The Winter Storm Heating Mistake That Is Killing Families During Power Outages
Every winter storm season, Americans die from the same entirely preventable mistake: using heating sources designed for outdoor use inside their homes during power outages. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues winter storm safety warnings each year as temperatures drop and grid outages become more common — because the deaths from improvised indoor […]
Your CO Detector Might Be in the Wrong Place and Providing Almost No Protection
A carbon monoxide detector is only effective if it is positioned correctly — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says most homeowners have their detectors in the wrong locations, creating a dangerous false sense of security. A CO alarm that is placed incorrectly may not detect dangerous concentrations in time to alert occupants […]
The Holiday Extension Cord Mistake the CPSC Says Is Starting House Fires Across the Country
During the holiday decorating season, extension cord use in American homes increases dramatically — and so do the fires caused by improper extension cord use. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that extension cord misuse causes approximately 4,700 fires, 40 deaths, and 180 injuries every year in the United States, and the holiday […]
Children Are Getting Their Fingers and Limbs Trapped Under Running Treadmills While Their Parents Work Out
Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of home exercise equipment in America — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that they have caused severe injuries to young children who come into contact with the moving belt while a parent is using the machine nearby. The hazard is not the treadmill’s […]
Choking Is a Leading Killer of Children Under 5. These Are the Foods Most Often Responsible.
Choking is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children under five years old in the United States, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) notes that food is responsible for the majority of choking incidents in young children, with more than 12,000 emergency room visits annually from food-related choking in this […]
The Electric Blanket Mistakes That Start House Fires While People Are Sleeping
Electric blankets are a wintertime comfort item found in millions of American homes — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that specific use and storage mistakes cause electric blanket fires every year, most of which occur while the owner is asleep and unaware. The mistakes are not obscure — they are the […]
Your Child’s Halloween Costume Could Catch Fire in Seconds Near a Candle. Here Is What to Check.
Halloween costume fires injure children every year — and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns that most Halloween costumes sold online and at discount retailers can ignite within seconds of contact with an open flame. A costume that catches fire can cause severe burns over a large body surface area before a child […]
164,000 Ladder Injuries a Year and Holiday Decorating Season Is the Deadliest Time. Here Is Why.
More than 164,000 ladder-related injuries are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms every year, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the holiday decorating season drives a significant annual spike in those numbers. As homeowners climb to hang exterior lights, reach rooflines, and work in attics, the same set of preventable mistakes causes […]
FDA: Colored and Decorative Contact Lenses – A Prescription Is A Must
Wouldn’t it be cool to have vampire eyes for Halloween? Or deep violet eyes to match your purple sweater? How about your favorite sports team logo on your eyes just for fun? You can have all of these looks with decorative contact lenses (sometimes called fashion, costume, or colored contact lenses). Some of these lenses may […]
CDC: About West Nile
Overview West Nile virus is most commonly spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. People get infected with the virus during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through fall (typically June through October). The number of people diagnosed with West Nile typically peaks in late August to early September. […]