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Atlanta personal injury lawyer blog Thursday, March 11, 2010

  T. Marzetti Veggie Dips Recalled Over Salmonella Scare

Certain T. Marzetti Veggie Dips - also sold under the Oak Lake Chip Dips and Great Value Chip Dips labels - are currently being recalled due to a potential salmonella contamination. These vegetable dips are sold in a variety of supermarkets across Georgia.

Salmonella is a very dangerous food borne bacteria which is well known for being dangerous to people, and has been responsible for numerous cases of food poisoning. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, and especially in children or the elderly, it can lead to complications which pose serious health risks. While not normally fatal, salmonella is responsible for deaths every year within the United States.

Products being recalled include:

T. Marzetti Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 15.5- ounce (UPC 70200 52004) Best By dates: APR2010F, APR2810F, MAY1610F, MAY3110F, JUN0610F, JUN1410F, JUN1910F

T. Marzetti Fat Free Southwest Ranch Veggie Dip, 13- ounce (UPC 70200 52033) Best By dates: MAY1610F, MAY3010F, JUN0810F, JUN1210F, JUN2510F

T. Marzetti Spinach Veggie Dip, 15-ounce (UPC 70200 52059) Best By dates: APR1910F, MAY0910F, JUN0710F

Great Value Ranch Chip Dip, 16 ounce (UPC 78742 43099) Best By dates: 042810F, 050810F, 052910F, 053010F, 053110F, 060410F, 060510F, 061110F

The Great Value Ranch Chip Dip is mostly distributed through Walmart and Sam's Club, while the T. Marzetti varies are distributed widely through a variety of supermarket chains.

Consumers who have purchased these products should either discard them, or return them to the store where they were purchased for a refund. Because of the potential of salmonella poisoning, these products are possibly dangerous and should not be eaten. T. Marzetti can be contacted by those who have questions at: 800-427-0147

State Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin's office announced this recall last week, hopefully before there could be serious consequences from the tainted food. I have written before about the damaging consequences of salmonella contamination and poisoning, and while this does not seem to be on the same scale as last year's peanut recall, it is still a serious recall. It would be a mistake to understate how greatly this disease can affect people's lives. Exposure to unclean food is one of the more common methods of contracting salmonella, along with exposure to contaminated water and exposure to feces.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled or defective product, it is important contact a Georgia accident lawyer as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule a free consultation.

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Friday, February 5, 2010

  Top 10 Causes of Falls

It is not all that uncommon to trip and take a fall. Many of us stumble from time to time and shrug it off, thinking it just a random occurrence on any bad day. We might blame our own clumsiness, or a loose heel, or something else out of anyone's control.

However, falls are not always out of our control - or out of control of the individuals who own and maintain the places where these spills might commonly happen. They are also not always so very harmless. A fall might easily lead to injury, medical bills and potentially permanent consequences. Falls can lead to head trauma, nerve damage, and injuries to the neck and spine, all of which can be life changing or even potentially deadly.

Ten of the top common reasons for falls which may by the responsibility of the property owner include:

1. Improperly Maintained/Broken Stairways
2. Defective Sidewalks
3. Improperly Maintained Walkways
4. Uneven Walkways
5. Unsecured Wet and/or Waxed Floors
6. Broken Railings
7. Poorly or Improperly Maintained Lighting
8. Improperly Maintained Parking Lots/Structures
9. Unsecured Construction Sites/Scaffolding
10. Defective Construction Equipment

Home and property owners have a responsibility to see that their property is either secure from the public, or maintained for safety. Many of the items on this list can be hazards waiting for someone if left unattended.

Stairs, for instance, can be very dangerous since a small trip can lead to a dangerous tumble down to the floor or landing. Because of this, stairs should always feature some sort of nonskid surface. If they are carpeted, the carpeting should be secure. If the carpet becomes loose or worn, it should be repaired immediately to avoid an increased risk of falls. Uncarpeted stairs might have some nonskid surface on them, such as a contrasting nonskid tape, spaced at one inch intervals, or rubber pads. Stairs should have railings on both sides, and the railings also need to be in good repair.

A poorly lit stairway or a stairway which accumulates any kind of obstacles is likely to lead to accidents eventually.

Maintaining proper lighting is another important step that property owners should take to ensure that preventable falls are kept to a minimum. Especially in conjunction with other, higher risk areas such as stairs, or places where the floor or walkways are liable to be wet and slippery.

Areas under construction, or those being cleaned or waxed should always be marked clearly so that individuals who happen to use them are aware of the risk and know to be careful or when appropriate to find another route - otherwise, they should be secured entirely to prevent accidents and injuries.

If you or someone you love has been wrongfully injured because of fall due to negligence on the part of a property owner, then contact an experienced Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule a free consultation.

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

  "What's the Difference Between First and Third Degree Burns?" And Other Facts About Burn Severity and Treatment

I blogged earlier this week about how common burn injuries are and the many different ways in which people can become burn victims, but that is not all there is to say about burns. Hundreds of thousands of people suffer from burns every year in this country, and of them, only a fraction require hospitalization. What, then, is the difference?

The difference, in short, is the severity of the burn. Burn severity is determined by several different factors, including the age and overall health of the burn victim, the depth of the burn and the percentage of the body that it covers. Obviously, if a young adult in good health receives a small, shallow burn, that is an entirely different situation than if a small child is burnt moderately over much of his body, or if an elderly person receives deep burns to her hand and arm.

Many of us have heard terms like "first degree burns" or "third degree burns," but we do not know exactly what they mean, or what difference that makes when discussing treatment. Understanding the skin is the first step to understanding the different degrees of burn damage and how they are judged. The skin is made up of several different layers. The epidermis, on top, is the outer surface of the skin which we see. Underneath the epidermis is the dermis, a stronger, more durable layer. Unlike the epidermis, the dermis has its own blood supply and contains nerve endings which allow for sensation. Hair follicles and sweat glands are active in the dermis layer of skin. Below that is another fatty layer, which nerves and blood vessels pass through to get to the skin.

A first degree burn affects the first layer of skin, the epidermis, only. There may be redness, hotness, and some pain, but there is no swelling or blistering. A sunburn is an example of a very common type of first degree burn. First degree burns may be painful, but not intensely so. Many people would do no more than run this type of burn under cold water or apply a lotion or cream to it. Second degree burns are more severe and in most cases, substantially more painful.

Second degree burns involve both the epidermis and the dermis, and leave the skin blistered, moist or oozing. Second degree burns may call for medical assistance, depending on how much of the body they have damaged. Doctors recommend not removing clothing around the burnt area, and seeking medical assistance quickly in the case of many of these burns. It is not advised to put lotion, oils or creams on these burns on your own, as that may do more damage. Adhesive bandages are discouraged, also because of the risk of farther damage.

Third degree burns involve all the layers of skin, and so-called fourth degree burns involve all of the skin, as well as the muscle and bone underneath. In third or fourth degree burns, the affected area will no longer be familiar light red, but instead may be white, cherry red, black, yellow or brown. If someone has suffered a third or fourth degree burn, then 911 should be contacted immediately for quick medical treatment.

If you or someone you love has been wrongfully injured in a fire due to negligence or product malfunction, then contact an experienced Atlanta, Georgia personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Call MLN Law at 404-531-9700 to schedule a free consultation.

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