Flagging football's dangers

With students gearing up to take part in America’s favorite pastime, there’s a new report raising red flags about the sport’s safety and reiterating the need for proper training and equipment, especially helmets.

The study, in the August issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine,  found that four of every 1,000 high-school football exposures—either in practice or competition—resulted in an injury. The rate was double, eight per 1,000 exposures, for college athletes. But most significant, the study said: high school football players sustained a greater proportion of fractures and concussions. 

Why? The study says that college athletes participate in more rigorous training and conditioning, making serious injuries less prevalent--although the athletes may have an increasing risk of overuse injuries. Also, players prone to concussions in high school may not continue to play football in college, thus reducing that incidence among college players.

Another finding: running plays were the leading cause of injury. And running backs and linebackers were the positions most commonly injured. 

So what does this mean for players and parents? For starters, injury prevention in high school should focus on running plays and injuries to the knees and ankles, the study says. There should be additional instruction on appropriate tackling and blocking techniques as well as position-specific conditioning to help reduce the risk of injury during running plays. Targeted stretching exercises may also help.

Additionally, says Dawn Comstock, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University and one of the study’s co-authors, parents should make sure their children wear protective equipment at all times. And “make sure it’s in good repair and fitted properly. Parents may not realize that kids shouldn’t just grab a helmet and put it on.” It needs to be fitted properly, which is a “complex, multi-step process.”

At the same time, Comstock added, parents and coaches need to talk to their young athletes to make sure they know the signs and symptoms of a concussion. Unlike a bruise or fracture, these symptoms aren’t “immediately apparent” and the long-term consequences can be significant, she added.

The long term effects are underscored by another recent study—this one of retired football players--that linked concussions to clinical depression. Retired players reporting three or more previous concussions were three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression, the University of North Carolina study found. Those with a history of one or two previous concussions were 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression. 

Comstock says helmets have improved considerably over the years. But concussions remain a big problem, accounting for about 11 percent of all injuries. Perhaps helmets have improved, but an 11 percent brain injury rate is unacceptable in our book.  It time to look for better helmet designs, softer playing surfaces or whatever it takes to significantly reduce this serious injury rate.

College students need a lesson in fire safety

Packing your kid off to college? Well, along with the computer, iPod, bedding and clothes, make sure your student also brings some fire-safety sense.

The number of fires in campus housing—dorms, frats, sororities, etc.—has risen dramatically in the past few years from 1,800 fires in 1998 to 3,300 fires in 2005. These fires caused an annual average of 7 deaths and 46 injuries.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking equipment caused about three of every four dorm fires. But the majority of the fatalities occurred in the bedroom. And, not surprisingly, fires were more common during the evening and on weekends when students are in the residences.

The Center for Campus Fire Safety has found four common factors behind the campus fire deaths:

• No automatic fire sprinklers
• Missing or disabled smoke alarms
• Careless disposal of smoking materials
• Impaired judgment from alcohol consumption 

We’ve written about this issue before, but with colleges again in session there’s no time like the present to issue some reminders. First check out our dorm safety tips.  And remember these guidelines, just issued by the CPSC:

• Don’t disable smoke alarms.
• Students should cook in designated areas only, and never leave cooking equipment unattended when in use.
• Because more deaths and injuries occur in sleeping areas--and are associated with smoking materials like tobacco products, candles, and incense--always extinguish flames before leaving the room or going to sleep.
• Keep combustibles away from heat sources, such as portable heaters, lights (including halogen lamps) and don’t overload electrical outlets, extension cords or power strips.
• Take special care with holiday and seasonal decorations.  Don’t use combustible materials.
• Never block access to safety devices, doors, etc.
• Know your building’s evacuation plan in case something does go wrong.

And one more tip from us: In light of the 23 students who were recently sickened by carbon monoxide poisoning at Virginia Tech, add a CO detector to your packing list.

Have you checked your tire pressure lately?

We’re ashamed to admit this, but this posting is clearly a case of “Do as we say—Not as we do.” After all, we know that we should regularly check our tires to make sure they are properly maintained, have sufficient tread and have the correct amount of pressure.

And we know that’s particularly important during the summer months. As Nicole Nason, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently warned consumers, “Checking tires is particularly critical during the summer when roads are hot and families are putting a lot of miles on their cars with their vacation plans. … Overloaded vehicles, under-inflated tires, and hot weather can all combine to possibly turn a family vacation into a horrific nightmare.”

But Nason notes that few people take the time to check the condition of their tires, or whether the tire is properly inflated. A tire industry survey this year found 85 percent of drivers fail to properly check tire pressure. NHTSA estimates that crashes associated with tire problems take approximately 660 lives each year and injure 33,000 people. And recent NHTSA research shows that hot weather can affect the tire aging process, especially in warm climate states.

In addition to safety concerns, smart drivers keep their tires properly inflated to get better mileage.  Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by about 3.3 percent. Less air means more force to get the tire rolling, causing increased fuel consumption and air pollution.

Don’t go by the maximum inflation pressure specified on the tire, rather use the inflation pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer found typically on the driver’s door jamb of your car.  Also, check the inflation pressure after the tires have sat for three hours or more. Warm tires will naturally have an elevated pressure. 

That advice reminded us we haven’t checked our tires recently. We did and what we found was humbling: One car had one under-inflated tire by 6 pounds-per-square inch (psi). But two were over-inflated by 3 psi. In another vehicle, three tires were under-inflated by 3 psi; one was over-inflated by the same amount.

So take our advice and check your tires before you drive any further. For proper care of your tires and procedures to check the air pressure, visit www.safercar.gov. For more information on tires, including Ratings, from Consumer Reports visit our tire hub.

CPSC recalls more lead-laden toys and jewelry

The rash of recalls of children’s products containing lead continues. A handful were announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission last week including some items sold more than five years ago. So check your toy closet. The most recent recalls include:

Tops and tin pails
Thomas and Friends, Curious George and Other Spinning Tops and Tin Pails by Schylling Associates. About 66,000 tops and 4,700 pails are involved; they were sold at specialty toy stores and gift shops between July 2001 and July 2002. The tops sold for about $13; pails, for about $6. The surface paints on the wooden handles of the tops and pails contain excessive levels of lead. No injuries have been reported but consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children and contact Schylling to receive a refund or free replacement toy. For additional information, contact Schylling at (800) 767-8697 between 9 am and 5 pm ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.schylling.com

SpongeBob spiral notebooks
SpongeBob SquarePants™ Character Address Books and Journals by Martin Designs Inc. About 250,000 units are involved; they were sold nationwide between June 2006 and July 2007 for about two dollars. The paint on the metal spiral bindings of the address books and journals can contain excessive levels of lead. No injuries have been reported but caregivers are advised to immediately take these products away from children. Consumers should remove the UPC as proof of ownership and contact Martin Designs Inc. for a full refund. For additional information, contact Martin Designs toll-free at (866) 898-0261 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's web site www.martindesigns-ltd.com

Charm bracelets
Children’s Divine Inspiration Charm Bracelets imported by Buy-Rite Designs. About 7,900 units are involved; they were sold in dollar stores and other small retailers nationwide from March 2004 through August 2007 for about $1. No injuries have been reported but the recalled jewelry contains high levels of lead. Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund. If unable to return it to the store, contact Buy-Rite for information on how to receive a refund. For additional information, contact Buy-Rite at (888) 777-7952 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.buyriteinc.com

Necklace and bracelet sets
Children’s Metal Jewelry by TOBY N.Y.C. About 14,000 units, including a princess pink and clear crystal bead necklace and bracelet set, a pink and white pearl necklace and bracelet set with a painted metallic poodle pendant and a pink pearl necklace, earrings and ring set are involved. They were sold at T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and A.J.Wright from August 2006 through May 2007 for about $8. The metal jewelry sets contain high levels of lead. No injuries have been reported, but consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and contact TOBY N.Y.C. for information on receiving a full refund or replacement item. For additional information, contact TOBY N.Y.C. toll-free at (866) 235-0588 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email the firm at info@tobynyc.com

Officials at the CPSC and in the toy industry have indicated that more recalls are likely for toys containing lead. So stay tuned to this blog, check the government’s recall Web site, www.recalls.gov and sign up for future automatic email notices of CPSC recalls at the agency’s Web site.

Britax recalls child safety seat for design defect

Letters are in the mail to registered owners of the Britax Decathlon child safety seat to alert consumers that a safety recall is underway for models built between Feb. 12, 2005 and July 31, 2007. At issue is a defect that allows the adjuster to pop out of position under certain circumstances. The letter to owners includes rivet fasteners to keep the adjuster in position.

The recall, conducted in concert with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), involves 121,109 units of model E9L47. Britax has gotten complaints from parents that the adjuster housing popped out of position when they were adjusting the harness. (The adjuster is used to tighten the harness around the child.) No deaths or injuries have been reported.

According to the notice, in certain circumstances the adjuster may move out of position making it difficult for caregivers to properly adjust the harness. Because of this, Britax is sending owners two rivet fasteners (plus an extra) that will secure the adjuster to the child restraint. Britax has set up a Web site for the recall, www.decathlonrecall.com, and is also featuring an instruction video on its site www.britaxusa.com.

Owners of the car seat who did not send in the registration card can call 800-683-2045 or register online at www.britaxusa.com. Even owners of the seat who have not experienced problems are strongly advised to make the repair.

Note: Consumer Reports listed the Britax Decathlon as an appropriate seat for obese children according to the manufacturer's specifications.

Sprinklers recall: last call on O-ring sprinklers replacement

Time is about to run out on one of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s largest recalls: the O-Ring sprinklers made by Central Sprinkler Co.

The recall, first announced in July 2001, involved about 35 million O-ring sprinklers after it was discovered that the sprinkler heads could corrode, or minerals, salts and other contaminants in the water could affect the rubber O-ring seals. As a result, the sprinkler heads could fail in the case of fire. Central promised to provide new fire sprinklers and installation services free of charge.

In May 2007, however, the CPSC announced that any claims to receive free replacements and installation services would no longer be honored if they were submitted after Aug. 31 -- 10 days from now.

It’s rare for the CPSC to set a recall deadline; most recalls are open-ended, with no expiration date for redress. We are aware of three previous cases:  one involving heaters, one involving several brand of furnaces, and the last regarding another brand of fire protection sprinklers.

CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said the reason for the deadline was that recall claims had fallen off so the Aug. 31 deadline could motivate those who haven’t submitted claims to do so. Vallese said the recall was already “one of the most effective recall campaigns” conducted by the commission, with the company spending about $500 million to retrofit the problematic sprinklers. Anne Buchanan, a spokeswoman for Tyco, which owns Central Sprinkler, said 21.9 million of the 35 million affected sprinklers have been located and/or replaced. That's more than a 60 percent replacement rate.  Over the years, she added, the response rate has dropped significantly, which is why the company wants a deadline--to prompt more consumers to take action.

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, thinks it’s a bad idea to put a deadline on any recall action.  Although setting deadlines may help prompt action for people who have delayed seeking redress for their recalled products, it may leave those who have yet to learn about the recall in harm's way.  If they learn about the recall belatedly when redress isn't an option, consumers may take the chance of leaving unsafe products in service.  We think it's better to continually try to reach customers of defective products until the vast majority have been removed from service.  CPSC's annual Recall Roundup notices are helpful in reminding consumers to take action on unsafe products. 

Meanwhile, if you have O-ring sprinklers, make sure to submit your claim by Aug. 31. Information can be found on Central Sprinkler's special Web site set up to handle recall issues.

Five things parents can do to avoid lead poisoning

Mattel's two recent recalls of toys containing lead have alarmed and concerned parents. If the world's largest toymaker cannot stop lead-painted toys from entering the marketplace, parents reason, then how safe are toys from other manufacturers? And for that matter, how safe are the toys already in our homes?

While it is disturbing to learn that tainted toys are being sold by retailers large and small, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that the primary sources of lead exposure for children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead contaminated dust, and lead contaminated residential soil. Lead poisoning has been linked to developmental and learning disorders. More than 300,000 children in the U.S. have lead levels high enough to cause irreversible damage, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Children six and under are most affected. Because lead accumulates in the body, the only way to reduce the risk is to minimize exposure. 

In addition to toys, lead has recently been found in other products for children including jewelry, baby bibs, vinyl lunch boxes and clothing. At Consumers Union, we advocate zero tolerance for lead paint on toys. Until that happens, here are five things parents can do on the home front to keep their children safe.

1) TAKE INVENTORY

• To get started, check www.recalls.gov to see if things you own or any hand-me-down items have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 
• Conduct frequent sort and toss sessions and discard toys with chipped paint, deteriorated plastic or other broken or damaged parts. When in doubt, throw the toy away. 
• Avoid vintage toys and antique furniture that may have been painted with older lead-based paint. If the item is a keepsake or collectible, put it away until your child is older.

2) CLEAN UP

• To avoid lead exposure from sources in the home, keep floors and other play areas clean and free of dust and debris. Wash your children's hands and playthings often. 
• Store toys off the floor in a clean place. Wash items that fall on the floor. 
• Feed your child a healthy diet rich in iron and calcium. Children with good diets absorb less lead. 
• Avoid treating your child with folk remedies, many of which contain lead. 
• Serve and store food in lead-free containers such as glass, stainless steel or plastic. 
• Wrap food that goes in your child's lunch box. Some children's vinyl lunch boxes have been found to contain lead. 
• If you live in a house with lead pipes, running cold water in the faucet for a few minutes and using a water filter can reduce lead levels. 

3) BUY SMART

• Avoid no-name products and be careful when you buy items at dollar stores, street fairs, vending machines, thrift stores or yard sales.
• Buy age-appropriate toys. For example, children age 2 are most at risk for putting things in their mouths. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a list of age-appropriate toys on its web site.
• Do not buy jewelry – especially cheap jewelry – for young children. Even if the item does not contain lead – and many pieces of metal jewelry have been recalled for that reason – it can still be a choking hazard. 
• Make sure arts and crafts items you buy for your children are non-toxic. Lead has been banned from children's paints but adult artist's paints and ceramic glazes can contain lead and other toxic heavy metals. Look for water-based paints and glues. 

4) FIND SUBSTITUTES

• Try to avoid bringing playthings with troubled track records into your home by finding safe alternatives for your child. Board and picture books, unpainted wooden toys, balls, non-toxic paints and crayons and washable stuffed animals are good bets.
• Because all the recently recalled toys were made in China, some parents are seeking toys made in the U.S. or other countries. This can be a challenge as most toys – 80 percent – are made in China. It's also not a guarantee of safety; jewelry containing lead has come from other countries, including India, while children's furniture with lead paint has been imported from Mexico.

5) GET TESTED

• If you are concerned, get your child tested for lead -- especially if you live in a home with paint in poor condition that was built before 1978. Even children who appear healthy may have high levels of lead. A simple blood test can detect lead levels in children and some states require them. Children should have their blood checked at age one and again at two.
• A trained professional – find a list at the National Lead Information Center (800-424-LEAD) – can test for lead in your home using a variety of approved methods. These include visual inspections of paint conditions, lab tests of paint samples, surface dust tests and inspection with a portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine. 

A WORD ABOUT HOME LEAD TEST KITS
Hardware store lead test kits can be useful in detecting lead paint, but are not always reliable.  Parents who do decide to do their own home screening should validate test results for toys of most concern with a professional lab test.

See also: Previous lead-related entries

More toy recalls ahead

Be prepared for more toy recalls. As concerns about lead paint and small magnets increase, it's almost a certainty that more companies will be announcing recalls. As Julie Vallese, spokeswoman for the  Consumer Product Safety Commission, just told us, "I don't think we have seen the end to recalls because of lead paint."

That comment is echoed by statements made by Mattel’s chairman Robert A. Eckert who said on Tuesday, when the company recalled millions of toys in the U.S. for magnet and lead paint hazards, “We are continuing to test thousands of toys and in fact we may have additional issues. … We may have additional recalls.”

So watch this space for more announcements and check the government's Web site www.Recalls.gov to see if any products in your home -- or products you are about to buy -- have been recalled. Even better, sign up for free-email notices of future recalls at  the CPSC's Web site. 

Latest toy recall raises additional concern over magnets

While much of the concern over this week's recall of over 9 million toys has been about lead paint, we don't want to lose sight of the serious problem that caused the majority of these toys (7.3 million Mattel Polly Pocket play sets and 345,000 Batman and One PIece toys) to be recalled: powerful magnets that can seriously injure or kill a child when swallowed. This isn't the first recall involving magnetic toys; in April, an earlier recall of Magnetix toys was expanded to cover nearly 8 million products. And last year, 2.4 million Polly Pocket sets were recalled; many of those are still in consumers' homes, and were included again in this week's recall.

In April, the CPSC issued a safety alert about the serious dangers magnets pose to children. As the agency pointed out, "small magnets can kill children if two or more are swallowed.  If two or more magnets or magnetic components or a magnet and another metal object (such as a small metal ball) are swallowed separately, they can attract one another through intestinal walls.  This traps the magnets in place and can cause holes (perforations), twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning (sepsis), and death. When multiple magnets are ingested surgery is required to remove the magnets and sometimes sections of the intestines need to be removed."

Given the ongoing problems with these toys, and the potential for serious injury or death, we continue to recommend that parents avoid all magnetic toys if there are young children in their home. We also recommend caution when purchasing products made for adults that may contain strong magnets (such as those used on some bulletin boards). Many of these are small and colorful and could easily be swallowed by children.

Standards organization ASTM International is considering changing its toy safety standard to  eliminate embedded magnets in parts that are small enough to fit in a small parts tester -- a gauge used for screening choking hazards available at most baby products stores. The safety standard may also include a tougher durability test for toys with magnets to ensure they can't be dislodged by rough child play.

If you suspect that your child has swallowed a magnet, follow these guidelines from the CPSC:

• Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect your child may have swallowed a magnet.   
• Look for non-specific abdominal symptoms - abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, etc.   
• Note that objects in x-rays may appear as a single object that could actually be multiple magnetic pieces separated by trapped intestinal walls.   
• Keep small magnets and small pieces containing magnets away from young children who might mistakenly, or intentionally, swallow them.   
• Look out for loose magnetic pieces; regularly inspect toys and children’s play areas for missing or dislodged magnets.   
• Check www.cpsc.gov to make sure your children’s magnetic toys are not recalled products.

Mattel recalls toys for second time in two weeks

Another big batch of recalls by the world’s largest toy company is once again prompting a host of concerns about the safety of toys being imported and sold in the U.S.

The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) held a hastily-convened press conference to announce the recall of more than 9 million toys by Mattel Inc.—and to defend the recalls as proof that the nation’s safety laws were working. But almost simultaneously, a key member of Congress, Senate majority whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), called on toy manufacturers and retailers to voluntarily submit their Chinese-made products to third-party inspectors to guarantee their safety.

The latest recalls couldn’t come at a worse time for Mattel, which today launched an advertising campaign to assure the public that “nothing is more important than the safety of our children.” Just 12 days ago, Mattel's Fisher-Price division recalled nearly 1 million toys based on licensed characters such as Dora the Explorer and Elmo because they contained lead paint.

Today’s recall involves several different toys made by Mattel, including one--"Sarge" die-cast toy cars--because it may contain excessive levels of lead. The other recalls, including more than 7 million of the popular Polly Pocket play sets, are being issued because the toys contain small magnets that could come loose and be swallowed or aspirated, causing intestinal perforation or blockage, which sometimes can be fatal. It's been a serious problem with other toys, such as Magnetix, that we've warned about before--and will continue to warn about in the future.

Mattel and the CPSC are advising parents and caregivers to take the recalled toys away from children immediately; Mattel plans to issue vouchers for replacement toys.

Here are some specifics about today's recalls. For more details, visit www.cpsc.gov:

Magnet hazards:
7.3 million Polly Pocket play sets with magnets
The Polly Pocket play sets have proven to be problematic for Mattel. Last year the company recalled 2.4 million toys after getting three reports of children swallowing the magnets and suffering intestinal perforations that required surgery. Since then, Mattel has received more than 400 additional reports of magnets coming loose, although no additional injuries.
Sold between May 2003 and November 2006.

345,000 Batman and One Piece magnetic action figure sets 
Mattel has received 21 reports of magnets falling out of toys including a case where a 3-year-old had a magnet in his mouth but had not swallowed it.
Sold  from June 2006 to June 2007

1 million Doggie Day Care play sets 
Mattel has received two reports of magnets coming loose and no reports of injuries.
Sold  from July 2004 to August 2007

683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets
Mattel has received three reports of magnets coming loose but no reported injuries.
Sold from May 2006 to August 2007

Lead paint hazard
253,000 "Sarge" die-cast cars 
Sold between May 2007 through August 2007

Mattel said the Sarge car recall grew out of the recent Fisher-Price recall as the company's increased investigation and ongoing testing procedures discovered that the painting subcontractor of the Chinese factory used paint from a non-authorized third party supplier. Mattel said it has implemented a new testing program that will require testing of every single batch of paint at every single vendor. “If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t get used,” Mattel said in a press release. The company said it is also stepping up unannounced random inspections and will test every production run of finished toys to ensure compliance “before they reach our customers.”

CPSC’s acting chairman Nancy Nord said today’s recalls are proof that "the agency's system is effective in getting products out" of stores. However, Nord acknowledged, that's often the easiest part of a recall. "Getting products out of consumers' homes is the bigger challenge."

With each new recall, there has been growing congressional pressure—from Durbin and other senators and representatives—on the CPSC. That was certainly the case for the latest Mattel recalls, with Durbin issuing a press release saying "we can't wait any longer for China to crack down on its lax safety standards."

Nord, however, said today's recalls of more than 9 million toys need to be kept in perspective, noting they represent “only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions of toys sold in the U.S. every year."

Pressed by reporters about why the agency wasn't testing more toys before they were shipped and sold in the U.S., Nord said she has asked Congress for additional authority to test toys before they are sold to be confident they meet U.S. safety standards. Meanwhile, she added, the commission has been engaged in "ongoing and rather aggressive conversations" with the U.S. toy industry, to put in place a program to test toys before they are imported into the U.S.

Meanwhile, Nord cautioned concerned parents to get their children's blood tested if they are worried that they've been exposed to lead or call in a professional to test their home if they are worried about lead in their homes. "Home test kits are not a reliable way to determine the presence of lead in a home or a product," she said, adding that they may provide false or misleading information.