Special Events
TYBEE ISLAND PARADE March 13, 2010
St.Patricks Day Parade, SAVANNAH March 17, 2010
APRIL FLING April 24, 2010
CHILI COOK-OFF
The Chili Cook-Off was held on the 30th of January and fourteen Law firms including a law team from Atlanta participated in the first annual Chili Cook-Off to support the Justice for Children Foundation's mission of preventing child injuries. The cook-off featured not only lawyers, as the chefs, but four "real" judges who determined the winners.
Winning first prize was Sandra Foster, Brennan, Harris & Rominger, LLP; Second place went to Margret K. Clark, P.C, MK Law Office &Julie M. Wade, The Wade Law Firm and Third place went to Christie Register, Register Law Firm.
The Cook-off earned enough money to buy and give away more than 200 safety helmets.
Required Reading
Pat Malone has written a book that everyone—not just attorneys but everyone—needs to read. It is called The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care and Avoiding the Worst. The title is no exaggeration.
I'm telling you about this book for two reasons: First, I want anyone important to me to have read this book. I'm no great fan of self-help books, but this is a self-protection book, and it's essential. If you have children it is more than essential.
The following are some resources with great information about child safety.
The author, a survivor, turned the challenges of his serious Traumatic Brain Injury into opportunity. He provides a roadmap so others can do the same, is a must-read for all those touched by traumatic illness and injury. It provides a powerful and individual impact to each reader. Many readers have said it is a book about life. It is a must read for all.
The American Library Association Parents Page - Resources for Parents and Children
http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/parentspage/parentspage.htm
Chatham and Effingham County Health Departments
http://www.easthealthdistrict.com/
Childhelp USA - Treatment and Prevention of Child Abuse
http://www.childhelpusa.org/
Child Identification and Stranger Safety Products
http://www.fingerprintamerica.com/
Child-Proof Your Window Treatments
http://www.nobrainerblinds.com/info/child.asp
Child-Proof Your Home, From Toddlers Today
http://toddlerstoday.com/resources/articles/childproof.htm
Children's Safety Network
http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/
Crib Safety Information
http://www.babyandchildsafety.com/crib_safety.html
DrGreene.com - Health and Safety for Children
http://www.drgreene.com/
Georgia's Child Safety Seat Law
http://www.gohs.state.ga.us/safetyseatlaw.html
How to Fit a Bicycle Helmet
http://www.bhsi.org/fit.htm
Klaas Kids Foundation - Guidelines for Child Safety
http://www.klaaskids.org/pg-prot.htm
National Child Identification Program
http://www.childidprogram.com/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm
Safety Tips from the Children's Hospital of Austin
http://www.childrenshospital.com/YourChildsHealth/InjuryPreventionPro0A8...
Savannah Now Rabies Article
http://savannahnow.com/stories/042701/LOCrabies.shtml
(Free membership required to read articles on Savannah Now.)
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Kids Pages
http://www.cpsc.gov/kids/kidsafety/index.html
Spiva Law Group http://www.spivalaw.com
Blog
Children’s injuries are NO “accident”
"NO EXCUSE WILL BRING THEM BACK"
The Justice for Children Foundation was founded in 1999. The Charity promotes community awareness of child safety through classes, events, sponsorships and fundraisers.
They are best known for their “free helmet giveaways”.
The new executive director, Renee Robbins, is very excited about the upcoming events planned for 2010. “First there is our Chili cook off in January and then the BIG Spring Helmet Fling in April of 2010”, says Renee.
The spring event will provide Free Bicycle Helmets to children to prevent head injuries. All law firms who participate in the cook off will be represented at the event.
As a trial lawyer for over 25 years, founder Howard Spiva, has seen “too many” injured children. “My law practice focuses on traumatic brain injuries, and I can tell you nothing is sadder than a seriously injured child, especially one who has a brain injury”.
The two biggest challenges in helping a child with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is (1) obtaining money for the child and (2) getting the funds working to help the child now and not wait until they reach adulthood. The problem with damages for a young child is that many developmental problems and cognitive deficits don’t show up until the child is older and has to call on those skills.
The best medicine is prevention. That is the purpose of JFCF.
Wearing a bicycle helmet statistically lowers the occurrence of injuries.
Studies from The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Safe Kids, and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show:
• Non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders.
• A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 %.
• An estimated 75%-90% of the 1.4 million traumatic brain injury-related deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits that occur each year are concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI).
• Head injuries accounted for 62.6 % of bicycle fatalities.
• Collisions with motor vehicles accounted for 75.7 % of bicycle fatalities.
• 61.7 % of motor vehicle collision deaths were due to head injury.
Another goal is to get children to believe that wearing a helmet even while in a car safety seat is “cool”. Race car drivers wear helmets, says attorney Spiva.
Justice for Children Foundation also works with police and public safety organizations through sponsoring free photos and fingerprinting identification for children.
The Foundation is a tax exempt charity under IRC 501(c) (3), and all contributions are tax deductible.
More information can be obtained at www.justice4children.org . Or you may contact JFCF’s executive Director, Renee Robbins @ renee.robbins@comcast.net or call Renee (912) 572-6195.
