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	<title>Metier Law Firm</title>
	<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com</link>
	<description>Helping victims of brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and more seek justice</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 17:11:13 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>How Brain Injuries Cause Depression</title>
        <pubDate>Fri, 18 May 2012 17:11:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Junior Seau’s recent suicide and a flurry of lawsuits from former NFL players have brought nationwide attention to traumatic brain injuries, and the eventual depression that can result from them. Seau’s suicide reminded many of Dave Duerson, a safety who killed himself in a similar manner (gunshot to the chest) and requested his brain be studied for a link between repetitive head injury and depression. Researchers confirmed that such a link existed. When someone experiences a severe brain injury, it can alter the structure of the brain and block the flow of mood-regulating chemicals like nonrepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. Depression medications can adjust the flow of these chemicals (known as monoamines) to improve a person’s mood. Some of Seau’s former teammates have said that he never mentioned being depressed because it would go against the linebacker mentality: just power through it. According to a study published in the Journal of...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/how-brain-injuries-cause-depression/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/how-brain-injuries-cause-depression/</link>
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		<title>One Hundred Plus Plaintiffs in Newest NFL Lawsuit</title>
        <pubDate>Wed, 16 May 2012 17:09:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[The National Football League (NFL) is facing more heat for allegedly failing to protect players against serious head injuries. Ex-players filed a lawsuit with over a hundred plaintiffs in Atlanta accusing the league of ignoring concussion risks. The list of plaintiffs in the newest NFL lawsuit includes players like Chris Doleman, Jamal Anderson and Jessie Tuggle. The suit seeks damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical treatment. So far, over 1,500 retired players have sued the league for not doing enough to prevent concussions. For years, players have recounted stories of coaches sending them back on the field despite disorientation, memory loss or loss of consciousness after a hard hit. Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau’a suicide has thrown fuel on the fire. Some argue that his football injuries contributed to his depression, and that if the NFL had taken more precautions to prevent traumatic brain injuries, Seau might...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/one-hundred-plus-plaintiffs-in-newest-nfl-lawsuit/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/one-hundred-plus-plaintiffs-in-newest-nfl-lawsuit/</link>
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		<title>NFL Tragedy Shines Spotlight on Brain Injuries, Mental Health</title>
        <pubDate>Mon, 14 May 2012 17:04:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[The recent suicide of NFL legend Junior Seau was tragic and unexpected. Shortly after his girlfriend went to the gym, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history committed suicide. No one saw it coming; his friends and teammates, some of whom saw Seau just days prior, could not believe that a man of such high spirits could take his own life. The unexpected suicide sparked a nationwide discussion about the connection between brain injuries and mental health. Seau enjoyed a lengthy 20-year career as a linebacker, and during that time he took a lot of hard hits. Some speculate that Seau chose the manner of his death (a gunshot to the chest) so that scientists could study how repeated trauma affected his brain. Seau’s family is considering donating his brain to science. The incident has reminded some of Dave Duerson, a Chicago Bears safety who killed himself in a...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/nfl-tragedy-shines-spotlight-on-brain-injuries-mental-health/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/nfl-tragedy-shines-spotlight-on-brain-injuries-mental-health/</link>
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		<title>Colorado Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness Tips</title>
        <pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 15:23:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Due to National Arson Awareness Week and the Lower North Fork fire that destroyed over a thousand acres of Colorado wilderness, fire safety is on the forethought of many Coloradoans’ minds. The weather is getting warmer, and with that comes countless opportunities to get out and enjoy the beautiful wilderness. Here are some basic Colorado wildfire prevention and preparedness tips to keep in mind this summer: Extinguish responsibly. According to reports, a few embers caused the Lower North Fork fire that raged for days. Keep that in mind before you flick your cigarette out the window. Use fire-retardant materials. If you are planning a home construction or considering some remodeling for a home in a high-risk area, keep fire safety in mind during the process. Using composite deck materials or fiberglass shingles for your roof can reduce the risk of fire. Plan ahead. If you live in one of Colorado’s...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/colorado-wildfire-prevention-and-preparedness-tips/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/colorado-wildfire-prevention-and-preparedness-tips/</link>
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		<title>Wildfire Widow Speaks Out</title>
        <pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 15:21:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[According to her husband, Ann Appel would not enjoy all the attention she is getting after her death. “She would be so embarrassed about this whole thing and the attention that’s been drawn to her that she wouldn’t believe it,” said Scott Appel. “(She was a) beautiful person, really unselfish and just always in the background. Never would draw attention to herself.” The fire that killed Ann (and two others, and destroyed 27 homes, and scorched 4,140 acres of land) has been the subject of many media outlets in the past month. Colorado state officials started the fire as a prescribed burn. Experts believe that strong winds carried embers from the presumably extinguished fire across the containment line, sparking the wildfire that raged for several days. Dry wood and high winds made the fire difficult to stop. Ann saw large amounts of smoke the afternoon of the fire. She called...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/wildfire-widow-speaks-out/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/wildfire-widow-speaks-out/</link>
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		<title>Colorado Wildfire Inspires Warnings, Lawsuits</title>
        <pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 15:16:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Federal officials have warned those living along the western slope of the Rocky Mountains that their region could be at high risk for wildfires this summer. Said officials are coordinating with local and state agencies to prevent wildfires. With National Arson Awareness Week in full effect from May 6-12, officials will be on a sharp lookout for fires in Colorado. This announcement comes just weeks after a controlled burn initiated by state forest officials grew into a forest fire, killing three people and destroying 27 homes in Jefferson County. State agencies have confirmed that they have received at least nine claims of intent to sue. Some may have come from an insurance company on behalf of those with damaged homes. Others may be from family members seeking wrongful death compensation from those who died in the fire. Colorado averaged 2,516 reports of wildfires over the last decade. The state’s fire...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/colorado-wildfire-inspires-warnings-lawsuits/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/colorado-wildfire-inspires-warnings-lawsuits/</link>
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		<title>New Bill Aims to Assist TBI Patients</title>
        <pubDate>Fri, 04 May 2012 14:25:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[A bill currently in committee would update provisions for those suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The bill is currently under review in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Rep. William Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) introduced H.R. 4238, a.k.a The TBI Act of 2012, during Brain Injury Awareness Month, which was this past March. “The TBI Act of 2012 will sustain successful programs, provide better coordination of TBI research and create a funding formula that will allow all 50 states to access state grants for TBI programs,” Pascrell said in a statement. He indicated that TBIs affect many Americans, particularly soldiers serving overseas. He proposed that army personnel like Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, charged with 17 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder for a shooting rampage in Afghanistan, should have received more care following a TBI. The bill extends and...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/new-bill-aims-to-assist-tbi-patients/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/new-bill-aims-to-assist-tbi-patients/</link>
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		<title>Car Accident Deaths Declined Last Decade</title>
        <pubDate>Wed, 02 May 2012 14:19:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Accidental deaths among children fell between the years of 2000 and 2009 by 30 percent, according to new data released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A sharp decline in car accident fatalities helped lower the numbers. The first decade of the 2000s saw a 41 percent drop in child car crash deaths. CDC officials did not cite a specific cause for the declining deaths. They said that certain measures like booster seats and graduated driver’s licenses likely lead to fewer child injuries. “We’ve made progress, and because we’ve made progress our children are safer than ever before,” said Ileana Arias, principal deputy director for the CDC. Colorado had one of the country’s lowest child injury death rates in the country. Along with 18 other states, Colorado had between and four and 11 deaths per 100,000 children aged 0-19. The national average was 11 deaths per 100,000...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/car-accident-deaths-declined-last-decade/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/05/car-accident-deaths-declined-last-decade/</link>
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		<title>&#8220;Keep Kids Alive&#8221; Campaign Hits Colorado</title>
        <pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:08:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, a nationwide non-profit focused on preventing child deaths in car accidents, will spread its message throughout Colorado on Tuesday, May 1. The non-profit Drive Smart Colorado Springs is coordinating the implementation of the program in the Colorado Springs area. The main goal of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day is to reduce speeding in neighborhoods, thereby preventing child injuries and accidents. Accidental injuries (which include auto accidents) are the number one killer of children in America, and injuries from car accidents are the biggest contributor. Over 4,500 children died from motor vehicle accidents in 2009. Here are some things you can do to help prevent child injuries on Tuesday and throughout the rest of the year: Slow Down Drivers who speed through neighborhood streets are 30 percent third more likely to crash into something or someone, according to AAA. Obey the speed limit signs and...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/04/keep-kids-alive-campaign-hits-colorado/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/04/keep-kids-alive-campaign-hits-colorado/</link>
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		<title>Demystifying Shaken Baby Syndrome</title>
        <pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:59:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<description><![CDATA[Shaken baby syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), results when a baby is shaken violently and the head snaps back and forth, causing cranial or brain damage. Causes According to the National Center of Shaken Baby Syndrome, parents are frequently calling to find out if falls, horseplay, swings or other activities can cause SBS. The answer: no. The constellation of damages related to SBS (which can include retinal hemorrhaging, subdural hematoma and brain swelling) is caused by rapid back and forth movement of the head, along with abrupt acceleration and deceleration. Jogging, swinging and bouncing are not causes of shaken baby syndrome. Symptoms Symptoms of shaken baby syndrome can be difficult to isolate and identify because they are present in many infants at any given time. If you see them acting in concert, however, your suspicious may be justified and you should seek a professional examination by...<br /> <a href="http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/04/demystifying-shaken-baby-syndrome/">Read More &#187;</a>]]></description>
		<link>http://www.thesafetylawyerblog.com/2012/04/demystifying-shaken-baby-syndrome/</link>
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