Jon minus Kate tempts fate

You’d think that a guy who thrives on attention would seek a bit less of it when he’s doing something unsafe. Especially when it also endangers his children. But no. Jon Gosselin, star of TV’s former reality show "Jon and Kate Plus Eight," didn’t seem the least bit concerned about putting one of his five-year-olds on an ATV. The fact that 20 percent of those killed by ATVs and 30 percent of those injured are kids must have escaped him.
 
Gosselin risked having his son become one of the 40,000 kids who are sent to emergency rooms each year in accidents related to ATVs. Plus, neither the elder nor the younger Gosselin was wearing essential safety gear—a helmet.
 
Children under 16 should not be riding on adult ATVs. Anyone who rides an ATV should don a helmet. And guess what single-rider ATVs were designed for. Yes, a single rider. That means one. 
 

To read more about the safest way to use ATVs, see the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s dedicated Web site.

Photo: INFPhoto.com

Back-to-school safety checklist

On the same day that President Obama exhorted students to “get serious" and study, the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, who was appointed by Obama, encouraged students and parents to get serious about safety.

Speaking at Rosewood Elementary School in Columbia, S.C. (Obama was at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.), Inez Tenenbaum released a safety checklist and told parents and school officials to "make it a priority to check for hazards at home and at school.”

“It just takes a moment for a child to be seriously injured or even killed riding a bicycle, playing on the playground, using a movable soccer goal, wearing a jacket with a drawstring or by a recalled product,” said Tenenbaum. “Let’s keep kids in the classroom and out of the emergency room."

Here are the items on Tenenbaum's safety checklist:

Playgrounds
Each year, more than 200,000 hospital emergency room visits are related to playground injuries. Most injuries involve falls onto the playground surface or playground equipment.

• Check with school officials to make sure that the school’s playground equipment has been inspected and maintained.
• Check to see if there are at least nine inches of shock absorbing surface material around the school’s playground equipment.

Read more about playground safety on the Safety blog.

Bike helmets
The CPSC reports that an annual average of 80 children under 16 have died in bicycle-related incidents in recent years. About half of the 500,000 bicycle-related emergency room-treated injuries in 2008 involved children under 16.

• Make sure your child wears a helmet that meets CPSC requirements every time he/she bikes or rides a scooter to and from school.
• Make sure your child’s helmet fits snuggly, level on top of the head, with a buckled chin strap.

Read more about bike safety on Consumer Reports.

Drawstrings
Since 1985,the CPSC has received reports of 28 deaths and 71 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children’s clothing drawstrings.

• Make sure that none of your child’s clothing has drawstrings at the hood or neck area.

Read more about drawstrings on the Safety blog.

Movable soccer goals
From 1998-2008, the CPSC has gotten reports of at least 8 deaths and an estimated 2,000 emergency department visits by children younger than 16 related to soccer goal tip-overs and structural failures.

• Check that all soccer goals are securely anchored while in use.

Read more about soccer goals on the Safety blog

Recalled products

• Check the CPSC’s Web site, www.cpsc.gov, to make sure all back to school purchases and previously owned items have not been recalled.
• Sign up at www.cpsc.gov to get e-mail alerts of recall announcements.

Read more about recalls on the Safety blog.

CPSC: Stamina recalls ellipticals CR labeled "Don't Buy"

Two elliptical trainers that our testers found to be safety risks were recalled today by Stamina, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced. In June, we judged the Stamina 1725 and similar Stamina 1772 "Don't Buy: Safety Risk," a new designation previously termed "Not Acceptable." The recall also involves a third model, the Stamina 1723. Taken together, the recall includes 11,000 machines.

The problem our testers discovered was that the bolts attaching the pedal arm to the drive-wheel assembly loosened, and came off in one instance. That put the user at risk of losing balance and possibly falling.

The recall notice states the hazard as: "the elliptical pedal shafts must be securely tightened to the cranks.  If not securely tightened, the pedal shafts could become loose from the cranks, which could result in serious injury to the user and/or damage to the product." 

In late April, our Technical Division told Stamina officials about our findings. Stamina said it was aware of the issue and had updated its manual to instruct users to tighten the bolts before each use. But we considered this instruction unrealistic. We advised owners of these machines to stop using them immediately and notify the company at 800-375-7520 about any problems.

The remedy Stamina is offering consumers, according to the recall notice, is "modified warnings and assembly instructions" in the form of new owner's manuals, which it is offering to consumers on its Web site or in printed form.

Made in China, the ellipticals were sold at various retailers and Web sites from October 2007 to May 2009 for between $200 and $400. For more information, contact Stamina at (800) 375-7520  or visit Stamina's Web site.

Our take: Although the updated manuals provide more detailed assembly instructions and a warning on the risk of injury, should the joint loosen, the onus remains on the consumer to ensure that this joint is tight. We believe this is an unreasonable expectation. Since the product itself was not altered, we retain our recommendation of "Don't Buy: Safety Risk".

Inflatable accidents are up, up and away

If it hadn't been real, the sight of an 11-year-old boy flying  40 feet into the air clinging to an inflatable slide might have seemed like a whimsical scene from the movie "Up." And after a few terrifying moments, it did  have a happy ending; the Ohio boy landed safely thanks to some quick-thinking bystanders.

The unintended balloon flight highlights the dangers of inflatable amusements, which are subject to relatively few safety rules and regulations. Popular at kids' backyard birthday parties, local carnivals and other attractions, the inflatables come in all shapes and sizes with names like moonwalker and bounce house. They're big and bouncy and irresistible to kids.

Unfortunately, the fun can end quickly. Kids pile on top of other kids, breaking bones, chipping teeth or worse, or when the structures deflate unexpectedly, trapping children inside. In the case of the Ohio boy in June, a gust of wind caught the poorly anchored slide and lifted it into air with the child still aboard. As photos from the Middletown Journal show, he was brought to safety when some adults punctured the inflatable and it returned to earth. Other children suffered bumps and scrapes when the ride flipped several times.

In 2007, a 3-year-old died when he was crushed by two adults. Last fall, a young girl died after she broke her neck doing somersaults down an inflatable ride in Festus, MO, according to the Witchita Eagle. And last month, a 17-year-old Texas boy attempted a back flip on an inflatable ride, fell on his neck, and is now partially paralyzed.

Such accidents are on the rise as the popularity of inflatables grows, according to the Web site, Ride Accidents.com, which tracks incidents. The newest numbers from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which were last updated in 2005, are sobering. The CPSC reported four fatalities in inflatable-related accidents from 2002 to 2005. In 2004, the most recent year for which we found complete data, inflatable rides, such as inflatable slides and bouncers, accounted for an estimated 4,900 injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms, according to the agency. That was up sharply from 1997, when the CPSC estimated only 1,300 such injuries -- a whopping 277 percent increase in just eight years (a time in which inflatables grew in popularity).

In 2007, the CPSC issued one of its first recalls of inflatable amusement ride devices in several years: Some 2,600 bounce houses made by Sportcraft (see image above) were recalled after the company received a handful of reports of fans and the surrounding plastic breaking apart during use, causing the inflatables to lose air.

It's up to the states or local municipalities to regulate inflatables. Few have. One of the first states to get tough on inflatables was New Jersey, which requires inspections and mandates that inflatables meet wind-anchorage and combustibility requirements. ASTM International, a voluntary-standards development organization, has developed a standard for inflatables. While ASTM standards don't carry the weight of law, they may be referenced in laws or contracts.

Before letting your child use an inflatable at a carnival or festival, check with the operator to see if it is properly anchored and that users are supervised. If you are renting one for a backyard event, the state of Washington offers these safety tips:

• Limit the number of users on the device;
• Make sure the inflatable isn't overloaded or unstable;
• Securely anchor the inflatable to the ground with pegs;
• Place the blower so it can't accidentally be unplugged, causing the inflatable to collapse.

Our testers judge two elliptical trainers 'Don't buy: Safety risk'

The July issue of Consumer Reports magazine features two elliptical trainers that testers found to be safety risks. We judged both models—the Stamina 1725 and similar Stamina 1772—"Don't Buy: Safety Risk," a new designation.

The problem: Bolts attaching the pedal arm to the drive-wheel assembly loosened, and came off in one instance. That put the user at risk of losing balance and possibly falling.

In late April, our Technical Division told Stamina officials about our findings. Stamina said it was aware of the issue and had updated its manual to instruct users to tighten the bolts before each use, an instruction we consider unrealistic. If you have one of those machines, stop using it immediately and notify the company at 800-375-7520 if you've had a problem.

The designation "Don't buy: Safety risk" replaces the label "Not Acceptable" that we used for many years to alert readers to models with safety risks. In addition we introduced the designation "Don't buy: Performance problem" to replace the "Not Recommended" label formerly used for models with serious performance problems. We will be using the new designations—marked with a yellow icon—in the magazine and on the Web site.

For more information on ellipticals, read our Buying Guide (with Ratings for subscribers).

Lessons learned from the death of a child

The Arizona Republic today released the transcript of the 911 call made after the mother of Mike Tyson's daughter, Exodus, 4, found the girl accidentally strangled on a cord of a treadmill machine. The transcript underscores how quickly a child can become unconscious when an airway is blocked.

"When a kid gets strangled it only takes about seven to 14 seconds for them to go unconscious," Tracey Fejt, an injury prevention specialist in Arizona, told the newspaper. "They might get their head in, but they won't get out."

Investigators estimate that the girl was alone for only a matter of minutes before becoming entrapped by a slacked cord -- possibly under the console -- that left her trapped, unconscious and suffocated.

Unfortunately, it often takes this type of high-profile accident to draw attention to common hazards. After the child's death, our resident safety expert, Don Mays, was asked to appear on CNN's Situation Room to discuss the dangers of treadmills and other pieces of large exercise equipment. Take a moment to watch the interview and then heed the advice.

As Mays told the the interviewer, "Our recommendation is to keep your children away from a treadmill whether it's working or not."

Mike Tyson's daughter, 4, on life support after treadmill incident

Boxer Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter, Exodus, was critically injured over the weekend when she accidentally got tangled in a cord or rope hanging from a treadmill. She is on life support and “in extremely critical condition” in a Phoenix hospital. Police are calling it a "tragic accident," according to the Los Angeles Times.

"Somehow she was playing on this treadmill, and there's a cord that hangs under the console—it's kind of a loop," the police said. "Either she slipped or put her head in the loop, but it acted like a noose, and she was obviously unable to get herself off of it."

While it's uncertain what happened, some treadmills feature a tethered safety key on a long cord that is meant to shut off the machine automatically if the user slips and falls. When used correctly, it also prevents children from starting the machine. But sometimes users tie the cord around the treadmill's handle to keep it out of the way.

Exercise machines such as treadmills pose special risks to toddlers and young children, who account for the greatest percentage of serious injuries. Emergency rooms around the country are reporting a growing number of severe burns on the hands and fingers of young children who reach down or under and touch a treadmill belt when it’s running.

Tyson's daughter's injuries serve as a sad and serious reminder of the dangers that home exercise equipment can pose to children. If you have any in your home, make sure the equipment is unplugged and out of a child's reach, and keep young children away from equipment without safety locks. Children should especially be kept away from exercise equipment when it is in use.

60,000 trampolines recalled because of fall hazard

Skywalker Holdings recalled 60,000 trampolines today because the enclosure can fail, creating a fall hazard. The company has received at least 250 reports of support straps breaking that connect the top of the enclosure to the poles. No injuries have been reported, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall includes a 13-foot square trampoline and enclosure combo, which has blue spring pads, a black net enclosure and a jumping mat. “Skywalker Holdings” is printed on a label located under the jumping mat and on the enclosure net. Made in China, the trampolines were sold at specialty stores and major retailers nationwide and online from January 2007 through February 2009 for between $400 and $600.

Owners should immediately stop using the trampolines and contact Skywalker Holdings to obtain a free repair kit at (866) 603-5867 or visit the company’s Web site.

Neither Consumer Reports nor the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend buying trampolines for your kids.  Based on our analysis of CPSC data, more than 105,000 hospital-treated injuries in the U.S. in 2007 were linked to trampolines. Common injuries include broken bones, head injuries, sprains and cuts and bruises.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following guidelines regarding trampolines:

• Trampolines should not be viewed as play equipment for children. Do not keep a trampoline at home, whether indoors or outdoors, for your children to jump on.
• Make sure your child’s school does not have a trampoline on the playground, as this can pose a serious hazard.
• Use of a trampoline is appropriate only under the direct supervision of trained individuals such as physical therapists or athletic trainers. If used under these conditions, only one person should be on the trampoline at a time.
• Children younger than age 6 should never use a trampoline, even in supervised training programs.
• The surface of a trampoline used for supervised training programs should be checked routinely for rust, tears and detachments.
• A safety pad should cover all portions of the steel frame and springs.

Parents who choose to have trampolines should check them thoroughly for wear and tear to make sure they are in good condition, especially if they are stored outside in harsh weather conditions.

Under armored: Recall of athletic cups makes a lot of guys cringe

Don't you just hate it when a product is recalled because it fails to do the very thing it was created to do? Take this week's recall of 211,000 athletic cups by Under Armour because they can break if hit. Ouch. Under armored indeed!

It's probably not so funny for the five folks who reported broken cups, including one that caused cuts and bruising.

Under Armour recalled all athletic cups carrying its logo including adult, teen and youth sizes. The cups were sold individually and as part of a set with compression, slider or jock shorts. Made in China, they were sold for the past three years at sporting good stores and Under Armour outlets nationwide and at www.underarmour.com for about $15.

It probably goes without saying—but the recall notice says it anyway—that guys should immediately stop using the recalled cups. Under Armour is offering $20 vouchers for use online or at any Under Armour specialty or outlet store. For more information, contact Under Armour toll-free at (888) 823-0343 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site.

3 million fitness balls recalled after users report injuries

The manufacturer has recalled 3 million fitness balls sold under the Bally Total Fitness, Everlast, Valeo and Body Fit brands because the balls can burst unexpectedly and cause the user to fall. EB Brands has received 47 reports of fitness balls unexpectedly bursting, including reports of a fracture, and multiple bruises. The hazard occurs when the balls are overinflated, according to the recall notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

This recall involves rubber fitness balls sold in 55-, 65- and 75-cm diameter sizes with a pump and inflation instructions. The balls came in various colors and carried the Bally Total Fitness, Everlast or Valeo logo. Advertised as "burst-resistant," they were sold at department stores and fitness retailers nationwide from May 2000 to February 2009 for between $15 and $30.

EB Brands is asking consumers to call the company or visit its Web site to get updated instructions on how to safely inflate the ball. The help line (800) 624-5671) is available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

On its Web site, EB Brands gives these tips:

• Do not inflate your exercise ball when the room temperature where you will use the ball is greater than 90° F/32° C OR less than 65° F/18° C.
• Do not use an air compressor to inflate the ball. Air compressors blow cold air that could expand after returning to room temperature. Only inflate the ball with the pump that is included with the product.
• Do not inflate the ball to greater than the size specification for your ball's maximum inflation size. After the ball is inflated, measure it periodically to verify it has remained at the correct dimension.
• Do not use the ball if it is over inflated or expanded to a size greater than the correct size.