A banner year for product safety

We can’t remember a year when product safety garnered so much public attention.  Consumer confidence was shaken as we saw recall after recall on toys, tires, toothpaste, and more. We dubbed 2007 “The Year of the Recall.”

Here are some of the more prominent safety recalls and related issues that we highlighted in this blog:

• Peanut butter: possible salmonella contamination.
• Easy -Bake Ovens: burn and hand entrapment hazards.
• Millions of Maytag, Jenn-Air and GE dishwashers: fire hazards.
• Millions of popular toys: excessive levels of lead paint.
• Millions of pieces of children's jewelry: high lead content.
• Millions of toys containing small magnets: risk of internal injuries.
• Pet food containing a toxic chemical.
• Chinese farm-raised shrimp, catfish, eel, and other fish were banned by the FDA because they contained banned hazardous chemicals.
• Chinese-made tires: catastrophic tread separation causing at least one fatal accident.
• Toothpaste containing an ingredient used to make antifreeze was recalled. Some was counterfeit Colgate.
• Millions of pounds of chopped meat and chili: e-coli contamination and botulism, respectively..
• Cribs     and play yards were recalled after children strangled.
• A popular arts and crafts toy, Aqua Dots, was recalled after its glue was found to be toxic.

And, of course, there are more. 

Clearly, the system for ensuring the safety of products prior to their appearance on store shelves is broken.  Perhaps this year has been a wake-up call for industry, which has let its guard down, and for our government agencies, which are ill-equipped to prevent unsafe products from entering the marketplace.  We are encouraged that all the media and political attention given to these issues is likely to result in stronger laws and more enforcement authority for our government watchdog agencies.   

We hope the worst is behind us now that new laws and better industry vigilance are on the horizon.  We are looking forward to safer 2008. We will continue to provide you with the information you need to protect yourself in the marketplace while giving our opinion and analysis of the product safety that affect all consumers.

We wish you a happy and safe New Year!

The Consumer Reports Safety Blog Team

Don Mays
Caroline Mayer
Marc Perton
Mary Farrell
Jonea Gurwitt
Carolyn Cairns

Quiz: Shedding some light on candle safety

Candles and holidays go together like Santa and cookies, Chanukah and dreidels. Unfortunately, the candle combination can be a dangerous one when the candles are used carelessly. Just how dangerous? Take the quiz below to find out. 

Q: What is the peak month for home candle fires?

1. January
2. March         
3. October
4. December

A: (4) December is the peak time for home candle fires. In that month 13 percent of home candle fires began with decorations compared to 4 percent the rest of the year, according to the National Fire Protection Association. And the biggest days for home candle fires: Christmas, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day, New Year’s Eve and Halloween. 

Q: How often is a home candle fire reported?

1. Nearly every half hour
2. Almost every hour
3. Every two hours
4. Once a day.

A: (1) The NFPA says that, on average, one home candle fire was reported every 34 minutes between 2002 and 2005.

Q: How many deaths are there annually in the U.S. due to candle-related fires?

1. 50
2. 170
3. 350
4. 425

A: (2) The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there are about 170 deaths a year in 14,000 candle-related fires. The fires result in $350 million in annual property loss.

Q: Candles cause what percentage of  home fire injuries?

1. 2
2. 5
3. 7
4. 10 percent

A: (4) Overall, candles caused 4 percent of reported home fires in 2005, resulting in 5 percent of home fire deaths and 10 percent of the injuries.

Q: How did more than half of the candle fires get started?

1. The candles were used on dried-out trees.
2. Too many candles on a birthday cake.
3. Children using matches to light candles.
4. Candles placed too close to flammable items.

A: (4) More than half of all candle fires started when the candle was too close to something that could burn—such as  furniture, mattresses or bedding, curtains or decorations.

Q: In what percent of the candle-related fires were candles left unattended or forgotten?

1. 5
2. 10
3. 15
4. 20

A: (4) In one-fifth of the fires, candles were unattended or abandoned. What’s more, two-fifths of home candle fires begin in the bedroom—although the candle industry has found that only 13 percent of candle users routinely burn candles in the bedroom. In other words, don’t use candles as a night light or fall asleep before extinguishing any lighted candles.

Congress takes some key consumer actions before holiday recess

Congress left town for the holidays Thursday, after giving consumer safety advocates some of the items on their wish list, and leaving them tantalizing close to others.

Congress made substantial progress on a number of key issues—most notably the House’s unanimous passage of a bill to update the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help it become more effective in regulating the 15,000 types of products under its purview. The measure still has a way to go before it can become law. The Senate has yet to consider its version, which includes stronger enforcement provisions than the House version and has run into some opposition.  Even so, we are pleased that so many in Congress realize how important it is to reform our current product safety system.

The House bill is a compromise that is supported by a number of consumer groups including Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, the Consumer Federation of America, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. It would make meaningful improvements to the under-funded and understaffed agency and includes a major provision to reduce lead in children’s toys and other products. It also establishes new testing requirements for children’s products. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark), the author of the Senate version, has said he is “one hundred percent committed to passing” the Senate version in 2008. We can’t imagine a better way to start the New Year.

While we wish the effort to upgrade the CPSC’s powers had been completed in 2007, we are pleased that both the House and Senate did agree to boost the agency’s budget to $80 million this fiscal year. That’s a $17 million increase, or nearly 30 percent, over last year’s funding and more than $16.75 million more than what President Bush requested for the current fiscal year.  The measure is part of an omnibus federal funding bill to keep the government running. So far, the CPSC hasn’t said what it plans to do with the extra money but we await that announcement with eager interest.

Travel alert: Don't place infants on air mattresses

Before you get out that air mattress for holiday guests, consider this warning just issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Do not put infants on air mattresses. Like water beds and pillows, they are too soft for babies, and could be deadly.

Since 2002, the CPSC has gotten reports of 16 infant deaths related to air mattresses. Of the babies, most younger than 8 months, 11 suffocated in face down positions, five died from suffocation after falling into gaps between the mattress and bed frame or the mattress and adjacent furniture or wall.

Even properly inflated air mattresses are usually too soft for infants to maintain a clean airway, the agency said. Air leaks and under-inflation also contribute to incidents.

Remember these other safety tips from the CPSC for your sleeping baby:

• Always place your baby to sleep on his or her back to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Never place a baby to sleep on an adult bed. Infants can suffocate on bedding or can become entrapped between the mattress and bed frame or mattress and wall.
• When using a crib, make sure it meets current safety standards, has a firm, tight fitting mattress and tight fitting bottom sheet.
• As this blog has reported before, do not use bumper pads in cribs.
• When using a portable crib or play yard, be sure to use only the mattress or pad provided by the manufacturer.

For more details on babies and cribs, read Consumer Report’s Crib bedding 101 as well as Sleeping gear to avoid.

Santa's safety list

The very nature of this blog means that most of the time, we are writing about things not to buy—the latest recalled toy or unsafe gadget. So today, we want to take a different approach and give you some ideas of things you could buy as gifts to help your loved ones and friends stay safe. Consider treating yourself as well.

For the car owner

• A tire pressure gauge;
• A roadside emergency kit with flares and a compact thermal blanket (if you live in a cold climate) in case the car breaks down;
• A backup system (top photo) to see what's behind the car, so you don't back over anything or anyone in that troublesome blind spot.

For the homeowner or renter

• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors;
• Fire extinguishers—there are some stylish ones on the market;
• Metal ash bin and heavy gloves for the fireplace or wood stove;
• A fully-stocked first aid kit;
• Flashlight and batteries or, better still a hand-cranked radio and flashlight so you don't need to search for batteries or worry that they will run out;
• UL or ETL listed power strips and extension cords.

For the handyman or do-it-yourself woman

• A good, sturdy Type 1A step ladder that opens and closes easily;
• Hearing protectors;
• Safety glasses;
• Steel-toe work shoes.   

For the host or hostess

• An instant-read meat thermometer to know if your meat or poultry dishes are cooked to a safe temperature;
• Different colored cutting boards—one for poultry and meat, another for fruit and vegetables;
• LED candles that look like real candles to decorate your home without worries about fires.

For grandma or grandpa

• A new tub mat to replace the worn-out one that has lost its sticking power;
• A snug-fitting robe; styles with loose sleeves can catch fire easily;
• Socks or slippers with rubber anti-slip grips on the soles;
• Safety grips you can add to your shoes or boots to make walking on ice less treacherous.

For the active child or adult

• An updated, certified life jacket to replace the 30-year-old version at the summer cabin;
• A new—and better fitting—helmet for the cyclist, skier or snowboarder;
• A snug helmet and protective pads for the rollerblader, skateboarder or scooter rider;
• A reflective vest for the runner or walker.

For everyone
There are special tools available for anyone who has to open a gift that's been wrapped in a plastic shell to make the job easier—and safer.

Fisher-Price pulls second lead-tainted blood-pressure cuff off shelves in Illinois

Less than two weeks after Fisher-Price removed a lead-tainted red blood pressure cuff from sale in Illinois because the plaything violated that state's lead standards, the Illinois attorney general has announced the same action for a green blood-pressure cuff that is part of another Fisher-Price medical kit.

On Friday, Illinois State Attorney General Lisa Madigan warned that the same potential lead poisoning hazard exists with the green blood pressure cuff, which is found in the Sesame Street Giggle toy medical kit. (The red cuff is part of the classic Fisher-Price Medical Kit.) As in the previous announcement, Fisher Price will pull the product only from store shelves in Illinois—even though the toy kits are sold nationwide. And as before, the company is offering a replacement part for families who already own the toy; consumers can call 1-800-298-0638.

You may recall that the state's action with the first blood pressure cuff was prompted by Consumer Reports' December investigation "New worries over lead" in which we reported finding high lead levels when we tested samples of the red Fisher-Price toy blood pressure cuff, among other items. Our findings prompted Madigan's office to begin an independent investigation that led to Fisher-Price's decision to pull the product out of the state's stores. The reason: Illinois bans the sale of toys, clothing, jewelry or other children's products that contain lead in excess of 600 parts per million. It is one of the strongest lead laws in the country and more stringent than federal regulations, which place limits on only paint and surface coatings. There are no federal limits on lead in plastics such as PVC.

The current action with the green cuffs was initiated by Fisher-Price, which tested the product and then reported it to Illinois. Fisher-Price spokeswoman Juliette Reashor explained: "Through research, we identified a similar instance with the green cuff, which revealed levels of lead that, though fully compliant with all federal and international standards, exceeded the Illinois statute.  We proactively reached out to the State of Illinois to inform them of our findings."

“I am pleased that Fisher-Price took the initiative to test its products, self-report a violation, quickly remove the affected blood pressure cuffs from store shelves, and offer replacements to consumers,” Madigan said. “I continue to urge manufacturers and retailers to review and tighten up their quality control procedures so consumers can be confident that the items on store shelves are safe for their children.”

The action once again illustrates the need for tighter federal regulations on lead in children's products. There's no reason that children in one state should be protected while those who live elsewhere are not.

CPSC: 22 children died in toy-related deaths in 2006

While toys with lead paint and tiny magnets have gotten a lot of attention this year, statistics released today by the Consumer Product Safety Commission serve as a sobering reminder that the simple and most classic of toys—balloons, tricycles, scooters and balls—are often just as hazardous.         

The new data on toy-related deaths and injuries in 2006 show that riding toys, especially non-motorized scooters, continue to account for most of the toy-related deaths and injuries. Last year, there were 220,500 toy-related injuries that prompted emergency-room treatment. Of those, 165,100 involved children under 15, about the same number as in 2002 and 2004.

Deaths totaled 22 in 2006, down from 26 in 2005 but the same as 2004.  The incidents—involving children from 3 months to 13—are described in the CPSC report. The details are grim but can provide important safety lessons, which is why we are publishing them here. (Please note that many of the incidents were related to but not necessarily caused by a toy.)

• Non-motorized scooters: Three deaths occurred when children either hit or were hit by an automobile. The children ranged in age from six to 13 years.
• Toy nails and pegs: Three children died when they choked on or aspirated plastic nails or pegs. One 19-month-old boy died after choking on an oversized plastic nail from a toy workbench. A second boy, 2, died when he fell while running with a toy nail; the nail got wedged in the back of his throat. Another two-year-old suddenly started coughing and stopped breathing. He died at the hospital where an autopsy showed a plastic peg from a toy had become lodged in his left bronchus.
• Rubber balls: Three children died when they either aspirated or choked on small rubber balls. Two of the children who choked on small rubber balls were about one year old while the third child was an autistic eight-year-old who aspirated a rubber ball.
• Powered riding toys: There were three fatalities. A boy, 3, was riding a battery-powered toy four-wheeler unsupervised and fell into a pond. A girl, 2, was riding her battery-powered toy truck as her family walked along on a sidewalk; a speeding car hit and killed her. A 6-year-old died when the cape of his costume became entangled in the axle of the gasoline-powered ATV  he was riding and strangled him.
• Tricycles: There were two fatalities. In separate incidents, a three-year-old female and a three-year-old male fell into the family in-ground swimming pool while riding a tricycle and drowned.
• Stuffed toys: There were two deaths associated with stuffed toys . A six-month-old fell off the parents' bed into a pile of stuffed animals and suffocated A three-month-old fell off a bed into a container of stuffed toys and suffocated.
• Other balls: There were two deaths from unspecified types of balls. One struck a girl, 10, while she was playing at school; she died of inter-cerebral hemorrhage. A 17-month-old was run over when he followed the ball with which he was playing as it rolled behind a truck.
• Balloons: A nine-month-old female died of upper airway obstruction caused by an uninflated balloon.
• Rubber darts: A 10-year-old boy died from aspirating a rubber dart. He had been chewing on a toy gun dart when he had trouble breathing and collapsed. At the ER, he was found to have a rubber dart in his right lung.
• Toy organizer: A nine-month-old, found underneath a wooden toy organizer, died of neck compression.
• Unspecified: A seven-year-old boy was chewing on a plastic toy when a small part of the toy broke off and became lodged in his throat. He died of asphyxia.

Such reports tell us that we should be as vigilant about the playthings already in our homes as we are about keeping lead-tainted toys and other hazards out of the home.

Nancy Baker: A daughter's drowning leads to pool safety reforms

Nancy Baker never envisioned becoming a leading advocate for safer pools and spas.  However, the tragic accident that killed her 7-year old daughter Graeme in 2002 prompted her to act. As she says, “It helps me make some sense of something that makes no sense at all. It was an utterly preventable and senseless death.”

Baker’s personal story, coupled with her tireless campaign to make sure such a tragedy doesn’t happen to others, is one of the chief reasons why Congress could soon enact a federal pool and spa safety bill named for Graeme. The bill, which would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to set an anti-entrapment safety standard for pool and spa covers, was passed by unanimous vote in the House in October and now awaits Senate action. The measure also encourages states, through financial incentives, to pass strong laws to require fences and anti-entrapment drain cover devices to reduce childhood drowning. Although the measure has strong bipartisan support, its fate is uncertain according to The Washington Post because the fiscal conservative Sen. Tom Coburn, (R-Okla.) has put a legislative hold on the measure, along with several dozen other bills, because they authorize new spending without offsetting that expense elsewhere in the federal budget.

Graeme Baker, who had been swimming unassisted since she was three, drowned after becoming trapped underwater by hundreds of pounds of suction force from a hot-tub drain. Graeme had gone to the graduation party of a family friend with her mother and four sisters, including her twin, Jackie. Soon after they arrived, one of Baker's daughters ran toward her and screamed, "Mommy! Mommy! Graeme is in the hot tub." Baker says: "I jumped in."

As she later testified in Congress: “It took two adults to pull her off this drain, the force so great that the cover of the drain cracked in half removing her.” 

A gentle reminder on generators

The wicked storms battering the Central U.S. and leaving many residents without power prompt us to remind readers about the dangers of improper use of portable generators. Last winter we reported the disturbing statistic that in the last three months of 2006, there were at least 32 deaths related to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators. Such news caused the Consumer Product Safety Commission to sound the alarm and require new labels on generators that say, in part, “using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES.”

According to the CPSC, a single portable generator can release about as much carbon monoxide as the exhaust of 100 idling cars. So it's no wonder that consumers can be killed quickly if the devices are used indoors or too close to homes or in other enclosed spaces.

Using a portable generator can help you weather a storm if, and only if, you use it safely. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning by always running your generator outdoors and at least 15 feet away from the house. Never run it in the basement or garage or other enclosed space.
• Install a transfer switch to connect the unit to your home's wiring system. Never connect a generator directly to your home.
• Reduce fire risk by turning off a gasoline-powered generator before refueling.
• Store gasoline in an ANSI-approved container and in a cool, well-ventilated area.

If you are in the market for a generator, check out our Ratings (for subscribers) and recommendations.

Winter warm-up: Home heating tips

Did you know that the peak time for home heating fires is between 6 and 9 p.m.? Or that space heaters account for nearly three-quarters of home-fire fatalities, two-thirds of the injuries and more than half of property damage?

Those are some of the intriguing and yes, disturbing findings of a new survey by the National Fire Protection Agency—findings that serve as a good reminder at the start of winter to take care in heating our homes, especially if we use space heaters.

According to the NFPA, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,200 reported home structure fires in 2005, resulting in 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 injuries and $909 million in direct property damage. Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share of home heating fires, 36 percent in 2005, but resulted in no deaths. The chief reason for these fires was failure to clean chimneys and connectors.

But space heaters continue to be the most dangerous, at least in terms of injuries and fatalities. And the major reason for space heater blazes: The heater was too close to something that could catch fire.

Fire safety officials take heart in some of the report’s good news. There has been a steady decline in home heating fires since 1982 when there more than 235,000 fires resulting in 1,190 deaths and 3,480 injuries. NFPA attributes the decline to a variety of factors, including safer equipment, better building codes, wider use of smoke alarms, somewhat warmer winters and public education.

To continue the public education, we offer you these safe heating tips from NFPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary.
• When buying a space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory and is approved for use in your community (some communities may not allow kerosene heaters, for example).
• Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Use the proper grade of the proper fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater, and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use.  Refuel only in a well-ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.
• Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
• Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.
• Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen. Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home—when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
• Never use an oven to heat your home.
• Periodically check the CPSC's recall list to make sure a heater you own has not been the subject of a recall, such as the one pictured above that was recalled in June.

Buying advice
If you are considering buying a space heater this winter, read our full report on heaters including Ratings (for subscribers) and a video.