Sally Anne bravely placed herself between the pushchair and the dog, blocking its way to the child and was dragged to the floor.  She suffered severe injuries to her right arm and continues to have limited movement.

“It could have been a lot worse,” she said (Kent Online, 2009).

Parents of younger victims of dog attacks can make a child accident claim on their behalf. To know more about making a child injury claim, contact Macks Solicitors – the child injury specialists.

The dogs were destroyed following the incident and police are monitoring the owners.

Parents of infants who suffer in dog attacks are often entitled to make a child injury claim on their behalf. To find out more information about making a dog bite claim with no obligation, call Macks Solicitors. Macks have a specialist child injury team who seek the optimum result for their clients.

Following the attack she was taken to hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to the injuries. Lancashire Police conducted forensic investigations in the flat whilst deciding whether the incident would be treated as a criminal offence.

The Staffordshire bull terrier is not a breed which is restricted under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act but was destroyed with the agreement of its owners following the attack.

If your child has suffered from a dog attack and would like to know more about making child injuries claims, please contact Macks Solicitors – the child injuries specialists.

Nadine had to have 40 stitches after suffering extensive injury to her neck.  She also lost a lump of flesh from her hand as she fought to free herself.

Her father, who is pursuing a child injuries claim on his daughter’s behalf said “It is an experience no-one should have to go through, never mind a fourteen year old girl.  She has 40 stitches and it burnt all the skin right off her neck.  You don’t expect something like that to happen while they’re at school.  She is going to be left with a scar but the surgeons did an excellent job.”

The Health & Safety Executive is preparing a final report into the accident.

However, for the unlucky pupil who was sent to R & B garages, this turned out not to be the case. Fourteen years old at the time of his accident, the young boy, who was under the supervision of someone who spoke very little English, was accidentally sprayed with petrol during a draining operation and received burns to his hand when a battery spark ignited his sleeve.

John Healy, a Health and Safety Inspector said: “Making Learning Work Ltd failed in its duty by exposing this pupil to health and safety risks. Had they carried out a risk assessment, it would have soon been obvious that the garage was unsuitable”.

Make Learning Work admitted that they were in breach of the Health and Safety Act 1974, which states that “It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety”.

After a child injuries claim was made, Make Learning Work were ordered to pay £22,000 to the boy and given a one year’s conditional discharge. The owner of the garage also pleaded guilty to health and safety offences and was fined £3,500 as well as being ordered to pay £1,500 in costs.

In a similar child injuries case, a fifteen year old pupil at Radcliffe Riverside School was injured whilst on a work experience placement, this time suffering burns that were so severe that he required five skin grafts to his forearms, stomach and legs.

Jonathan Bonner was spending his work experience at Castlefield Works, which makes doors, windows and conservatories. When he put something on the fire which was being used to burn waste, it blew back at him and caused him 25 to 30 per cent burns.

Although Castlefield Works had been cleared by the Bolton and Bury Education Business Partnership as being suitable for work experience, it is currently under investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and Bury Council to see if risk assessments were correctly followed and to ascertain if action needs to be taken.

Jonathan’s father praised the company’s boss, whose quick thinking and presence of mind saved his son and, as the company undergoes investigation, expressed empathy for his present situation.

If your child has sustained a similar injury, they may be entitled to compensation. If you would like to know more about making a child injuries claim without obligation, please contact Macks Solicitors.

The Countryside Alliance, which reported the above findings, found that 49% of teachers said “fear of litigation in the unlikely event of an accident” was the main reason they did not organise school trips, whilst a substantial 76% said the main deterrent of arranging excursions for them were concerns about child injuries and the appropriate combative safety measures.

In a separate poll of six to fifteen year olds, the Countryside Alliance also found that although 85% of respondents would like to go on more school trips, only 46% of them had actually been taken to the countryside by their school in the past year.

The chief executive of the organisation, Simon Hart said, “Statistically, the chances of accidents happening are low and we are working to explode the myths that the countryside is any more dangerous than anywhere else. The benefits of practical countryside education far outweigh the concerns”.

Appearing to agree with this sentiment, then Secretary for Schools Ed Balls said “Trips and getting out of the classroom should be part and parcel of school life and always give the most vivid childhood memories”. However, the Labour government condemned the amount of money spent on school trips and have introduced new regulations which stipulate that teachers should rarely have to cover an absentee colleague’s lessons (who might, for example, be away on an excursion).

Somewhat confusingly, they have also recently launched a campaign designed to boost the number of educational trips a school organises. Costing £4.5 million and christened Out and About, this scheme aims to give clear guidance on how to mount an outing and also provides schools with a list of pre-approved sites, such as museums, activity centres and stately homes, where it would be appropriate to take a class trip.

With awards available for schools with the most imaginative field trips, and funding given for residential outings, it is hoped that these initiatives will improve educational standards as well as remove some of the time-consuming and tiresome procedures of risk assessment and health and safety concerns.

The campaign is supported by teaching unions, including NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) which had previously warned against organising school trips for fear of a child accident claim being made.

General Secretary of NASUWT Chris Keates said “The perception of the classroom as the only space for learning needs to be challenged and we are excited to see there is such a positive direction of travel on this agenda”.

However, despite such government advice as “Schools should not let ungrounded fears of a compensation culture deny children educational opportunities”, it remains to be seen whether these efforts to boost educational outings are strong enough to subdue the existing, albeit exaggerated legal fears currently plaguing teachers and schools across the country.

All the injuries have been caused when children have placed their fingers in the hinge mechanism while the pushchairs were being unfolded. Maclaren have advised anyone who has one of the models involved not to use them until they have been fitted with the repair kit that they are providing free to consumers.

The repair kit is simple to fit and includes covers for the hinges on both sides of the pushchair which help prevent fingers from getting trapped in the mechanism.

Maclaren have stressed that pushchairs sold in the UK are not affected and reiterate that safety remains its top priority.

If your child has been injured because of a faulty, dangerous or badly designed product you may be able to make a child accident claim.

Macks Solicitors have a great deal of experience in product liability claims and will be happy to give you free advice on making a child accident claim. Even if you are unsure as to whether a child injury claim can be made, Macks will be happy to give you the benefit of expert opinion for free, without obligation.

It is important to remember, however, that children are especially susceptible to sunburn and other sun related conditions. A child’s skin is thinner than an adult’s which is why it is far more sensitive: as little as 10 minutes in the sun without protection can cause a child to suffer from sunburn. Children who have fair skin or hair are particularly at risk of sunburn, which if serious enough can cause serious damage to the skin in later life. The sun’s UV rays are at their most damaging between June and September – even if it is a cloudy day, the UV rays can still cause sunburn and skin damage to your child.

During the summer months it is especially important to follow these tips to guarantee your child’s safety in the sun:

1) Sun cream: millions of people every year suffer from sunburn because they don’t wear the appropriate protection. There are many different kinds of sun cream available these days, with many brands offering sun cream specifically targeted for children. It is important to buy as high a factor sun cream as possible: for children, it should be at least SPF 50 or 60.

Sun cream should be applied 15-30 minutes before going outside, to give the skin a chance to absorb it. Remember to re-apply sun cream regularly throughout the day: approximately once every hour, and more if your child has been playing in a swimming pool or in the sea, as the sun cream will have washed off.

2) Aftersun: aftersun can be greatly soothing on burnt skin. It should also be used to hydrate any skin that’s been exposed to the heat for more than 20 minutes. On young skin this is even more important, as children’s skin burns easily and needs lots of help to rehydrate. Again, there are many child-friendly options available in shops and chemists.

3) Carry a bottle of water at all times: Many people remember sun cream, but forget to also keep their children hydrated from the ‘inside out’. Drinking water regularly (at least every hour) is the best way to achieve this. Ice lollies are also a great way to stay hydrated!

4) Cover Up: It is extremely important to make sure your children are well covered from the sun, wherever they are. This is particularly important between 11am and 3pm, when the sun’s heat is at its strongest. Playing in the sun is great fun, but remember to take regular breaks in the shade to cool down. With young children, make sure that they are wearing a sun hat that covers their face at all times, and also sunglasses. Wearing a big T-shirt over a swimming costume is also a great way to cover up, particularly in the swimming pool.

For babies and toddlers, it is even more important that they are covered up and kept in the shade as much as possible. Always place pushchairs in the shade and have a sun canopy to protect your baby’s head from the sun.

5)Emergency Hydration Salts: If you are going away for the summer or if you know that you will be in the sun for a long period of time, then it is vital to carry a re-hydration kit with you. Drinking re-hydration salts will help to restore your child to a safe level of hydration. You should also carry headache tablets, emergency supplies of water and have the number of a local pharmacy in case you need to seek advice.

When in doubt, remember the Australian saying: Slip, slop, slap! Slip on a T-shirt, slop on the sun cream and slap on a hat, for optimal protection from the sun.

For some children these measures were too late, and many children were badly injured by the faulty pushchairs. Most of the injuries involved the children’s fingers – many children had their finger ends sliced off in the hinges of the folding pushchairs.

Several children needed skin grafts or amputations following their pushchair injury. All of the children – who were aged between 2 and 8 – suffered deep cuts and scarring. Many have been told they will suffer lifelong complications as a result of the injury – including arthritis, numbness of the fingers and a partial loss of hand movement.

Child Accident Claim
Over 40 parents formed a group and made a child accident claim to win compensation for their injured children.

MacLaren has refused to admit liability, but has agreed to pay full damages. The payments range from £2,500 to £10,000 – with the most severely injured children receiving the highest damages. The money will be invested for the children until they turn 18.

Richard Langton, who led the case against MacLaren, said that the damage settlements were “good news” for the children and their families. But he also expressed concern over Maclaren’s refusal to recall some of their products, as they did in the US:

“Compensation doesn’t turn the clock back for the traumatised children or their parents….manufacturers need to know there is a serious issue which must be addressed with more decisive action. It is time the authorities stepped in and did something here as they did in America.”

In a statement to the media, a MacLaren spokeswoman said: ” …We take the safety of children very seriously. We have sold more than a million buggies in the past decade in the UK and have only had around 100 complaints. We feel this issue affects the whole industry and not just MacLaren.”

More Claims to Come?
Parents across the UK will be heartened to see MacLaren compensating the injured children- and acknowledging the suffering of the youngsters and their families. The company’s refusal to accept liability or remove any products from the UK market may result in more parents making a child accident claim against MacLaren.

Following these tips will help you spot a dangerous toy and reduce the risks of child injury:

• Buy from established retailers: always buy your children’s toys from a reputable retailer. A sure sign is clearly marked safety standards and packaging that has not been damaged in any way. Even independent toy shops and craftsman should be able to show evidence of their health and safety standards.

• Try before you buy:  even if a toy is brand new, check it for any broken parts before you hand it to your child, however eager they are to play!

• Regularly clean your child’s toys: Wash soft toys in the washing machine and wipe over plastic toys with child friendly disinfectant.

• Organise your toy box: toy boxes are not just a fashion accessory, they should be considered an essential safety feature – tripping over cluttered toys is a common cause of nasty child injuries.

• Regular maintenance:  On the same day you set aside for cleaning your child’s toys, be sure to check for any loose, cracked or broken parts. Even the smallest chip should be taken as a warning sign. If the toy is your child’s favourite, be strong. A broken toy can be replaced – a child is less easy to fix!

• Treat any injury immediately:  infection from puncture wounds is just as dangerous as the cuts themselves. If you child has been injured on a a toy, wash the wound thoroughly. If necessary you should seek medical attention.

• Follow age guidelines:  Follow manufacturer’s instructions on toys for what is appropriate for your child. You can usually find this information clearly displayed on the box or packaging. If a toy seems too old for your child, or unsafe in anyway, don’t use it.

• Use common sense!  If something seems wrong or broken, then don’t give the toy to your child. Ask a friend for advice or throw the toy away.