Texas Accident & Injury News
Disabled children can have a difficult time coping in times of high stress, like auto accidents.
Man Hit by Train While Crossing Tracks in a Wheelchair, Hospitalized
According to a KSAT News report, a man in a wheelchair was hit by a train on the West Side early this morning.
Police reported the incident occurred at around 1 a.m. at the intersection of West Commerce Street and South Salado near the UTSA downtown campus. The man was reportedly trying to cross the tracks in a wheelchair when the train struck him. He was transported to the hospital by EMS in stable condition at the last check. No further information about the man’s age or condition is available at this time.
Did You Know?
Trains kill an estimated 1 person every 100 minutes in the United States.
How to Help a Disabled Child in an Auto Accident in Texas
2020 data from the CDC found that autism spectrum disorder is becoming more prevalent — 1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism in the United States, up from the previous estimate of 1 in 44 children.
Children with disabilities often struggle more than non-disabled children to cope with emergency situations like auto accidents. Also, children diagnosed with ASD can have trouble communicating and interacting with other people, making it difficult to assist them in an emergency.
Let’s take a look at tips from the CDC on what to do if you encounter a disabled child in an emergency situation.
The following is for informational purposes only and is meant to provide general guidelines rather than specific information. Seek professional guidance for specific cases.
How to Behave Around Disabled Children in an Emergency
Children take emotional cues from the adults they come into contact with, and this is especially important when it comes to children with disabilities. Your behavior as an adult in a stressful situation can have a critical effect on the child. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to interact with a scared/distressed disabled child:
- Remain Calm — It’s normal to be angry or stressed after a serious accident, but showing this around a disabled child can cause them to panic. Use a calm demeanor and avoid harsh language to avoid escalating the situation.
- Reaffirm Safety — Calmly reassure the child that the danger has passed and help is on the way. Keep your explanations age-appropriate, and make sure to reinforce any explanations of reassurance that they are not in immediate danger.
- Avoid Physical Contact — Children with disabilities can experience extreme distress as a result of physical contact, even reassuring pats. Unless necessary to protect them from immediate harm, avoid any physical contact.
Every child is unique and will react to situations differently. But these general guidelines can improve your interaction with a disabled child in an emergency situation where their caregiver is not present or incapacitated.
Disabled children are more likely to be injured in pedestrian accidents across the United States. If your child was injured in an auto accident, as a pedestrian, or at school/daycare, call the child injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw.
Hire Carabin Shaw Child Injury Attorneys
Disabled children are at greater risk of injury and can be impacted emotionally more severely than non-disabled children. If your child was injured in an auto accident, as a pedestrian, or at school, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our child injury attorneys in San Antonio to find out if you have grounds for a personal injury claim at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.
²Disabled Pedestrian Injury Study