Each year, consumer products injure 33.1 million people in their homes. Whether houses or apartments, owned or rented, Americans place great value on the home as a center of safety and security: a realization of the “American dream.” Hazardous products in the home threaten to taint this security. However, by remaining aware and familiarizing yourself with these top five hazards as determined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), you can come one step closer to a safe, happy home. Some hazards are new; others have been around for years. Whether this is new information or a refresher, it can bring more security into the life of your family. Best of all, with minimal investment of time and money, the dangers on this list are preventable. (more…)

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As warmer weather ensues, the federal government is warning parents about a household hazard that you might not expect: windows. On average, 25 people die each year after falling out of windows, and 1/3 of those deaths are children under the age of five. This tragic scenario, however, can be easily avoided. There are some simple steps that parents can and should take to make sure your home is safe for the whole family.

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As millions of Americans receive their economic stimulus checks, many will be heading to the mall to get that special item they’ve been eyeing all spring. Plenty of consumer news sources will advise you to use this money from the IRS wisely. But the Consumer Product Safety Commission is concerned with a different aspect of your trip to the mall: your physical safety on, of all things, the escalator, where 11,000 people are injured each year.
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Hundreds of dune buggies were recalled earlier this week after a rider suffered nerve damage in an accident caused by a malfunctioning seat belt. The recall comes as a joint announcement from TJ Power Sports, a Texas-based company, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The “Twister Hammerhead” dune buggy was sold all across the country, as well as online from July 2004 to December 2004 for approximately $3,000.
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In 1994, 5-year-old Nancy Sibley died when the drawstring on her hood caught at the top of a slide, causing her to strangle. Since then, much has been done to modify and eliminate drawstrings from the heads and necks of children’s apparel. But this April, eight companies were fined $320,000 for failing to comply with federal standards for reporting drawstrings in their products.
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Since 2004, hundreds of people have been seriously injured as drivers or passengers in an off-road vehicle called the Yamaha Rhino. Manufactured by Yamaha Motor Company, the Rhino is classified as a side-by-side, which is larger than an ATV but smaller than a Jeep. While this size makes the Rhino convenient for carrying two people and plenty of gear into an off-road environment, the design has proven dangerous to many people in the few years that the Rhino has been in production.

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