Can you ‘recall’ Can you ‘recall’ some recent some recent RECALLS ?RECALLS ?

What agency is responsible for What agency is responsible for CONSUMER SAFETYCONSUMER SAFETY??

Is there a way to report a dangerous Is there a way to report a dangerous product?product?

Is there a way to see the latest reports?Is there a way to see the latest reports? If you resale shop, or garage sale; how If you resale shop, or garage sale; how

do you know what you buy was not do you know what you buy was not recalled in the past?recalled in the past?

Consumer Product Safety Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)Commission (CPSC)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage

from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to

ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -

contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the

past 30 years.

More about CPSCMore about CPSC Formed in 1970 after a report was issued to the Formed in 1970 after a report was issued to the

President and Congress. President and Congress. The report included :The report included :

surveys – on product hazards, surveys – on product hazards, accident information systems, accident information systems, voluntary product standards, voluntary product standards, consumer education, consumer education, the state of product safety law, the state of product safety law, the relationship between Federal law and State law, the relationship between Federal law and State law, product safety policy in other countriesproduct safety policy in other countries proposals for general product safety legislation proposals for general product safety legislation

The core was to be the creation of a Federal The core was to be the creation of a Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The Refrigerator Safety Act The Refrigerator Safety Act of 1956 (RSA)of 1956 (RSA)

Oldest and perhaps the most successful actOldest and perhaps the most successful act Dealt with deaths from children climbing into Dealt with deaths from children climbing into

abandoned refrigerators and suffocating when abandoned refrigerators and suffocating when the doors closedthe doors closed

The Act requires that refrigerator doors be The Act requires that refrigerator doors be easily opened from within. easily opened from within.

Since the Act went into effect, most Since the Act went into effect, most manufacturers have complied and childhood manufacturers have complied and childhood fatalities from this hazard have virtually fatalities from this hazard have virtually disappeared. disappeared.

Crib Safety

In 1973, as many as 200 infants died annually in the U.S. from suffocation or strangulation when they become trapped between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.

CPSC published standards for safe cribs, including requirements that addressed:

side height, slat spacing, mattress fit, and other factors. In 1982, standards were amended to also prohibit hazardous

cutouts in crib end panels. As a result of these and voluntary standards, deaths from baby

cribs have been reduced to about 50 annually and occur primarily in older, previously used cribs.

CPSC estimates that without safety standards, deaths associated with baby cribs would have increased to as many as 240 deaths annually.

Children’s Sleepwear

The CPSC sets national safety standards for children's sleepwear flammability.

Designed to protect children from burn injuries if they come in contact with an open flame, such as a match or stove burner.

Garments sold as children's sleepwear for sizes larger than nine months must be either flame-resistant or snug-fitting. Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when removed

from an ignition source. Examples include inherently flame-resistant polyesters that do not require chemical treatment.

Snug-fitting garments need not be flame resistant because they are made to fit closely against a child’s body. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily and, even if ignited, does not burn readily because there is little oxygen to feed a fire.

Although efforts have been Although efforts have been successful, there is still successful, there is still much to be done for much to be done for consumers …consumers …

(CPSC: “Toy-Related Deaths and I(CPSC: “Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries Calendar Year 2006”) njuries Calendar Year 2006”)

Toy-related emergency room Toy-related emergency room treated injury estimates - 2006treated injury estimates - 2006

165,100 children under the age of 15 were 165,100 children under the age of 15 were treated in U.S. hospital ERs for toy-treated in U.S. hospital ERs for toy-related injuriesrelated injuries

Top 5 Hazards: Top 5 Hazards: MagnetsMagnetsRecalled ItemsRecalled Items

Tip Over (TV’s and items on Tip Over (TV’s and items on carts)carts)

Window Coverings Window Coverings Pool/Spa DrainsPool/Spa Drains

Any idea how many recalls Any idea how many recalls occur each month?occur each month?

MAY 2008MAY 2008APRIL 2008APRIL 2008

To view recalls, visit To view recalls, visit www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.htmlwww.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

You can find information on over 4,000 You can find information on over 4,000 product recalls and recall alerts using the product recalls and recall alerts using the various searches on this Web page. various searches on this Web page.

A Look at some tragic A Look at some tragic CPSC RECALL’sCPSC RECALL’s

ALL Thrift store, Yard Sale Junkies ALL Thrift store, Yard Sale Junkies should continually review recalled should continually review recalled product informationproduct information..

Lead in jewelryLead in jewelry

Reebok gave this Reebok gave this bracelet away with bracelet away with selected shoes. selected shoes.

Sold at major shoe Sold at major shoe stores nationwide from stores nationwide from May 2004 through March May 2004 through March 2006 2006

A 4-year old child died A 4-year old child died as a result of lead as a result of lead poisoning after ingesting poisoning after ingesting a piece of the jewelry. a piece of the jewelry. Over 145,000 bracelets Over 145,000 bracelets were recalled.were recalled.

Lead in jewelryLead in jewelry

Tainted pet foodTainted pet food

Research the details Research the details on pet food recalls on pet food recalls and be amazed at and be amazed at your findingsyour findings

Strangulation riskStrangulation risk

A 4-year-old girl A 4-year-old girl strangled after the strangled after the hood drawstring on hood drawstring on her coat became her coat became entangled on a fence entangled on a fence as she attempted to as she attempted to climb over it.climb over it.

Since 1987, 22 Since 1987, 22 children have died in children have died in similar accidents with similar accidents with drawstrings.drawstrings.

Strangulation riskStrangulation risk

Name of Product: Name of Product: Lil’ Lil’ Snugglers™ Children’s BlanketsSnugglers™ Children’s Blankets

Units: Units: About 74,000About 74,000 Manufacturer: Manufacturer: Douglas Co., of Douglas Co., of

Keene N.H.Keene N.H. Hazard: Hazard: The blanket’s satin edge The blanket’s satin edge

can come loose, posing a can come loose, posing a strangulation hazard.strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Incidents/Injuries: The firm has The firm has 18 reports of the satin separating 18 reports of the satin separating from the blanket. No injuries have from the blanket. No injuries have been reported.been reported.

Description: Description: The recalled The recalled children’s blankets are 14 inches children’s blankets are 14 inches square with an animal head sewn square with an animal head sewn in the middle. The satin border in the middle. The satin border around the outside edge is about around the outside edge is about one inch wideone inch wide

Name of Product: Flower Writers; Christmas Writers; Easter Writers; and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing PensUnits: About 310,000Distributor: Michaels Stores Inc., of Irving, TexasHazard: The seasonal writing pens' surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Lead and cadmium Lead and cadmium poisoningpoisoning

Remember, metals are used in Remember, metals are used in products as vinyl and paint. A products as vinyl and paint. A product may seem ‘safe’, but product may seem ‘safe’, but metals can hide where you metals can hide where you

would not expect them. STAY would not expect them. STAY INFORMED.INFORMED.

Exploding iPODs and Exploding iPODs and

laptopslaptops

Poisoning dangerPoisoning danger

Lead in toysLead in toys

The list goes on and onThe list goes on and on

Be an informed consumerBe an informed consumer Utilize the CPSC information - it’s freeUtilize the CPSC information - it’s free Sign up for notifications of recallsSign up for notifications of recalls Report unsafe productsReport unsafe products Thrift store, yard sale junkies – beware -Thrift store, yard sale junkies – beware -

what you think is a savings may be very what you think is a savings may be very costlycostly

To report a dangerous product or a product related injury, call the CPSC

hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270.

Consumers can obtain release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. Consumers can also report product

hazards by e-mailing info@cpsc.gov.