The Most Accident-Prone Professions in Waldorf, MD

According to a recent study, Maryland has seen a decrease in the number of workplace injuries. It has been reported that in 2015 there were an estimated 65,000 injuries and illnesses in Maryland, which is down from the 68,600 reported injuries and illnesses in Maryland for 2014. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, these numbers show Maryland to have a slightly higher non-fatal occupational injury and illness rate than the national average; this average is roughly three injuries for every 100 workers. There were fewer injuries and illnesses reported in the private sector in Maryland, where in 2015 there were 50,400 injuries and illnesses reported, a decrease by 2,400 since 2014.

The Most Reported Injuries and Illnesses in Maryland by Profession

According to theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in Maryland, the 13 industries and professions with the highest rate of injury or illness were ranked in the following order:

1. Public nursing and residential care facilities, with roughly 19.2 injuries for every 100 workers.
2. Public Hospitals, for every 100 workers, there were roughly 18.7 injuries.
3. Members of the local fire protection force, for every 100 workers, there were 14.2 injuries.
4. Air transportation, for every 100 workers, there were 13.7 injuries.
5. Heavy and civil engineering construction, for every 100 workers, there were 13.5 injuries.
6. Contractors focused on roofing, for every 100 workers, there were 10.3 injuries.
7. Public administrators, for every 100 workers, there were 9.3 injuries.
8. Messengers and Couriers, for every 100 workers, there were 8.7 injuries.
9. Workers focused on the arts, entertainment, and recreation, for every 100 workers, there were 8.5 injuries.
10. Ground passenger and transit operators for public transportation, for every 100 workers, there were 8.4 injuries.
11. Members of the state police force, for every 100 workers, there were 7.3 injuries.
12. Waste management services, for every 100 workers, there were 7.1 injuries
13. Workers in animal slaughtering and processing facilities, for every 100 workers, there were 7 injuries.

The professions that reported the lowest incidences of injury or illness were workers involved in finance and insurance, as well as workers in the professional, scientific, and technical services.

Workers’ Compensation in Maryland

In Maryland, workers’ compensation has been made available to enable those who have been injured while on the job to be able to receive compensation. To be covered, an employee must have been injured while performing the duties of his or her employment. If the employee was negligent or was otherwise acting outside of the scope of his or her duties, then workers’ compensation benefits may not be available. Generally, workers’ compensation exists because there are certain estimated risks associated with the duties of employment. Workers’ compensation was put into place to compensate those who are injured during the normal commission of their work, where the job has inherent dangers, or the threat of certain dangers. Accordingly, workers’ compensation may be available, depending on the type of injury, either temporarily or permanently, and may be fully or partially covered depending on the facts of the case.

Charles County, MD Personal Injury Lawyers that Fight for You

Workers’ compensation should be available for anyone who was injured during the commission of one’s employment. If you or a loved one has been injured while on the job, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that your workers’ compensation benefits adequately address your needs. Please call the Law Office of Robert R. Castro at (301) 804-2312 for a confidential consultation.

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The Medical Community’s Overdiagnosis of the Penicillin Allergy

Penicillin is one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs in history and has transformed the way that we deal with bacterial infections. Penicillin enabled humankind to no longer ride from bacterial infections and moved the scientific community to better understand how drugs work, which has led to many of the scientific achievements we have made in the last few decades. There are negatives when it comes to penicillin, though, one of which is that the more you take penicillin, the more likely bacteria will build up an immunity and becomes resistant to that strain of penicillin. There are also a significant number of people, an estimated 25 to 50 million people in the United States, who may believe they are allergic to penicillin, but who were actually misdiagnosed at the outset. The University of Maryland has estimated that only 1% of the population is actually allergic to penicillin, while roughly 10% of Americans believe they are penicillin-allergic.

Misdiagnosis of Penicillin Allergy

Many studies are becoming more widely available that show that many Americans have been misdiagnosed as allergic to penicillin. When a person is allergic to penicillin, he or she has to use an antibiotic alternative that is not nearly as effective as a penicillin-related drug, that is more expensive, and may have worse side effects than penicillin drugs.

What has also been adding to the penicillin misdiagnosis is the fact that many people will grow out of their allergy over time, and could one day be administered penicillin without any ill effects. It is reported that roughly 90% of patients may lose their allergy over time.

Diagnostic Tests to Determine Allergy Status to Penicillin

To test whether someone is allergic to penicillin, usually, an allergy specialist applies a small dose of penicillin to the person’s skin either through a tiny injection or through a scratch on the skin. If the scratch/injection site is raised and is red and itchy, then this is usually interpreted as being a strong indication of allergy. However, if there is negative result, this may not necessarily mean that you are not allergic to penicillin. Sometimes skin tests are not the most foolproof way of testing for allergy. If there is doubt as to whether the person is allergic to penicillin, then the person may have to undergo a graded drug challenge. A graded drug challenge requires the person to receive four or five doses of penicillin, in incrementally higher doses until the threshold level has been surpassed.

Symptoms of a Penicillin Allergic Reaction

A person who is having an allergic reaction to penicillin develops one, many, or all of these reactions when exposed to the drug:

• Skin rash and hives
• Itching
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis may develop for a more serious allergy to penicillin and can lead to the constricting of a person’s airways and throat, leaving the person unable to breathe and susceptible to seizures, loss of consciousness, and possibly death.

Due to the nature and seriousness of penicillin allergies, it is always important to err on the side of caution. However, a person should not have to take less effective, more expensive non-penicillin drugs that can have worse side effects, if it is not necessary. Knowing one’s allergy status is important, and a medical professional should always take the appropriate steps to help someone determine what that status is.

Charles County, MD Personal Injury Lawyers that Fight for You

Penicillin allergies and other misdiagnoses can lead to serious harm. If you or a loved one was harmed as a result of a medical professional’s misdiagnosis, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Please call the Law Office of Robert R. Castro at (301) 804-2312 for a confidential consultation.