In a nursing home setting, many residents may develop skin conditions, some of which can become deadly if not treated promptly and effectively. Cellulitis and infected ulcers are the most commonly encountered cutaneous infections in the elderly with strains of staphylococcus and streptococci representing the most common causative organisms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial in preventing morbidity and mortality when cutaneous infections develop, particularly among nursing home residents.

Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enters the deep layers of skin through a wound or sore. Bacteria, which often lay harmless on the surface of the skin, may enter the body through scratches, cuts, grazes or bites and develop into harmful infections that can spread if untreated.  Risk factors of developing a life threatening infections increase with a reduced immune response, obesity, lack of mobility and inattention to the signs of a developing infection and a failure to treat.

Nursing Home Bed Sores – Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers (also known as bed sores) among the elderly are prevalent and can cause significant morbidity and mortality due to the development of infections. Pressure ulcers are areas of necrosis caused by compression between a bony prominence of the body such as heels, ankles, hips and tailbone and external surfaces. Persons admitted to nursing homes have a 13% risk factor of developing a pressure ulcer bed sore within the first year of being admitted, 21% will develop a pressure ulcer in the second year. Limited mobility and poor nutrition are strong predictors of the formation of pressure ulcers so nursing home staff must be particular attentive to prevent onset. Unfortunately, in cases of serious nursing home neglect, some patients suffering from pressure ulcers may go unattended until it is too late.

Nursing Home Neglect – Bed Sores & Pressure Ulcers Lawyers

When families decide to trust the care of a loved one to a nursing home, they expect that their family member will receive competent, professional care. In cases of nursing home abuse and neglect, families often do not know where to turn to hold a nursing home responsible. If your family member has bed sores, pressure ulcers or other injuries while being cared for in an Iowa nursing home, it is important to contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney who can help you understand your nursing home resident rights. Call nursing home neglect and abuse attorney John T. Hemminger for immediate assistance today at 515-283-2116.

Despite the promise to a safe and healthful work environment spelled out in the Occupational Safety and Health Act, many workers are still injured every year while performing their job duties. Tomorrow, April 28, is Workers’ Memorial Day, an annual event to remember workers who have lost their lives on the job.

Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to raise awareness regarding the preventable nature of many workplace accidents, encouraging employers to provide the necessary equipment, training and oversight to keep workers safe and to help their employees recognize hazards in the workplace to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Events commemorating victims of work-related accidents and diseases will take place this weekend in Iowa and all around the world to promote safe and healthful work environments for workers across the globe.
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This morning, Iowans, including families and friends of those killed in workplace accidents, gathered to pay tribute at the State Capitol. Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro reflected on the 32 Iowans that died last year in injuries sustained at work saying “Workers Memorial Day is a day to honor and remember Iowans who have died in Iowa’s workplaces and serving in our military in the past year. This is also a day to reflect on the lives that were lost and to renew our commitment to workers safety and health in the workplace.

The Iowa State Patrol has issued a warning to the parents of teen drivers that their kids are driving too fast. This in response to a rash of recent cases involving teenagers speeding on Iowa roads, with some driving more than 100 mph. With 57 fatalities and roughly 13,000 crashes involving young, inexperienced drivers last year alone, police are honing in on teen speeding, as well as distracted and impaired driving, to reduce the number of incidences.

A picture is worth a thousand words and the Iowa State patrol is using social media to drive home the point. Recently, they posted pictures to Facebook of two recent stops involving teenage drivers in the Des Moines area pulled over for excessive speeds. One picture shows a 17-year-old stopped for going 100 mph in a 65 zone; the other shows a 16-year-old traveling up to speeds of 104 mph. Both drivers were given citations for roughly $300 apiece and will likely lose their licenses through the Iowa DOT if convicted.

Unfortunately, the speeding epidemic is not limited to Iowa. Traffic deaths have been rising across the country for the last several years and a recent study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is pointing a finger at speeding as the main culprit for the uptick in traffic fatalities declaring “speed is what’s killing Americans.”

Looking at U.S. passenger vehicle crashes spanning a decade, the NTSB found that speeding was a major factor in over 100,000 deaths, more than a third of all traffic fatalities. The figures are nearly equal to the number of drunk driving fatalities during the same period, underscoring just how dangerous speeding can be.

“Drunk driving and speeding have a lot in common”, the NTSB report highlights. Drunk drivers and speeders both have a higher likelihood of being in a crash resulting in death or serious injury. Speeding or drunk driving not only puts the driver at risk, but also their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike.

There is no quick fix to the problem. One of the major recommendations is to make the consequences for speeding similar to that of a DUI for starters. Other remedies range from expanding enforcement tools like speed cameras to overhauling existing speed limits altogether.

Just raising awareness about the dangers of speeding may help to put a dent in the problem, which is where parents of teen drivers come in, especially in light of the recent stops by the Iowa State Patrol.  Helping kids understand how distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding are all risky behaviors behind the wheel may save lives.

If you or a family member is injured in an Iowa car accident, contact Des Moines personal injury attorney John T. Hemminger for help today at 515-283-2116.

In 2016, nearly 5,000 workers were fatally injured on the job. Of those fatalities, over 20 percent worked in the construction industry, accounting for 900 lost lives. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor has worked to reduce the number of workplace fatalities through the implementation of safety and enforcement programs, construction workers still face incredible danger every time they go to work.

Of course, no one can predict when a workplace accident will occur, however, workplace accidents involving construction workers fall into 4 main categories: falling, struck by injuries, electrical and caught between an object.

Des Moines Ladder Fall Accidents

Falling accidents are the number one cause of construction injuries and fatalities. In fact, nearly 1 in 3 work fatalities are attributed to falls. Construction workers often are asked to work on elevated areas, sometimes lacking safety gear and training. Falls from rooftops, ladders and scaffolding, or other structures or equipment is all too common.

Iowa Construction Zone Struck By Injuries

Struck by injuries are also prevalent in construction zones. These types of injuries may be the result of falling or swinging equipment, vehicle strikes or falling debris.

Electrocution Risks at Construction Sites

Electrocution is an ever present risk. Construction workers may be charged with working on electrical wiring specifically or just be surrounded by live electrical lines on a project. Nearly 100 workers suffered fatal injuries due to electrocution in 2016 alone.

Construction Equipment Accidents

Construction workers work with various equipment on a work site, some of which are stationary and others that move objects from point a to b.  Severe injuries are caused when workers are compressed by equipment or objects on site, such as structure collapses or being pinned by equipment.

Contact Des Moines Construction Worker Injury Lawyers

When workers are hurt on the job, few know where to turn for help. The Des Moines construction worker injury lawyers of John T. Hemminger have decades of experience assisting construction workers in workers’ compensation, personal injury lawsuits and helping family members in wrongful death claims. Our attorneys have a proven track record of helping those injured in workplace and job site accidents get the compensation they deserve when they need it the most. If you, or a family member is hurt at work, call our Des Moines workers’ compensation law office for a free and confidential consultation today at 515-283-2116.