INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT AT UNION CI'S
P.R.I.D.E. FURNITURE FACTORY
AMPUTATION POSSIBLE FOR INMATE WORKER
| VONHORN, CURTIS C | 042451 | WHITE | MALE | SENTENCED TO LIFE | UNION C. I. | 10/21/1953 |
From: "Sloan, Jean V." <Jean.Sloan@per-se.com>
To: <flaudgen@aud.state.fl.us>; <pruitt.ken.web@flsenate.gov>; <oppaga@mail.oppaga.state.fl.us>; <speakerbyrd@myfloridahouse.com>; "Jeb Bush (E-mail)" <jeb.bush@myflorida.com>; <tampabay@bizjournals.com>; <auerbachbj@cs.com>; <info@nationalcia.org>
Cc: "Bea" <Bea7111@aol.com>; "James Crosby" <crosby.james@mail.dc.state.fl.us>; "Janice" <WillardJnc@aol.com>; "Kay Lee" <kaylee1@charter.net>; "Miami Herald" <statedesk@herald.com>; "NY Times" <public@nytimes.com>; "St Pete Times" <floridian@sptimes.com>; "Tallahassee Democrat" <aggrant@tallahassee.com>; "Tampa Tribune" <dwasson@tampatrib.com>; "Washington Post" <ombudsman@washpost.com>; "LOLITS" <FloridaLOLITS2@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 3:49 PM
Subject: Union CI Inmate following P.R.I.D.E. Industrial AccidentRaiford, Florida
Inmate Curtis Vonhorn (inmate # 042451) remains hospitalized more than week after suffering acid burns and poisoning to his feet. His injuries were caused when a cleaning solution he was using at the P.R.I.D.E. Furniture Factory either overflowed his rubber boots or leaked into his boots from a defect in the boot. The latest reports from the medical unit at Union CI show possible gangrene and amputation is under discussion.
The cost of his medical treatment is being born by the taxpayers of Florida. Although the Florida Department of Correction budget is stretched beyond its' limit, P.R.I.D.E. has not supplied the Worker's Compensation required under it's PIECP Program Certification.(See http://www.nationalcia.org/pieprog2.htmlfor information the PIECP Program).
Vonhorn is serving a life sentence and like so many inmates in this position, has been abandoned by his family, so the only 'support' he receives is from his own labors in the P.R.I.D.E. factory. Since there is no worker's compensation program in place in Florida, he will not receive any pay for his lost wages. And he will be charged the $4.00 fee for visiting the medical clinic because on the day he entered there, he had money in his inmate account. If he is no longer able to work at his job at P.R.I.D.E. following his recovery from this Industrial Accident, he will have no method of making commissary money and will have to do without what passes for "luxuries" in the Florida Penal System.
Jean Sloan
Activist for MTWT
LOLITS member
3923 Barnor Dr.
Indianapolis, In. 46226
317-514-3430
UPDATE ON CHEMICAL INJURY AT UNION CI P.R.I.D.E. PLANT
May 26, 2004
This is the info sent by Joanna Ferris to a lawyer in Florida who is going to look in on injured inmate Curtis Von Horn at Union CI. A wife who visits her husband at Union says that Curtis was just sent to Butler CI. He has signed the power of attorney to Ms. Ferris and has given all the information as to what happened.
BACKGROUND: We have a male inmate, Curtis C. Von Horn (042451) at the Union Correctional Institution located in Raiford, FL. While Curtis was working in his assigned job for P.R.I.D.E. Furniture Factory - Paint Department, he was seriously injured on April 29, 2004.
Curtis was removing stop caps on the wash tank. One of the lines was clogged, and while removing the other stop caps, the clogged one became unclogged and a combination of chemicals (phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide) spewed out and into his boot and right leg.
Within 5 minutes Curtis exited the wash tank area and removed his boot. His foot was burning. Curtis then advised the evening shift supervisor of the Union furniture factory of the need for medical attention. Curtis was escorted to the clinic, located in the Southwest Unit. The medical person on Duty then referred Curtis to the UCA (Urgent Care Annex), due to "chemical exposure".
Curtis was taken to UCA within 30-45 minutes and upon arrival at UCA, the medical person on duty asked Curtis to remove his sock and shoe on his right foot, placed a mat under the foot, then proceeded to pour saline solution over the foot.
Approx 35-40 minutes later, a Dr Chau (the MD on duty) examined the foot briefly and directed the medical attendant to apply Silverdene (a burn cream) to the affected foot, and wrap with a bandage. Curtis then asked personnel if there was any Baking Soda available to use for neutralizing and the Medical Attendant looked at Curtis as if he had asked something stupid. Dr Chau stated that baking soda was not necessary.
When the cream was applied, Curtis noticed blood and skin particles in between the 3rd, 4th and 5th areas of his toes and asked the medical attendant if his foot should be soaked and cleaned before further application of the Silverdene cream, and M.A. stated that it was not necessary. After the application of cream and bandage, Curtis was given a Medical Pass to have the bandage changed once per day, for a one week period, at said clinic. No medical restrictions or medications were issued at that time.
On April 30, 2004 and May 1, 2004, Curtis reported to the clinic as directed and was given a bandage/dressing change. On May 2, 2004, the medical person who was in the process of removing his bandage/dressing from the previous day, looked at the foot and refused to treat the affected foot due to a dark (purple/black) complexion of the area, along with blood and puss oozing from between and under the 4th and 5th toes. The medical personnel then called UCA and sent Curtis there to be examined.
Upon his arrival at UCA the medical person on duty (Ms. Kennington) looked at the affected foot and then made a phone call to a Dr. Aviles at his home. Curtis' foot was then placed in a soak pan with Betadine solution.
The medical person cleaned the foot with saline and gauze pads...then applied Silverdene cream and a dressing. She then issued Curtis five (5) capsules of Kaflex 500mg (each). (this is an antibiotic). This was the first issuance of antibiotics given since the initial medical attention). She also gave Curtis several packs of generic Tylenol.
On May 3, 2004, Curtis was returned to UCA and the foot was examined by Dr Aviles and Dr Maon, who had Curtis admitted to the institution hospital with an immediate IV administration of Rocephin (1 gram) 3 times daily, and bandage change twice daily, along with Darvocet (later changed to Tylenol 3) twice daily.
On May 10, 2004, the Rocephin dosage was changed to 1 gram, twice daily.
On May 17, 2004, the Rocephin was discontinued, and instead Curtis was given Cipro tablets two times daily.
The toes in question remain infected and very sore. Curtis has developed SEVERE swelling in both feet (edema), which did not occur until recently, since onset of treatment.
CONCERNS: Now, besides the medical problem that Curtis is going through, there are other issues, as well. For instance...since this accident, no accident/incident report has been made by either PRIDE or Medical staff, regarding the chemicals or the manner in which the accident occurred. Such reports are procedurally done for DOC record purposes.
Another matter of issue is the nonchalant manner in which medical staff (including the doctors) refer to his condition... especially as they are talking about the possibility of AMPUTATION of his toes!
We are also at a loss as to why the Rocephin was changed to the Cipro, as Cipro is the Anthrax vaccine in stock.
We need to know where the Incident/Accident Report is? Curtis has said that NO Incident Report was made on this matter.
Curtis has no family...We at the Lolits are his only source of help. The staff at Union and Butler (aka RMC) seem to think that just because Curtis doesn't have anyone on the outside, they can do whatever they like to him on the inside... including amputating his toes... or his foot. This man is almost 50 years old. How is he supposed to take care of himself with such a disability?
His inmate # is: 042451 Cell #R1208. Curtis has signed a waiver giving Joanna Ferris Power of Attorney so that we at the Lolits, Making the Walls Transparent, and the Jeff Dicks Medical Coalition, can try to help Curtis in some way.
From: Joanna Ferris
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:55 AM
Subject: Union Inmate (Curtis VonHorn) following P.R.I.D.E AccidentI'm sure you all remember the email from Jean Sloan awhile back, about Curtis VonHorn, the inmate at Union, who was hospitalized for acid burns and poisoning to his feet while cleaning at the P.R.I.D.E. furniture factory.
I have received a letter from him and he has told me the whole story and that there never was an accident report made out on all of this and he doesn't understand why. I have also received from him power of attorney for the Jeff Dicks Medical Coalition and have found Curtis a Florida Attorney that will be looking into things.
I also feel that it is important for the Florida Lolits to keep on top of it all. If someone is not overseeing this matter, the DOC will do as they please and he will not receives the medical care that he needs. Which will end up with him losing his foot. He also told me that the DOC isn't treating him very nicely.
All the information that has been sent to me regarding his medical will be sent to the JDMC for someone handling Florida medical issues. Curtis has no family to speak of and is feeling lonely, I'm sure that some cards or letters would help see him though the bad times and that there are people out here that care.
Thank You for your help.
Curtis VonHorn #042451-R1-208
Union Correctional2819 N.W. 228th StreetRaiford, Florida 32026Joanna Ferris
MTWT CT &The Connecticut LOLITS
(This information was current as of 5/9/04)
DC Number: 042451 Name: VONHORN, CURTIS C Race: WHITE Sex: MALE Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: BROWN Height: 5'10'' Weight: 201 Birth Date: 10/21/1953 Initial Receipt Date: 07/02/1974 Current Facility: UNION C. I. Current Classification Status: NOT APPLICABLE Current Custody: CLOSE Current Release Date: SENTENCED TO LIFE
RELATED ARTICLES:
UNION P.R.I.D.E.
https://www.angelfire.com/fl5/mtwt/unionpride.htmlP.R.I.D.E. PROTEST
https://www.angelfire.com/fl5/mtwt/unionprideprotest.htmlP.R.I.D.E. INJURY
https://www.angelfire.com/fl5/mtwt/unionprideinjury.htmlUNION PRIDE IN NORTH CAROLINA
https://www.angelfire.com/fl5/mtwt/unionprideNC.html
UNION 'CORRECTIONAL' INSTITUTION
https://www.angelfire.com/fl4/prison/union.htmlMTWT Prison Index
https://www.angelfire.com/fl4/prison
