As the summer approaches, most if not all Long Islanders who own a pool have started the process of opening their pools. Fortunately, the situation this summer is a little more optimistic than last year. With the covid-19 vaccine proving to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus including mutating variants, the infection rate in New York is at an all-time low, and continues to stay on a downward slope. It is not surprising then, that many Long Islanders are excited to return to a sense of normalcy this summer. With the school year almost ending, and temperatures rising, it’s worth discussing once again the need for parents to ensure the safety of their children when opening their swimming pools.
It’s important to remember that although things are looking up with the pandemic, it is not over yet. Additionally, at the time this was written, children under 12 years of age are not eligible to take the covid-19 vaccine yet. This means that they still are able to get sick from the virus, and spread it to others. This is important to note if you are inviting children from other households, or having a pool party.
Even if you are having adults or kids old enough to have the vaccine, it is important to communicate with them what precautions, if any, are being taken. Each household has the right to decide the safety standards for their family, and some have chosen not to take the vaccine and as a result, are more susceptible to getting the virus. In these instances, communication is key to ensure everyone is comfortable with the situation.
Currently, the CDC’s understanding of the virus remains the same as last summer, where being outdoors, and in a swimming pool on its own presents a lower risk of spreading the virus. This risk is further reduced to almost no risk if individuals in the swimming pool are vaccinated. Recommendations for safe pool environments can be found on their website.
The most important thing to remember about pools is to know who is in your pool. Never leave children or novice swimmers unattended. Accidental drowning can happen in a matter of seconds. So, never take your eyes off your children when they’re in the pool, and know the swimming skill level of everyone going into your pool.
Teach your children how to swim. The best way to avoid accidental drowning is to be proactive and teach your children how to swim. Even if you don’t have a pool, it’s a good idea to teach your children how to swim. There are pools everywhere, there is a high chance that your children will come in contact with a pool at some point. The best time to learn how to swim is at an early age. Children are inherently good swimmers and pick it up very quickly at a young age. Also, there are many programs that offer inexpensive lessons to children.
Install fences and barriers around your pool. This is not only a good idea, but it is also usually a requirement in most towns. Pools should always be isolated from the rest of your yard to avoid children accidentally falling into the pool. All gates should be self-closing and there should be no gaps or openings in the fencing.
Never swim alone. Even if you are an experienced swimmer, it is a good idea to swim with another person. Medical emergencies happen unexpectedly and can strike anyone. If you are swimming alone and suddenly experience a medical emergency, you could accidentally drown.
Additionally, avoid diving headfirst. Diving headfirst can be dangerous, especially if the pool is shallow. It is not safe to dive headfirst into a pool that is not at least eight feet deep.
It is also extremely important to never swim under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can seriously impact your coordination and judgment. This can lead to serious issues when swimming.
Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Rescue measures can help avoid serious injury and could even be the difference between life and death. If you own a pool or have young children, it’s a really good idea to learn CPR. It takes just a few hours and classes are offered at several places, including the Red Cross.
Keeping these safety tips in mind during summer can help ensure that you have a great summer and avoid unnecessary tragedies.
Pool chemicals, like chlorine, are needed to protect swimmers’ health. However, mishandling pool chemicals can cause serious injuries. Pool chemical injuries lead to about 4,500 U.S. hospital visits each year, and over one-third of these preventable injuries are in children or teens. There’s an abundance of tests you can use to make sure your chemicals are safe. Even if you hire someone else to do the chemicals in your pool, it is still good to double-check the chemical levels yourself so you know it is safe for your children. The ranges of chlorine (or bromine if you use that instead) should be:
1–10 parts per million (ppm) free chlorine or 3–8 ppm bromine
pH 7.2–7.8
If the pH is too high or too low, it can cause problems, including decreasing chlorine’s or bromine’s ability to kill germs. It can also cause skin and eye irritation in swimmers and damage pool pipes and other equipment. Additionally, chemicals should be stored somewhere that kids cannot reach.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Summer is coming, and after a year of staying safe at home, many of us have admittedly gotten a bit out of shape. The covid vaccine rollout in New York is proving to be effective against the spread of the virus, and the number of new cases has been at a steady decrease. Additionally, many gyms and fitness centers in New York are now allowing vaccinated members the option to exercise without a mask. Because of this, many are getting back into their normal pre-pandemic fitness routines.
A lot of people who want to go the extra mile in their fitness game consider hiring a personal trainer. A good trainer can really be a great motivator for some, introducing new and effective exercises and tailoring them to the client’s fitness goals. But like anything else, there isn’t a guarantee that every personal trainer out there is well-trained and particularly safe. Unfortunately, sometimes a neglectful trainer can cause someone to be injured; not only leaving you unable to work out for some time, but also at times unable to work and require you to pay hefty medical bills.
Improperly trained personal trainers can unfortunately cause injuries. You might think that years of training or maybe a degree is required to be a personal trainer. While this might be the case for some, becoming a personal trainer can be as simple as an online course followed by certification. Without a full understanding of fitness form and techniques, injuries can happen easily. As an authority on fitness, the client is going to trust what the trainer tells them to do. This can lead to:
– Improper instructions
– Not properly spotting you during exercises
– Advising you to do exercises beyond your current capabilities, such as lifting too much weight
– Advising improper form, which can lead to strains and falling backward
So let’s say for example, the personal trainer tells you to lift weight near your limit in an improper form, and once you have it over your head you lose balance and fall backward onto other equipment. That could mean hitting your head, landing on a barbell and injuring your back, or other related serious injuries.
Additionally, a lot of people who hire trainers are older, and pushing them to do more than they can handle with poor form can tweak a ligament or cause joint damage. This can lead to being out of work for some time, requiring doctor visits, MRIs, and physical therapy.
This will depend a bit on the circumstance, but generally, if the injury is serious and is a direct result of the workout your trainer had you doing it’s feasible.
First, neglect needs to be established. If it can be proven that the injury was caused by your personal trainer not paying enough attention, giving bad advice, or having you do exercises that are ill-advised given your specific physical condition, it will go a long way toward building a case.
The other major factor that goes into building a legal case around a gym-related injury is the extent of your injuries. Has the injury prevented you from working and therefore earning a living? Has the injury impacted your quality of life? Was your personal trainer aware of a prior injury you suffered, and then recommended a workout routine that caused that injury to worsen?
Also, some personal trainers are affiliated with the fitness center while others are not. If your gym had you sign a waiver prior to working with a personal trainer, this might make a lawsuit more difficult, but not impossible. Either way, it is still in your best to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to examine the circumstances with you and see if you are owed compensation.
If you’ve suffered from any of those types of injuries because of work you did with a personal trainer, it’s worth exploring your options. Generally, the statute of limitations on these types of injuries is 3 years. If you are a family member of someone who has died as a result of gym-related injuries, you typically have 2 years from the date of your loved one’s passing to file a lawsuit.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, and slip-and-fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
As vaccinations continue to roll out and numbers decrease at an optimistic pace, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for New Yorkers. As of this week, 44% of Long Islanders as well as 44% of all New Yorkers have at least one dose of the vaccine. On top of that, the warming spring weather has made many eager to leave the house. With all of these things in consideration, it’s no wonder that strip malls and shopping malls are busier than ever.
From a safety standpoint, parking lots offer the greatest risk of pedestrian accidents. Parking lots at strip malls are especially hectic. This is because cars and people are not surrounding a specific entrance. Strip malls have multiple storefronts, with multiple entrances, resulting in vehicles and pedestrians in every direction. While drivers are expected to yield to pedestrians in parking lots, this doesn’t always happen. Drivers in parking lots can easily be distracted, and pedestrians don’t always make themselves visible. To avoid potential catastrophe, here is what drivers and pedestrians can do to create a safe environment in parking lots.
The more space you have between your car and others, the less likely you will be to be in an accident. You can much more easily navigate your surroundings because you can better see where you are going and you have more space to pull out of your spot. It is better to be in an open well-lit spot that is further away rather than be in a difficult and tight spot and risk getting your car hit. Being a little further away from the storefront also means you will encounter fewer pedestrians.
It is very important that you pay lots of attention to your surroundings. Look out for cars backing up, and be careful at intersections. Even if there are stop signs, drivers sometimes do not take them as seriously in parking lots. Anticipate the actions of other drivers and be prepared to use your horn if another car does not seem to see you, especially if they are backing up and getting too close.
It is also important to drive slowly as there could be shoppers walking all over the place. You do not want to be liable for a pedestrian accident. Pay special attention when backing out, or driving near the storefronts. Although they are helpful, don’t rely fully on your backup camera. Slow down at crosswalks, but be aware that many shoppers will cross the street without using a marked crosswalk.
Additionally, do not use your phone while you are driving in a parking lot; you are still driving and it is still a distraction. This is important to mention because studies show that 66% of drivers nationwide said they would make phone calls while driving in a parking lot. Other distractions include looking for something like your wallet, eating, or getting distracted by loud music.
If you are walking in a parking lot, it’s important to be aware that other drivers may not be driving as defensively as you would like. Many drivers ignore normal traffic laws when driving in parking lots, such as ignoring stop signs and failing to use their blinkers. Additionally, at night it can be difficult for drivers to see you. Therefore, make yourself as visible as possible. Don’t weave in and out of cars. Use sidewalks and crosswalks where available. Pay attention to the brake lights of cars, knowing that they are trying to back out.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents, and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
Last week we spoke about the dangers that motorcyclists face when sharing the road with Long Island drivers, and the need for motorcyclists to wear a helmet at all times to prevent serious injury. According to NHTSA data, motorcycling is 33 times more dangerous than driving a car. There is a saying among motorcyclists that there are two types of riders: Those who have crashed, and those who haven’t crashed yet.
Now this isn’t meant to scare you from riding a motorcycle, but rather to emphasize the need for taking the necessary safety precautions. Because motorcyclists not only face a greater risk of getting into an accident, but also potentially can face more serious injuries. In addition to wearing a helmet, there is other necessary equipment that motorcyclists should wear to prevent injuries if they face an accident.
Aside from a helmet, motorcyclists will tell you that the next most important piece of equipment for riding is leather gloves. The reason why gloves might be even more vital than a jacket is the fact that any kind of incident where you fall off your motorcycle, you’re naturally going to put your hands out to protect you. Without any protection on your hands, you can break bones, face serious lacerations, or possibly even lose fingers.
It’s important to get real leather gloves as an effective, comfortable and stylish way to protect your hands. You can also find gloves that protect your hands against the wind if you get weather-proof gloves, or you can find gloves that are more aimed towards keeping you cool in the hot weather.
A motorcycle jacket is one of the most popular pieces of safety gear you’d expect to see on a motorcyclist. Even more than a fashion statement, these jackets are designed to be a helpful defense if a rider is skidding across pavement.
There are a bunch of different materials your motorcycle jacket can be made of. There are jackets of different materials that may be more comfortable depending on the weather. In the hot summer months, you can get a jacket made of ballistic mesh. These jackets are more breathable than a leather jacket, but still provide good protection. You might also get a perforated leather jacket for the spring and fall to keep you warm but not too warm. And finally, in the winter you’d want to be sure to have a full leather jacket to provide maximum warmth while you ride.
More often than not, riders find themselves being more cool than warm, so it’s important to have a jacket that will make you comfortable while you ride. In those instances where it is just crazy hot outside, you may be tempted to ride without a jacket. Once again, look for something breathable, and the breeze you feel while you ride your motorcycle will help keep you cool. Regardless, it is better to be a little hot and be protected than to risk getting seriously injured by not wearing a jacket. Don’t underestimate how easy the pavement can rip up skin, and these jackets will go a long way in preventing that from happening.
Motorcycle boots look great, but they also provide you with traction and protect the small bones in your feet in the case of a crash.
There are plenty of stories of people who decided to wear tennis shoes while riding a motorcycle and when they crash, their shoes literally fly off their feet. Having your feet and toes exposed to pavement at a high speed is a scary thought.
The main rules when it comes to motorcycle footwear is to make sure they are sturdy, and they have over the ankle protection. That means things like work boots that you might already have are a great choice if you are on a budget. High top sneakers however, are not strong enough to offer great protection. There are also plenty of manufacturers that specifically make boots that are designed for motorcyclists.
Motorcycle pants are usually the piece of gear that the vast majority of riders choose not to wear, due to not liking the idea of wearing leather pants. Most people think jeans are enough protection, but that simply is not true. Jeans will get shredded in just a couple feet of sliding on the pavement and offer no protection at all. At the end of the day, denim is just cotton, and cotton is very weak. It is not very hard to rip a hole in your jeans, so the pavement will have no problem doing that for you. Even worse is wearing shorts and having your legs and knees completely exposed. There should never be a situation where you are riding a motorcycle with shorts on.
Nowadays, many manufacturers are starting to design jeans with Kevlar panels added to key places. Some are even weaving the Kevlar directly into the cotton material, and adding armor to likely impact zones. The Kevlar jeans won’t protect you as much as leather pants, but they are way better than regular denim jeans. Although many avoid leather pants, there are some leather and textile motorcycle pants that don’t look so clunky. It may be worth trying them and choosing the safest option to protect your legs should you face a motorcycle accident.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
The reason so many people love the idea of motorcycles is because of the sense of freedom that riding a motorcycle can bring to a person on the open roads. Some, however, may get too caught up in that freedom by also choosing not to wear protective gear, most importantly a helmet.
A motorcycle accident is way more dangerous than a car accident, due to the fact that unlike a car, which has multiple features that try to minimize injury such as an airbag, a motorcycle offers no protection. Therefore, motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to wrecks resulting in severe and life-threatening head injuries. Many states such as New York have laws requiring all riders to wear helmets as required safety equipment.
New York is one of nineteen states that have adopted a universal helmet law. Twenty-eight other states require only some riders to wear a helmet, while three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire) have not enacted any helmet restrictions at all.
NYS law requires the use of motorcycle helmets for both drivers and passengers. Protective eyewear is also required. Helmets and eye protection are also required for certain mopeds, those with a top speed of 20 mph or more.
Wearing a motorcycle helmet is the single greatest means of preventing severe head injury in the event of a motorcycle accident.
According to the CDC, helmets reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and death by 37%. Riders opting out of wearing a helmet subject themselves to a higher certainty of debilitating head injuries, such as skull fractures and traumatic brain injury.
Even if there is no physical evidence of injury in the head, the brain can often be severely affected by the blunt force of the accident. Catastrophic brain injury can result in loss of cognitive function, physical impairments, and emotional issues.
By wearing a helmet, a rider provides a safety measure cushioning the brain from the impact and trauma of the motorcycle crash. This protection is designed to reduce and prevent permanent disabilities associated with brain damage.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to accident injuries. Even when wearing the right protective gear, there is no guarantee against significant harm to the body and brain. Oftentimes, motorcyclists aren’t at-fault for the accident, because many drivers on Long Island do not know how to handle sharing the road with a motorcycle. Additionally, you may have been wearing a helmet and still suffer from a traumatic brain injury.
You have the right to pursue damages from anyone whose negligence contributed to your injury, including another driver or the manufacturer of a failed helmet.
If you have been injured in a Long Island motorcycle crash and have suffered a head injury, contact a Long Island personal injury attorney today. Many offer a free consultation so you can see if you can be compensated for lost wages and medical bills as a result of your injury.
Steven Palermo is the managing partner for Palermo Law, Long Island’s Personal Injury Law Firm. He has been helping people receive compensation for their injuries for over 21 years. He focuses on cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, construction accidents and slip and fall injuries.
His book The Ultimate Guide to Handling New York Car Accident Claims details the ins and outs of a car accident claim in a simple, easy-to-read manner.
