Chicago Injury Blog

Those of us at Romanucci & Blandin were stunned to read about the death of a 16-month-old boy who died from a severe brain fracture on January 12, the result of his being thrown to the floor by a 22-year-old teacher’s assistant in a Lincolnshire, Illinois, daycare center. Any catastrophic injury is tragic, but when the victim is a baby, it’s all the more egregious.

Initially, it was believed that the child died from a seizure, but further investigation by authorities revealed that the assistant, who was supposed to be caring for him, allegedly threw the child to the floor because she felt he was misbehaving. After being thrown, the boy grabbed his blanket and crawled to a bouncy chair where he died. (The fact that the child could crawl after the accident is not unusual. It takes time for swelling and bleeding in the brain to become fatal.)

The daycare center where the accident took place was considered first rate and had no record of any previous complaints of mistreatment. The teacher’s assistant has been charged with first degree murder and is being held on $5 million bond.

Posted by Romanucci & Blandin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: News That Affects You

Bookmark:

Tony Romanucci’s recent interview on a Springfield, Illinois radio station generated a “home run” of sorts in support of his ongoing crusade to have metal baseball bats banned by Illinois youth leagues.

Dave Hollinshead, who works in the security forces at the Air Guard base in Springfield, called in after Tony’s interview to applaud his efforts to have the metal bats banned. “I have witnessed many injuries that are caused by these high-powered bats,” said Hollinshead, who plays on a park district league in Springfield and suffered a permanent hand injury as the result of a ball hit by a metal bat.

Hollinshead has made numerous attempts to encourage change in his community, all to no avail. “Unfortunately, not enough communities or leagues are taking a pro-active position to try to facilitate the safety of players of all ages,” he said.

The Chicago City Council is considering an ordinance introduced by Alderman Robert Fioretti that, if passed, would prohibit the use of metal bats by the city’s youth leagues. A hearing will be scheduled in early 2009.

Posted by Romanucci & Blandin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: News That Affects You

Bookmark:

Improved treatment for victims of brain injuries is the goal behind a new study funded at $4.3 million by the National Institutes of Health. The five-year study will collect information from more than 2,300 patients who have moderate to severe head injuries, typically suffered when the head violently strikes an object or when a sharp objects pierces the skull.

Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, which treats 50 to 75 patients with traumatic brain injury each year, is one of 11 healthcare facilities in the U.S. to participate in the study. The study is considered the largest and most important study ever done on brain injury, according to experts, because it will lead to the ability by health care professionals to identify the best treatments for a full range of symptoms.

Posted by Romanucci & Blandin | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: News That Affects You

Bookmark: