A Reminder of the Danger Posed by Fire Ants in Nursing Homes
Recently, I was reading a copy of The Safety Report when I found an article written by attorney Billy Cunningham. Billy is an excellent attorney with the firm Burns, Cunningham & Mackey in Mobile, Alabama. In past years, I have had several opportunities to discuss cases with the attorneys in this firm. They approach every case with a great degree of preparation and skill.
The article was entitled The Danger of Fire Ants. It provides some interesting history on the spread of fire ants throughout the southern United States.
Fire ants pose a danger to anyone working outdoors. If you have ever seen fire ants swarm, then you know how quickly this danger can become a real injury. While fire ants are generally found outside, they can come indoors foraging for food. This is what presents a special danger to elderly patients in nursing homes.
In recent years, there have been several instances of elderly people being attacked by fire ants. These vicious attacks have led to severe personal injuries and even deaths. Several years ago, our firm represented an elderly lady who was viciously attacked by fire ants in her nursing home over the course of two nights. Early in the morning following the second night of attacks, our client's daughter came for a visit. What she first saw was a horrible scene of thousands of ants swarming her mother's bed. She then heard screams and found her elderly mother in the bathroom with one of the facility's attendants desperately trying to clean the stinging ants off of her. Her injuries were devastating. However, the attacks could have easily been prevented by the nursing home.
Billy gives some great advice in his article. Hopefully, he won't mind if I copy it here:
Nursing homes, hospitals and day cares – those places where the vulnerable are located- need to recognize this risk and take appropriate actions to assure the safety of their patients and wards. With appropriate interventions fire ants can be controlled. Consumers need to be aware and look for signs in their loved ones’ rooms or areas. Ask the facility if they are looking out for ants and other animals that could cause injury and who the pest control company is. There is no reason such attacks should occur if proper precautions are made in these areas where persons not able to protect themselves.
I would highly recommend reading Billy's article.
