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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current safe blood lead level is 10 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dl). However, this level, which was set in 1991, may be too high according to a recent study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Led by Dr. Alan Emond, director of the Centre for Child and Adolescent Health at Bristol University, British researchers obtained blood samples from 582 2-year-old children participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. After evaluating the children when they were 7 or 8 years old, they found that those who had a blood lead levels between 5 and 10 mcg/dl at age 2 had poorer academic performance and were less social than those whose levels were below 5 mcg/dl.

Children who were found to have a blood lead level greater than 10 mcg/dl at age 2 were almost three times as likely to be hyperactive and unsociable at age 7 or 8 than those whose levels were lower than 2 mcg/dl. In addition, researchers noted that the younger a child is, the more severe the effects of lead exposure are, so it is extremely important to protect young children from exposure to lead paint inside and outside of the home and on some children's toys.

The findings of the study prompted researchers to suggest that the safe blood lead level be lowered to 5 mcg/dl in an attempt to prevent developmental problems associated with lead exposure. If your was exposed to lead paint and has an unsafe blood lead level, call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation. One of our experienced attorneys will review your case for free.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has found that about 47,312 elderly adults require treatment in emergency rooms each year in the U.S. after falls involving canes and walkers. For the study, researchers from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a division of the CDC, looked at records of emergency departments over a six year period, from 2001 to 2006. They found that on average, 129 elderly patients were treated daily in emergency units for falls involving these walking aids, which make up just about 3 percent of falls in adults 65 and older.

The researchers also determined seniors were seven times more likely to be injured while using a walker rather than a cane, with 87 percent of these falls involving walkers. Three out of four walker-related injuries occurred in elderly women, while two out of three injuries involving a cane were sustained by women.

Lead author of the study, Judy Stevens, Ph.D., noted the importance of elderly adults knowing how to use these walking aids safely, since many people rely on walkers or canes to get around as they get older. Doctors of elderly patients should take the time to teach them how to use these devices properly to prevent a fall, which can lead to serious injury in some cases.
According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries in the U.S. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a trip or slip and fall accident, call or e-mail the personal injury attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. Our premises liability attorneys will evaluate your case free of charge.

Each year, thousands of children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children up to age 15. The need for awareness and resources to find a cure is always growing, so any donation of time or money is beneficial to these children and their families.

Some of the most common childhood cancers include bone, brain and spinal cord cancers, acute lymphocyic leukemia, Ewing's Sarcoma, Neuroblastoma and Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The types of cancer a child can suffer from differ from the types of cancer an adult can have, making more research necessary to find a cure for all forms of the disease.

Since September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, many individuals and organizations are taking the time to visit children with cancer or take part in events that help raise money for research. Others are helping by donating money to hospitals or research initiatives. By participating in events in your area or donating money to a hospital or research efforts, you can help find a cure for childhood cancers.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by a delay in diagnosing or treating cancer, we can help. Call or e-mail one of our cancer malpractice attorneys today for a free initial consultation. There is no fee to you unless we recover money.

Breast cancer is the second most common type of cancer in women, following skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The disease is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. The ACS estimates that there will be 192,370 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer and 40,170 deaths resulting from the disease in 2009 alone.

The growth of most breast cancers is aided by estrogen and/or progesterone, which are hormones that are naturally produced in the female body. To prevent these hormones from affixing themselves to hormone receptors, which in turn allow cancer cells to grow, many breast cancer patients receive hormone therapies, such as aromatase inhibitors. These drugs stop the cancer from growing by not allowing the cells to receive the estrogen they need.

Unfortunately, some breast cancers may become resistant to anti-estrogen treatments, making it possible for the disease to return and begin to grow again. For this reason, researchers conducted a study using a form of estrogen to treat 66 women whose cancer had returned after using anti-estrogen drugs for an extended period of time. The only other alternative for these women with advanced breast cancer would have been chemotherapy.

Instead, Dr. Matthew Ellis and his colleagues gave the women either 30 milligrams or 6 milligrams of estradiol, a form of the hormone estrogen. They found that both the high and low dose had a similar effect on the cancer, causing the tumors in 30 percent of the women to either stop growing or shrink in size. The high dose did have more side effects, including headaches, nausea, fluid retention, vomiting and other reactions, allowing researchers to determine that the lower dose was a better option for these women.

Breast cancer treatment is most effective when the cancer is caught early on. If you or a loved one has breast cancer medical malpractice questions in New York, contact the attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today for your free consultation.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability for people of all ages. Nearly 1.5 million Americans suffer TBI every year. 50,000 of these victims die from their injury, while 85,000 will suffer long-term disability from theirs. Most cases of TBI are caused by automobile accidents, falls, sporting injuries, and firearm-related incidents. This being said, there are a number of other things that can cause severe brain damage.

Most would argue that the human brain is the most complex "thing" known to man. It is certainly one of the least-understood. We do know that it determines our personality and controls virtually ever part of our being. It should be no surprise then that when the brain sustains an injury, significant physical, mental, and emotional changes are bound to occur.

Unfortunately, most of these changes are not desirable. As a result, TBI can be devastating to the victims and their families. The brain does not heal itself like other organs and body parts do. This makes recovery from TBI very difficult to predict. Some symptoms may come and go, some may take years to develop, and others may become progressively worse. Recovery from TBI can be a source of chronic frustration to doctors, patients, and families alike.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you will want to consult with an experienced TBI attorney to ensure that you receive maximum compensation. Calculating damages can get extremely complex in TBI cases. Please call or e-mail our traumatic brain injury attorney today for a free consultation in the New York area, including Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Long Island, and New York City.

In a recent study published in online journal Pediatrics, sitting in a car seat may lower a child's oxygen levels because their chest is compressed in that position. Experts advise that car seats only be used when a child is traveling to prevent limited oxygen levels for longer than necessary. Parents who keep their children in a car seat when they are sleeping or moving around may be putting their child at risk, especially when the child is sick. Parents who do not have a baby bed for their child and whose children sleep in car seats all the time are urged to purchase a bed to lower this risk.

For the study, researchers began monitoring 200 newborns at 2 days old that had no known heath issues. The infants were placed in a hospital crib for half an hour, a car bed for one full hour and a car seat for another hour, during which the researchers looked at oxygen saturation and other warning signs.

While in the hospital crib, the average oxygen saturation level was 97.9 percent. In the car bed and car seat, the levels were 96.3 percent and 95.7 percent, respectively. The average minimal oxygen levels were 87.4 percent in the crib, 83.7 percent in the car bed and 83.6 percent in the car seat.

The findings of the study may lead to changes in the way modern car seats are designed. Regardless, parents should still make sure they are only using car seats for their intended purpose, to protect children while in the car. If your child has suffered a severe or fatal injury as a result of an unsafe product, call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad and Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced product liability attorneys will evaluate your case for free.

The purpose of the National Safety Council (NCS) is to educate and influence people to prevent accidental injury and death in homes and communities, at work and on the roads. Statistics show that it is more likely that a person between ages 1 and 33 will die from an automobile accident than from any other cause. One way to lower this risk is by making sure you are completely awake before getting behind the wheel.

The NCS suggests several signs that may help a driver know when they are too tired to be on the road:

• Eyes are closing / unable to focus on the road
• Frequent yawning
• Having problems with concentration
• Unable to remember driving last few miles
• Impatience, restlessness or irritability behind the wheel
• Swerving or drifting between lanes or onto shoulder
• Tailgating or failing to follow traffic signs or minimum or maximum speed limits
• Shallow breathing, burning eyes or back tension

According to a survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37% of drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at some point in their years of driving, while 8% admitted doing so in the past six months. When a person is drowsy while driving, it is all too possible that a collision with another vehicle or object may occur.

If you are planning a lengthy trip, divide the driving between two or more people, if possible. Also, try to start the trip early in the day and take breaks for light meals and snacks throughout the trip. Keep the temperature in the car cool and try to pull over and take a break every 100 miles, or about every 2 hours. Exercising helps fight drowsiness, so even walking around the car can help keep you attentive when driving and help you avoid an accident.

If you or some you love has been injured in any type of collision, call or e-mail Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. today. One of our experienced auto collision lawyers will evaluate your case for free and help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us toll-free 1-877-ASK4SAM.