find out more about the National Injured Senior Law Center or to set up a free consultation go to https://www.injuredseniorhotline.com/ or call 855-622-6530 Connect with Martha[…..]
Welcome to the Injured Senior Podcast
We are all living longer, which means we may need to rely on others to help us or our parents. Thus, like it or not, the Senior and Elderly population is vulnerable to negligence committed by medical professionals, Nursing Home and assisted living facilities, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, insurance companies and everyday individuals and businesses. Do you know who to trust? The Injured Senior Podcast will educate and inform you about legal issues of importance to the injured Senior and Elderly population such as medical malpractice, Nursing home and assisted living abuse and neglect, defective drugs and medical devices, age discrimination, on the job injuries, and personal injuries such as motor vehicle injuries and slip and fall. Your Host Steve H. Heisler is a lawyer and creator of the National Injured Senior Law Center and has been advocating for seniors’ rights for over 30 years. He is also a senior. The show will include many interviews with experts in the aforementioned areas of law as well as advice from Steve’s personal experiences and past cases. Tune in each week to learn what you may not have even known to ask before. Welcome to The Injured Senior Podcast. To find[…..]
One Dead, Dozens Sick After Legionnaires’ Outbreak in Atlanta
In the wake of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Sheraton Atlanta hotel, one woman has died of coronary artery disease aggravated by Legionella pneumonia and 11 more people have been confirmed as having the disease. Georgia authorities have reported that “another 61 cases are classified as ‘probable,’ meaning they have confirmed symptoms of the disease and pneumonia but not a lab test,” according to the Washington Post. The Georgia Department of Public Health has alerted people who stayed at or visited the Sheraton Atlanta hotel between June 12 and July 15, 2019, to fill out an online survey and seek immediate medical attention if they have signs or symptoms associated with legionellosis. Those symptoms include fever, chills, cough and shortness of breath. A representative of the Georgia Department of Public Health said that those “who complained of lung problems and were later diagnosed with Legionnaires‘ had attended a convention at the Atlanta hotel in early July,” according to CNN. Understanding Legionnaires’ Disease Legionnaires’ disease is a very serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. This type of bacteria can grow and spread in large plumbing systems, hot water heaters, hot tubs, shower heads and faucets. It is most[…..]
Of Course Johnson & Johnson Knew About Risks of Asbestos in Baby Powder
Johnson & Johnson has long denied that it had any knowledge about harmful ingredients in its talcum powder products. But a recent article in The New York Times reports that the company has known for years that its popular baby powder was potentially contaminated with asbestos. According to the article, the company was warned about the possibility of asbestos contamination in its baby powder by a company executive as early as 1971. The executive recommended to senior company leaders that Johnson & Johnson improve its quality control of talc, a mineral that is the main ingredient in the powder. Asbestos, which has been on the world radar screen for years as a cause of cancer, is often found near talc mines. Two years later, another executive also warned the company about possible asbestos fibers in its talc. Other warnings followed over the years. Instead of removing the product from the market, changing the main ingredient, or at least adding warning labels, senior company leaders instead sought to hide the findings. The deception and denials from the company have gone on for years, to the life-threatening detriment of consumers who use the product. Recent internal documents and memos that came to[…..]
Indian Head Highway Continues to Be a Problem
As many Marylanders know, Indian Head Highway/Route 210 is notorious as one of the state’s most dangerous roadways. Over the past 11 years, 65 people have lost their lives in horrific crashes there. An illegal drag race that took advantage of the straight highway ended in horror in 2008 when eight people died. Last year, in 2018, five people were killed on the highway, according to figures from the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. Among the tragic fatalities were three young children from the same family who died just weeks ago on December 30 when the car they were riding in was rear-ended. The investigation into that accident is ongoing. Increased Law Enforcement There has been a larger police presence on the highway, handing out tickets for speeding and other dangerous driving violations in recent years. But in spite of increased law enforcement, the number of accidents has not changed significantly, the data shows. In 2016, there were 336 crashes; in 2017 there were 329; and last year there were 354. Nevertheless, local police and lawmakers are vowing to add even more police to the route this year. A speed camera was put in place on the highway[…..]
What Do Airbnb Deaths Say About Safety and Accountability?
Many people book rooms in private homes or entire properties using the Airbnb website, or similar online rental sites, as an often more convenient or affordable option to staying in traditional hotels. But who should be held accountable if a person is injured or killed because of unsafe conditions or even violence at an Airbnb property? Several recent deaths of travelers have put the spotlight on culpability when things go wrong at Airbnb and other such lodgings. USA Today reported the cases of a woman who was murdered in Costa Rica and a couple and family of four who died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning in rentals in Mexico. While a hotel is typically liable if people are injured on the property because of unsafe conditions, in this relatively new private-home rental environment, liability is not so clear and might be shared among the property owner and Airbnb. Liability becomes even murkier if, for example, someone leases a home and rents out rooms to travelers and a traveler is injured. The actual property owner may say that they were not aware that the person leasing their property was using it as an Airbnb; and perhaps they were not, but they[…..]
Maryland Drivers Are Ignoring School Bus Safety
A 2018 survey in Maryland shows that the state has a serious problem when it comes to drivers’ ignoring school bus safety rules. A significant number of drivers disregard the law that requires them to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop-arms out to indicate children are getting on or off. The survey was conducted this past spring with participation from over 80 percent of the state’s bus drivers from 24 school systems. In total, the drivers counted 3,812 violations of red flashing light and stop-arm rules in a single day. Baltimore City had 64 violations, which is down from last year when there were 152. Among counties, the violation leader was Montgomery, with 1,038 recorded. Baltimore County was second. Bus drivers in the county recorded 688 violations. Violations for other nearby counties included 385 in Anne Arundel and 97 for Carroll, which were both lower than last year’s numbers. However, in both Harford and Howard counties violations were higher than last year—they counted 196 and 290 respectively. While the number of violations rose in some areas in 2018, statewide school bus violations were much lower than in 2011, the year the survey was first[…..]
Is Your Vehicle Ready for Winter? Here’s a Checklist.
With winter come rain, sleet, ice, snow, slush, and just plain old cold and dangerous driving weather. Seventeen percent of crashes nationwide occur in winter weather conditions, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. While you probably won’t step outside when temperatures begin to drop without first donning appropriate cold-weather clothing, is your car, truck or other vehicle also safely prepared for the upcoming chill? If it isn’t, you still have time to get it done. Winterizing your vehicle will help keep it operating safely throughout the season and keep you from possibly being stranded in plummeting temperatures or, even worse, injured in an accident. In addition to avoiding potential mechanical problems by staying on top of tune-ups and maintenance all year long, here are steps to take to get your vehicle ready for winter: Ensure that tires are inflated to correct psi levels for your vehicle. Your owner’s manual can advise you as to the correct level. As temperatures get colder, tires lose air, and tires that are not adequately inflated can affect maneuverability. Check tire tread for wear. Balding tires lose traction and are dangerous on icy and snow-covered streets. Do the penny test—with Lincoln’s head pointing[…..]
The Catholic Church Sex Abuse Scandal Is Spreading to Maryland
After a report from a Pennsylvania grand jury detailed the sexual abuse of over 1,000 children spanning seven decades, other states’ attorneys general have launched their own investigations to uncover similar abuses around the U.S. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh hinted that one such investigation might be underway here, too. Though Frosh hasn’t directly addressed the existence of an investigation, the attorney general’s website displays a message to victims of abuse in Maryland churches and schools encouraging them to come forward with information. Governor Larry Hogan has expressed a willingness for an investigation like the one in Pennsylvania, which exposed more than 300 so-called predator priests for the abuses they committed upon young people. The process in Maryland would vary somewhat from Pennsylvania’s because Frosh would be required to coordinate his efforts with a local state’s attorney’s office. Frosh has faced pressure from victims and their advocates to be more aggressive in his investigations of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church. A spokesman of Frosh’s challenger in the recent general election alleged that the attorney general’s office has failed to respond to inquiries from advocates. While the status of a mass investigation in Maryland remains unclear, concerns about abuse[…..]
