Time to spring ahead and into action

Here's a reminder for those of us who may not be paying close attention: daylight-saving time starts this Sunday, March 9th, at 2 a.m. Even though the old adage tells us we are springing ahead, it's still winter and therefore understandable that this one-time rite of spring may have caught many of us by surprise. While you're getting used to the new routine—this is the second year the time has shifted three weeks early—it's a good time to take stock. When you're resetting your watches and clocks (don't forget the one in your car), use this annual event as a reminder to perform some tasks that will enhance your family's safety year-round.

Clockwork
In addition to your timepieces, reset the clocks on appliances and electronics. Some newer appliances and electronics are equipped with a microchip that automatically resets clock displays at the beginning and end of DST; many of those may still need to be reset manually, due to the change in schedule (and you may need to reset them again in three weeks, when they "think" they're supposed to reset themselves). To facilitate the process, make a list of all devices that you need to reset manually: clocks, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, fax machines, cameras and thermostats. (It's especially important to reprogram your thermostat so that the heat in your home switches on and off at the right time.) Reset everything on the list in one session so that no appliance or electronic is forgotten.

Smoke and CO alarms
Replace batteries in all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Always use fresh batteries, not those you "borrow" from other equipment. And follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that these essential devices are working properly. Also, replace any smoke alarm that's 10 or more years old and any CO alarm five or more years old with a new model. You'll find the manufacture date on the alarm. See our report on carbon-monoxide alarms and our interactive on smoke alarms for more information.

On the road
Drive safely. Remember, an extra hour of light in the evening means dawn will break an hour later as well. So, if you have to get on the road before it gets light to take the kids to school or start your commute, be extra alert for children, animals and runners. I's also a good time to inspect vehicle lights. Take a look at the entire lighting system in your car to ensure that all lights are working properly. Clean the headlights and make sure they are correctly aligned according to the owner's manual.

In case of emergency
Update your family disaster plan. To respond properly to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event, you need to have a plan in place and the necessary supplies on hand, and be prepared to act. See our free emergency guide to preparing for any storm or disaster. While you're making these preparations also check storage areas for any hazardous materials. Make sure to properly dispose of any materials that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Make sure those you keep are out of reach of kids or pets.

You can find some more information on preparing for daylight-saving time on our Home & Garden blog.

Lightweight batteries in remote-controlled aircraft may pose a fire hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning about an emerging fire hazard from the battery technology used with remote-controlled helicopters and airplanes.

In the past four months, the agency has received 26 reports of remote-controlled helicopters igniting while being charged and one report of a helicopter igniting while in flight. Minor burns and property damage were reported.

The CPSC, in an alert issued last week, said that it was concerned about the toys' rechargeable lithium batteries (lithium-ion or lithium polymer). The batteries are favored for toys because they are lighter but they pack a lot of power in a small package “so consumers should use caution when charging and handling them,” the agency said. “Overcharging them can result in overheating, fire and/or explosion.”

CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese added that the agency is investigating to see whether this problem is specific to remote-controlled helicopters and airplanes or is a bigger issue affecting other products as well.

Meanwhile, the agency issued a recall for one specific remote-controlled toy, the Fun2Fly Microcopter helicopter made in China, imported by Soft Air USA Inc. and sold in sporting good stores and other retailers from May 2006 through December 2007. The agency said that the rechargeable battery inside the helicopter may catch fire during charging, igniting the helicopter and nearby combustible materials. Soft Air USA has received six reports of helicopters igniting, including one minor injury. Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled toy and return it to the retailer where it was purchased for a full refund.

The CPSC recommends that all users of remote-controlled toys containing rechargeable lithium batteries take the following safety precautions:

• Do not leave a toy unattended while charging it.
• Have adults do the battery charging.
• Charge the toy on a non-flammable surface and keep it away from flammable items.
• Turn off the charger when the toy’s battery is charged and always unplug it from the toy.
• Disconnect the AC wall chargers from outlets while not in use.
• If the toy has been damaged, immediately stop using it, unplug it and safely remove the toy from flammable materials.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for charging the toy and do not charge the toy longer than recommended.

TV stand prone to toppling recalled by CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Sauder Woodworking Co. have issued a voluntary recall of 414,000 TV stands given to collapsing if fasteners were not tightened properly during assembly. As of the recall date, the Archbold, Ohio-based manufacturer had received 43 reports of the stands collapsing.

A 6-year-old girl injured her shoulder when a stand collapsed and the TV on top of it fell on her. In separate incidents, three adults trying to prevent a television from falling off the stand received injuries that required medical treatment, including a broken arm, a torn rotator cuff with a concussion, and an injured finger.

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, has long warned about the dangers of television tip-overs and says that the growing size of televisions makes these warnings even more urgent. In most cases, the tip-over occurs because the television set was placed on top of unstable furniture, or the furniture was not intended to hold a TV. Children who climb on furniture to reach the TV can cause it to tip over. If the stand is faulty, the risk is even greater.

The recalled Sauder stand ($90) has a maple finish and wrought-iron legs. It was sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com from January 2005 through May 2007. The model number of the recalled stand is 400205; the UPC number—42666 01958—is printed on the product’s carton and instructions.

If you have one of the recalled stands, stop using it immediately if it moves from side-to-side. This recall does not involve return of the product. Instead, the manufacturer will provide owners with detailed instructions on checking the tightness of the fasteners. For more information on how to properly assemble the stand. go to Sauder's Web site or call 866-218-8312 (7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, Saturday).

 See also:
Babies, children, and TV tip-over accidents
Fatal TV tip-overs: The CPSC reports a troubling increase in tip-over-related deaths
Video: Safety alert -- furniture fails to meet tip-over standards
Stay safe on Super Sunday

 

The dry facts about mixing electricity and water

We all know that electricity and water do not mix. But there are a host of other outdoor electrical hazards that we may not be aware of — or have forgotten over the years. And given that the Electrical Safety Foundational International has declared May Electrical Safety Month, now may be just the right time for a refresher course.

First, make sure any electrical product you use outside is intended for outdoor use. Why? Unless an electrical product is designed to be weather resistant, a sudden summer shower can ruin the product and turn it into a serious shock hazard. Most electrical products intended for continuous outdoor use have heavily insulated cords and molded-on plugs to prevent moisture from seeping in. If in doubt, check the manual where there may be a warning for “Indoor Use Only.”

Similarly, only use extension cords marked for outdoor use. And use only the length you need. With a cord above 100 feet, you can lose power and that, in turn, could lead to dangerous overheating. If the cord is three or four years old, check it for damage and replace if necessary.

Of course, we all know than electrical appliances and power tools should never be used while they are wet or close to water. And if an electrical product does fall into water, do not reach into the water for it. Make sure you are dry and not in contact with water or metal surfaces — and then unplug the product immediately.

When using an electrical product, make sure it is:

• Plugged in and turned on only when in use. 
• Turned off and in lock position when being carried or hooked up to attachments like mower baskets or saw blades. And don’t’ carry it by the cord. 
• Stored indoors (with a few exceptions such as an electric barbecue grill which can be covered and kept outside) and away from water and excessive heat. 
• Never left unattended outside, even temporarily. If there is a key, remove it so no curious child or unqualified adult can misuse it.

What about battery-operated products? They should also be stored indoors so they won’t be subjected to a higher moisture level or a sudden rainstorm. And don’t use cordless tools near gaseous or explosive materials since sparks from their motors might cause fires or explosions.
To recharge batteries, plug the charger into an indoor electrical outlet, never into an extension cord. As for storing extra batteries: keep them away from metal objects such as wire or nails because such contact can cause a large current flow, possibly leading to burns or fires.

More information from the Electrical Safety Foundational International is available here.

Casio gets recall promotion right

Bang the drums. Blow the trumpets. Pound the piano.

We want to take a moment to give proper tribute to Casio Inc. for the way it’s publicized its recent recall of an electronic musical keyboard, model CTK-710. The recall involves 12,000 units; the problem: these keyboards can overheat when in use, posing a fire hazard. The company has received five reports of overheated keyboards, including two incidents that resulted in fires.

Although it’s a relatively small recall, the company has mounted an aggressive advertising campaign, publishing repeated notices in major metropolitan newspapers around the country. Typically such aggressive advertising is usually confined to large recalls and is part of a negotiated agreement with the CPSC.  For example, the recent recall of 2.3 million Maytag and Jenn-Air dishwashers, also for being a fire hazard, was also advertised in newspapers. 

But CPSC officials said Casio volunteered to launch the newspaper advertising campaign on its own. Casio spokeswoman Melissa Keklak said the company was determined to reach out to as many people as possible because so many of the keyboards were purchased as gifts.

The keyboards were sold for $70 to $150 at between May 2006 and February 2007 by musical instrument stores, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, in catalogues and on Web sites.

As a result, Keklak said the company knew it had to do more than post recall notices only in music stores.

We applaud Casio’s decision — and hope it encourages other manufacturers to be as aggressive if and when they have they a recall to announce.

Stay safe on Super Sunday

We've commented more than once on the tip-over risks posed by heavy furniture and televisions. And the danger from tipping televisions has only grown, as Americans have purchased ever larger TVs in recent years. Indeed, we can bet that a lot more big TVs will be purchased between now and Sunday in time for the Super Bowl, an event that draws in as many as 90 million viewers. Indeed, the smallest TV reviewed in our latest issue is 26 inches, while the biggest is over 60 inches.  And despite their svelte profiles, most flat-screen sets larger than 42 inches weigh more than 100 pounds, regardless of the technology used; that makes them as heavy as the 30-inch or smaller tube TVs they replace. While the modern, flatter sets don't have the low center of gravity that makes tube sets more tip-prone, they may suffer from another risk factor: old furniture that isn't designed to handle such a large set. The right furniture — and the right installation — can make the difference between a TV that can hold up to a linebacker's advances and one that collapses after the first place kick. So, do yourself — and your kids — a favor: Before you put out the chips and salsa, follow this advice to make sure that the only things flying in your living room this Sunday are those long snaps on the screen.

• If available, buy a stand specifically designed for your TV by the manufacturer, as well as any hardware to secure the TV to the stand or wall.
• If you put your TV on other furniture, make sure it’s sturdy before you put the TV on it, and that it can handle the TV’s weight. 
• Never put a large TV on a stand or entertainment center designed for a smaller set.
• Furniture holding a TV should be anchored to the floor or wall using brackets, screws, or braces.
• Do not put a TV on furniture with drawers -- such as dressers or chests -- that can be pulled out by young children and used to climb.

More tips from ConsumerReports.org are available here.

Watch out for flying "Wiimotes"

We don't normally watch the video game industry very closely; we tend to leave that to our colleagues over at the Consumer Reports Shopping Blog (though we are well aware of the safety risks of waiting in line for some of the new game consoles). However, we do feel the need to point out the potential risks to consumers from the remote control used for Nintendo's Wii console. The wireless controller, which allows players to emulate such actions as striking a baseball with a bat or rolling a bowling ball, is apparently to blame for numerous instances of property damage and several injuries.

According to various reports circulating on the Internet, gamers have allowed the "Wiimote" to slip from their fingers, and have sent it hurtling, projectile-like, across the room. Though the Wii has a wrist strap designed to limit such risks, some reports claim that the strap wasn't up to the stresses of gaming and broke (of course, the player still had to let go of the remote, so we're not entirely convinced Nintendo is at fault here). Most reports cite cracked or otherwise damaged TVs, and injury claims include children getting hit in the head by errant remotes.

As a result, Nintendo has issued a safety warning about the Wii Remote, and the company's president told reporters that Nintendo is investigating the strap issue -- though he clearly placed most blame with consumers, commenting that "some people are getting a lot more excited than we'd expected." Among the safety tips issued by Nintendo: Wear the wrist strap, don't let go of the remote, and stay at least three feet away from the TV. We'd add some advice about parental supervision as well. The Wii is proving to be very popular with young children, who might not have the same level of control as their elders, and could cause considerable damage during an energetic round of Wii golf or baseball. (Nintendo hasn't issued an age-rating for the Wii, though the product's manual does recommend that parents review safety information with their children.)

We've been testing the Wii , and can confirm that the game provides a good aerobic workout. One tester decided to forego the strap, and the Wiimote did indeed fly across the room, though nothing was damaged in the process (other than the tester's ego). We also tested a $10 glove (the Switch 'N Carry Controller Glove) that's designed to improve your grip on the remote. It did work as advertised, though we found it difficult to put on, and it also made it harder to push some of the remote's buttons.

Once you've secured your remote, be sure to check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission's latest safety tips for safe usage of gaming consoles. The agency points out that there have been over 100 incidents with consoles this year involving "some form of overheating or fire." Among the CPSC's safety tips:

• Don't place the system on a soft surface, such as a bed.
• Keep it well-ventilated.
• Keep it on a level surface.
• Turn it off when not in use.
• Unplug your console during a storm or severe weather.

More here.

Sony recall: 3.4 million batteries

Includes 340,000 U.S. units from Sony, Gateway and others
As expected, Sony -- which made the batteries at the heart of recent recalls by Apple, Dell and other computer manufacturers -- has announced its own battery recall. The recall affects more than 3.4 million batteries, of which 340,000 were sold in the U.S. In addition to notebooks manufactured by Sony, the recall includes models from Gateway, Fujitsu and Toshiba, and includes computer models and batteries that were on the market as recently as this month.
What to do: If you own a laptop made by any of these manufacturers, the CPSC recommends that you check with the manufacturer to determine whether your battery is covered by the recall and to request a replacement battery. A full list of affected models, along with contact information for manufacturers, is available on the CPSC's Web site. Until a replacement battery arrives, consumers can continue to use their computer by turning off the system, removing the battery, and plugging in the AC adapter and power cord.
Regardless of manufacturer, here are some steps you can take to safely use any notebook computer powered by lithium-ion batteries:

• Avoid placing computer on a soft surface such as a bed, which prevents air from circulating beneath it and heat from dissipating.
• If your battery is exhausted, recharge it fully via the AC adapter before powering up the computer.
• Don't leave your laptop in direct sunlight or in the car.
• Purchase a battery that bears the name of a responsible manufacturer. That way, you're much more likely to learn about a potential safety hazard and recalls, and get satisfactory answers to your questions.
• Contrary to conventional wisdom, there's nothing wrong with leaving your laptop computer plugged in all the time. Nor is it inherently safer to run a computer on battery power than AC current.