Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an eye-opening report in which it declared sepsis, a condition that the agency said is responsible for over 258,000 fatalities per year, a medical emergency.

What makes sepsis so especially problematic, say experts, is that many Americans are otherwise unaware of its extreme danger. Indeed, the Sepsis Alliance has determined that fewer than 50 percent of Americans know what the condition actually is despite the fact that it was the cause of death of such high-profile figures as Jim Henson, Patty Duke and, most recently, Muhammad Ali.

In recognition of this reality and the role played by failures to diagnose, today’s post will take a closer look at the condition.

Though they train for crisis situations, it is not fair to expect miracles or perfection from those who respond to 911 emergencies. They aren’t doctors or rolling hospitals. They must make quick decisions under chaotic or even hostile circumstances.

Maryland law shields first responders, EMTs, paramedics and ambulance drivers from liability for bad outcomes of good faith efforts to help those in distress. But emergency personnel and their employers may be legally accountable for injury or death when they are reckless with protocols or derelict in their duty.

Limited immunity for EMS personnel

The Maryland Good Samaritan Act provides volunteer fire departments, rescue squads and ambulance crews with immunity for ordinary negligence. The Maryland Fire and Rescue Act provides similar immunity to police officers, firefighters and medics employed by governmental entities. Although these laws do not extend to commercial ambulance companies, private ambulance drivers,  EMTs (emergency medical technicians) and paramedics are somewhat immune under the same good faith doctrine.

Hundreds of people — passengers, pedestrians and motorists — are injured each year in mass transit accidents in the Baltimore area. Some people forfeit their right to compensation by waiting too long to bring a claim. Other victims never pursue legal action, believing that government entities are immune.

A public transit agency can be held liable — the same as an individual or corporate entity — but there are special rules and restrictions. Your best recourse is to work with a lawyer who has actually filed and won such claims.

Do I have to be a public transit passenger to sue the transit agency?
No. Pedestrians who were struck by a bus or train, while crossing the street or waiting at the station or bus stop, may have claims. Occupants of other vehicles that collided with a bus or train may have grounds to sue. And of course, passengers who suffered lasting injury while riding, boarding or unboarding may have claims. According to Metrobus, the most common “customer injuries” (passengers) are collision-related, followed by slips, trips and falls.

While bad drivers can be found almost anywhere, some states definitely have more than their fair share. In fact, according to a report compiled by CarInsuranceComparison.com, there are certain states with worse drivers than others.

So, where does Maryland rank when compared to other states? Does it have the worst drivers? No, but it can certainly do better.

According to a recent report published in The BMJ – an online international peer-reviewed medical publication formerly known as the British Medical Journal – medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, behind only heart disease and cancer.

In fact, this report, which was authored by two researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, determined that more than 250,000 people die each year because of medical mistakes – a conclusion based on extrapolated data and the review of various studies published since 1999.

A man was killed in a multi-car accident that took place in Baltimore July 6. Maryland Transportation Authority police said that the fatal crash involved three cars and occurred on Interstate 95 North. Two other people who were injured but survived the accident were treated at Shock Trauma.

The accident happened just north of the Fort McHenry toll plaza and was reported at 12:15 p.m. Police confirmed that the deceased victim of the accident died at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. There were no immediate reports about what might have caused the three-car accident or whether any of the drivers involved are facing criminal charges. After car accidents like this, the drivers involved are often tested for drugs and alcohol so that investigators can determine whether intoxication was a factor.

Welders in Maryland workplaces are usually extremely careful as they know that a stray spark could easily start a fire, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration urges them to also bear in mind that the fumes created by pressure or fusion welding can also be extremely dangerous. Toxic substances found in welding fumes include traces of dangerous metals like beryllium, lead and arsenic, noxious gases such as hydrogen fluoride and asphyxiants like argon.

Installing powerful exhaust systems is the best way that employers can protect their workers from toxic welding fumes, but breathing equipment may be issued when ventilation is not possible or welding is done in confined spaces. OSHA also recommends that employers consult their training materials to ensure that the dangers of welding fumes are addressed. Regularly removing layers of grime that could produce toxic smoke is also recommended by the federal safety agency.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a safety campaign to remind employers in Maryland and around the country about the dangers of working outdoors during the summer months. Heat issues were responsible for the deaths of 18 workers in 2014 according to OSHA data, and more than 2,600 others suffered a heat-related illness of some kind. The federal workplace safety agency is urging employers to pay particular attention to their training and orientation programs, as many of its heat-related investigations involve workers with just a few days of on-the-job experience.

Water, rest and shade is the driving message of the OSHA campaign, which is being supported by a social media push and a redesigned webpage. Training materials include a video and illustrations of the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Employers can also download a heat safety smartphone app.

If a person in Maryland consumes alcohol before they go to work, they could be injured on the job as a result of their intoxication. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to record alcohol-related injuries if the injuries are severe enough that they require more treatment than simple first aid.

Though there are certain exemptions to OSHA’s injury reporting rule, the fact that an injury was caused by off-the-job alcohol consumption does not make the injury exempt from reporting requirements. OSHA allows employers to keep injuries that are related to self-medication for a non-work-related condition out of their work injury records. Injuries that are intentionally self-inflicted or directly caused by an employee’s personal grooming activities are also exempt from reporting requirements.

Maryland workers who are injured on the job may be interested in some statistics to see how their ailments compare to injured workers nationwide. Roughly 3.7 million people suffer workplace injuries across the United States every year, according to federal statistics.

After analyzing 1.5 million injury claims that were filed over a four-year period, the nation’s biggest workers’ compensation insurance provider found that 30 percent of injuries suffered were sprains and strains, with employees missing an average of 57 work days. Cuts and punctures made up 19 percent of the injuries, accounting for 24 days of missed work. Contusions accounted for 12 percent of the injuries, with fractures and inflammations each accounting for 5 percent. All other injuries not in any of these categories amounted to 29 percent.