In July’s recall roundup, the Consumer Products Safety Commission is out to protect us all from shocking air conditioners, exploding wine bottles, leaking snow throwers, and dangerous mobile device chargers. [More]
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June Recall Roundup – Space Heater May Overheat Your Space
By 6.20.14
In June’s recall roundup, we have the usual suspects: flammable kids’ pajamas, poorly wired lamps, self-firing crossbows, and collapsing ottomans. [More]
Please, Please, Please: Do Not Leave Your Children In Hot, Locked Cars
By 6.19.14
If it sounds like we’re begging, it’s because we are: Every summer as the hot weather approaches, it’s always a good idea to reissue the plea to parents and other caretakers to please, please, not leave children locked in cars with the windows up. You shouldn’t be leaving your children anywhere unattended, but it’s especially dangerous in these summertime situations. [More]
OSHA Issues Citations Following Worker Death At Amazon Warehouse
By 6.13.14
Following the December 2013 death of a temporary worker at an Amazon fulfillment center in New Jersey, the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration has issued citations to five companies involved in staffing the warehouse, while also revealing that it is investigating another death at an Amazon facility in Pennsylvania. [More]
How Should I Shop For A Medical Alert System?
By 6.13.14
When a scam works well, scamsters keep at it, and the “someone bought you a free medical alert device” robocall scam aimed at senior citizens is very effective. Even when authorities shut it down, another version pops right up. What if you want to buy a real emergency alert system for yourself or for a loved one, though? There are obviously legitimate companies in that sector, but how do they compare? [More]
Can Yelp Track Foodborne Illness Outbreaks In Restaurants?
By 5.23.14
People tend to under-report food poisoning: generally, we don’t visit the doctor for a small digestive disturbance or report our illness to the local health department unless it happens to be part of a widely-publicized outbreak. What if there were another way to learn about these outbreaks, though? What if health departments could use Yelp? [More]
Detergent Pod User? We Want To Hear From You
By 5.16.14
Do you use detergent pods, the single-serve laundry sensation that small children can’t stop cramming in their mouths? If so, our freshly-laundered colleagues down the hall at Consumer Reports would like some feedback from you on the products, especially if you have small children living with you. Click here to take their brief questionnaire on the subject. [More]
May Recall Roundup – Watch Out For The Jerky Blaster
By 5.15.14
“What on earth is a jerky blaster?” you may be asking. It’s a product sold by outdoor outfitter Cabela’s that lets you make your own jerky sticks at home, and it functions sort of like a caulk gun for meat. It’s been recalled because its charger might overheat, and so have a lot of other things. [More]
Ford Recalls 692K Ford Escape & C-MAX Vehicles Because Airbags Are Supposed To Deploy
By 5.9.14
A software glitch in some of Ford’s Escape SUV and C-MAX vehicles may prevent airbags from deploying immediately, so the carmaker has recalled a total of 692,500 vehicles to fix this potentially deadly problem. [More]
April Recall Roundup – Look Out For Unexpected Crossbows
By 4.29.14
In this month’s Recall Roundup, a lawnmower keeps going even after its operator has dismounted, computer batteries overheat, fireplaces explode, and a self-destructing goldfish bowl is no place for fish. (Actually, a goldfish bowl is no place for a goldfish: take the $20 you get back and put it toward an aquarium.) [More]
A BMW With Its Windows Punched Out Is Exactly Why You Don’t Park In Front Of Fire Hydrants
By 4.10.14
Hey, you rebels out there, thinking you’re just too good for the laws the rest of us live by and decide to park in front of a hydrant. You might want to reconsider because not only could you end up with a destroyed vehicle, but you’re potentially risking lives if firefighters need access to that hydrant. [More]
Don’t Recycle Your Personal Information Into Identity Thieves’ Hands
By 3.24.14
Recycling paper: it’s supposedly better for the environment han tossing your old paperwork in a landfill, so it makes us feel good. All of our old paperwork is a bountiful harvest for someone who isn’t making brown paper napkins, though. If you aren’t careful, your personal and financial information could get recycled right into someone else’s hands. [More]
March Recall Roundup – Don’t Put A Cork In It
By 3.24.14
In this month’s Recall Roundup, cork toys crumble but aren’t edible, heaters overheat, and Grumpy Cat has a lot to be unhappy about. [More]
Anti-Anxiety Pill Contains Metal Shard, Makes Patient Anxious
By 3.19.14
People routinely cut or snap pills in half to change their dose or save money by taking half of a larger dose. Generally, they don’t expect to find anything inside when they do so. One woman in Denver was dividing her medicine, a generic version of the antianxiety drug Buspar, and noticed a metal shard. Just what anyone needs: more things to be anxious about. [More]
February Recall Roundup: Stop That Baby Walker!
By 2.25.14
In this month’s Recall Roundup, recalls are here to protect babies’ fingers, adults’ wrists, and anyone who uses a toilet. [More]
12 Things You Should Keep In Your Car For Emergencies
By 1.29.14
Snowy, icy winters make for especially treacherous driving, so you usually see lists like this published when the first storms of the year hit. That’s not quite fair, though. Emergencies come up in any climate and at any time of year. You may not need all of them year-round, but here are a dozen things that can help you out in an emergency on the road. [More]
Better, Stronger, Faster? New Federal Safety Rules Proposed for Child Car Seats
By 1.22.14
From a parent’s perspective, frequent changes in car seat regulations and standards can be daunting. Still, safety is paramount, and so the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a round of new safety standards for child car seats. [More]
Death Of Siblings Is Tragic Reminder To Check Trunks & Chests For Potential Traps
By 1.13.14
As much as an old trunk or hope chest can look nice in your living room, it can also be a potential hazard for children if there is no way to open it from the inside. Yesterday, a young brother and sister in Massachusetts died at their home after becoming trapped inside a hope chest in their home. [More]
