In an effort to keep people under the influence off the roads when they’ve been drinking, a judge in Ohio is ordering folks who have been convicted of drunk driving to install ride-hailing apps like Uber or Lyft. [More]
better safe than sorry
FDA, CDC Warn Families About Inaccurate Readings In Some Lead Tests
By 5.17.17
It’s easier than ever for parents (and parents-to-be) to get their lead levels tested, but federal officials are now warning American families that certain popular lead tests may provide inaccurate results, increasing the risk for lead poisoning in certain young children and adults. [More]
Report: Amazon Resets Some Users’ Passwords Over Concerns They May Have Been Compromised
By 11.24.15
If you found Amazon has force-reset your account password, you aren’t alone: according to a new report, many customers have reported that the e-commerce giant emailed them saying their password had been changed, citing security concerns that the information may be exposed to outsiders. [More]
Sony: You Actually Shouldn’t Use Waterproof Xperia Phones Underwater
By 9.11.15
Sony’s doing a bit of an about face after touting its Xperia devices as being waterproof enough that users can take pictures and videos underwater, updating its support page to advise against doing exactly that. [More]
Emergency Responders Smash Car’s Window After Report Of Baby Locked Inside, End Up Rescuing Lifelike Doll
By 9.1.15
If you’re in the habit of leaving eerily lifelike baby dolls strapped into a car seat while you’re out and about, you might want to reconsider, unless, of course, you like having your car’s windows smashed open: police in Oakland, Calif. say emergency responders busted the window of a vehicle after passersby reported a baby locked inside, only to find it was a very human looking doll that’d been placed in a rear-facing car seat, just like a living child would be. [More]
My Car Is Recalled In A Snowy, Icy State, But Not My Snowy, Icy State. What Do I Do?
By 2.18.15
While most automobile recalls are national, some recalls are limited to specific regions of the country where particular road and weather conditions increase the risk of a problem. What about those people who live outside the recall region but who are concerned their car needs to be checked out? [More]
Unattended Bag That Sparked Bomb Investigation In NYC Bus Station Actually Filled With 1,000 Condoms
By 2.2.15
Do you ever get that feeling like you’ve left your bag filled with over a thousand condoms in it somewhere you shouldn’t have? No? Because somehow someone at a bus station in New York City managed to wander off and leave a bag fairly brimming with contraception unattended, prompting a bomb investigation. [More]
If You Have One Of Two Britax ClickTight Car Seats, Watch This Video To Make Sure It’s Installed Safely
By 11.10.14
Our esteemed brethren at Consumer Reports are always checking into products to make sure that not only will they perform as they’re supposed to, but to make sure that consumers are using them safely and in the right way. So if you own a Britax Boulevard ClickTight or Britax Marathon ClickTight convertible car seat, you’ll want to watch this video to make sure everything is installed the way it’s supposed to be. [More]
Evenflo Agrees To Recall 202,000 Rear-Facing Infant Car Seats Over Tricky Buckle
By 10.24.14
Earlier this year, both Graco and Evenflo recalled almost six million car seats, all told, due to a safety buckle that regulators said could be tricky to open in the case of an emergency, and hamper attempts to get kids out of the car safely. And now, despite pushing back against a recall for additional rear-facing infant seats that use the same buckle, but that the companies argued don’t pose the same risk, Evenflo says it’s agreed to recall 202,000 more car seats. [More]
Public Safety Officer Gives Mom A New Car Seat For Her Daughter Instead Of Writing Her A Ticket
By 10.7.14
Keeping everyone safe on the road is part of the job of all local law enforcement, so when a public safety officer in Michigan pulled over a young driver and saw that her child wasn’t strapped into a safety seat, he acted. But instead of writing her a ticket for the lack of a car seat, he brought her to a store and bought one for her. [More]
FAA: More Than 1,300 Boeing Jets Must Replace Pilot Displays To Prevent WiFi Interference
By 10.1.14
While travelers can now use a slew of mobile devices during flight, it’s not just the gadgets in the cabin that fall under the auspices of the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency issued an order yesterday saying more than 1,300 Boeing jets must have their pilot displays replaced, to make sure they’re resistant to any possible interference coming from WiFi devices used in the cockpit. [More]
Graco Recalls Harness Buckles On 1.9 Million Infant Car Seats
By 7.1.14
It’s not a great week for Graco: Hot on the heels of Consumer Reports’ announcement that one of its strollers is a safety risk, the company says it’s recalling the harness buckles on 1.9 million infant car seats, due to difficulty opening the buckle. [More]
Woman Electrocuted And Killed While Talking On Phone Plugged Into Faulty USB Charger
By 6.27.14
If you’re still one of those people pish-toshing the idea that buying counterfeit or unapproved electronics and accessories can be dangerous, you should learn something from a recent tragedy in Australia. A 28-year-old woman was killed there while talking on a phone that she’d plugged into a faulty USB charger, prompting authorities to warn consumers everywhere against using such devices. [More]
TSA Temporarily Bans All Liquids, Gels In Carry-On Bags On Flights To And From Russia
By 2.7.14
Those little plastic bags can’t save you now, folks. At least not if you’re going to Russia from the U.S. or flying here from Russia: After warning earlier this week that toothpaste tubes would get an extra long look, the Transportation Security Administration has placed a temporary ban on all liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags on any flights involving Russia. [More]
Plane Full Of Passengers Reportedly Told To Get Tuberculosis Shots After Flight Lands
By 12.2.13
It’s one thing to endure a flight full of your neighbor’s hacking and coughing (bring cough drops to share, you never know!) but it’s an entirely different matter to learn that you might need to get to the doctor for some shots because someone was flying with active tuberculosis. [More]
Annual Survey Confirms: Yup, There Are Dangerous Toys On Store Shelves This Season
By 11.26.13
It’s a hectic time of year — shoppers dashing through the toy aisles in stores around the country, grabbing toys as they go to appease the mighty appetites of children who absolutely must have this or that source of entertainment. But this year’s annual survey of dangerous or toxic toys shows that it also pays to be aware of what you’re buying before you bestow it upon your kid. [More]
Costco Offering Free Hepatitis Vaccines To Customers Who Purchased Recalled Berries
By 6.7.13
We told you earlier this week about a hepatitis A outbreak in several states that authorities had linked to a berry mix sold at Costco stores. Now comes news that the warehouse chain is offering free vaccines to those who have eaten the recalled berries. [More]
5 Major Rental Car Companies Agree To Stop Renting & Leasing Recalled Vehicles
By 9.27.12
You know what’s a scary thought? Renting a vehicle from a car rental company and then finding out that it’s part of a recall, but was never brought in for the necessary repairs. Then there you are, driving a potentially dangerous vehicle. We’re kind of surprised it took this long, but now Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Dollar Thrifty and National have agreed to stop leasing vehicles under safety recalls. [More]
