Did you know that by age 18, most teenagers have already accumulated 50% - 80% of their lifetime sun exposure? That's one reason why it's vitally important for parents to help ensure that their children are taking appropriate sun safety precautions. This Spring and Summer, you can help protect the health of your children by following some basic sun safety tips for kids, provided here courtesy of KidsHealth.Org:
Continue Reading...Most of the United States will be changing to Daylight Saving Time (DST) on March 9, 2008. This will be the first season when the time change occurs so early in the spring. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and local fire departments remind consumers that DST changes are also the best times to change smoke detector batteries and reviewing home fire safety guidelines.
The following news release from the CPSC for March 6, 2008 is reproduced in its entirety for our readers:
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2008
Release #08-211
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7800
CPSC Daylight Saving Time Alert: Working Smoke Alarms Are Key to Surviving Home Fires
WASHINGTON, D. C. – Smoke alarms are proven life savers. There are more than 300,000 residential fires every year, so when there is a fire, smoke alarms buy families valuable escape time.
Unfortunately, about two-thirds of fire deaths take place in homes with no smoke alarms or with non-working smoke alarms. The most common reasons why alarms did not work were missing, disconnected, or dead batteries. Consumers need to make sure that they have a working smoke alarm.
For better warning of fire, consumers should install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas, and inside bedrooms. Replace batteries annually, and test the smoke alarms monthly. A good time to remember to replace batteries is when turning clocks ahead for daylight saving time on Sunday, March 9.
When shopping for smoke alarms, consumers should be aware of the two different types of smoke alarms: ionization and photoelectric. While both types are effective smoke sensors, ionization type detectors respond quickly to flaming fires, while photoelectric type detectors respond sooner to smoldering fires. Since consumers can’t predict what types of fires might break out, CPSC staff recommends (pdf) installing both ionization and photoelectric type smoke alarms (pdf) throughout the home for the best warning of a fire. This recommendation is also supported by the United States Fire Administration, the National Fire Protection Association, Underwriters Laboratories, and by research conducted by the National Institute for Standards and Technology. There are also dual sensor smoke alarms that have both ionization and photoelectric sensors in one unit.
Consumers should also consider interconnected smoke alarms. Interconnected alarms are connected to each other by a hard wire or by wireless technology. If one alarm is triggered, all interconnected alarms in the home sound, alerting consumers to the fire earlier.
Many residential fires are preventable. CPSC recommends consumers follow these safety steps:
While the topics of water safety and drowning prevention typically receive some public attention during summer months, there are many people who prefer to use hot tubs, whirlpools and spas throughout the winter, when the weather is at its coldest. Although winter can be one of the most enjoyable seasons for hot tub use, it is equally dangerous. To help prevent personal injuries related to hot tubs, whirlpools and spas, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) offers the following historical data and recommendations for children and adults alike:
Continue Reading...When winter temperatures drop significantly below normal, staying warm and safe can become a challenge. Extremely cold temperatures often accompany a winter storm, so you may have to cope with power failures and icy roads. Although staying indoors as much as possible can help reduce the risk of car crashes and falls on the ice, you may also face indoor hazards, such as communication, heating and food complications. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds everyone to be safe throughout the rest of this winter season, and to check the following supply lists to prepare in advance of particularly nasty winter weather:
Continue Reading...The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has issued a new guideline urging its members to screen patients and determine their risk of falling. The practice parameter and supporting research appear this month in the peer-reviewed journal Neurology.
Continue Reading...February 3rd - 9th is National Burn Awareness Week -- a period of time designated to raise public awareness of burn injuries and how to prevent them. This year's primary theme is gasoline burn prevention. The Manassas Journal Messenger recently published an extensive compilation of gasoline safety tips to help prevent burn injuries and other burn-related accidents.
In Virginia alone, more than 1,500 burn-related hospitalizations occurred between 2001 and 2005. Worse, the hospitalization rate for children younger than age 4 was 5 times higher than the rate for all other ages combined. Regan Zambri & Long encourages readers to familiarize themselves with theses safety tips and share them with others to help prevent personal injuries related to gasoline:
Continue Reading...Keeping your family safe and getting your life back to normal following a natural disaster depends on advance planning and time and energy devoted to preparation. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has developed The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP) -- four comprehensive steps to prepare your family for disasters, prevent personal injuries and promote safety readiness. Taking time as a family to prepare for the unexpected not only helps to ensure everyone's safety, but models responsibility. Use the following tips in your own preparation, courtesy of the AAP:
Continue Reading...Most people understand that extended exposure to the sun's rays can be damaging to the skin and eyes, and that safety precautions are in order during summer months. Unfortunately, many people fail to realize that the sun can be equally dangerous in the winter months, particularly when the ground is covered with a reflective layer of bright snow or ice. This winter, whether you're heading south in search of warmer weather, or just spending time outdoors in the cold, keep the following sun safety tips in mind, courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
Continue Reading...There are many instances where a small, portable heater can be useful in a home or garage during the winter season. Portable heaters are available in many models, including those that burn propane, kerosene or other fuels. Many homeowners opt for electric models which don't produce noxious fumes or produce an open flame, because they appear safer. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), however, many homeowners exhibit a false sense of security related to electric space heaters -- appliances which can, in fact, be very dangerous when used improperly.
Continue Reading...Historically, approximately five children are killed each year as a result of tip-over accidents involving televisions or large furniture and appliances in the home, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In most recent years, the incidence of these events has been significanlty higher than normal -- since 2000, 100 such fatalities have been reported. If you or someone in your family acquired a new television or large household item this holiday season, or if you simply have large furniture items that you've never stabilized or secured, please take time to familiarize yourself with the following safety tips regarding potentially dangerous household items:
Continue Reading...According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 2.5 million children are killed or injured as a result of basic home safety hazards. Most of those deaths and injuries are entirely preventable, and in fact, many of them can be prevented relatively easily, by purchasing and properly utilizing the following 12 commercially-available home safety and child-proofing devices:
Continue Reading...Winter weather often brings snow, sleet and ice, and consequently, power outages. Although portable generators can offer life-saving benefits during power outages, they can also be dangerous. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the best way to avoid accidents and injuries related to portable generators is to become familiar with their proper operating procedures. The agency recommends the following tips for staying safe around portable electric generators:
Continue Reading...Winter can be a healthy and enjoyable season for kids and adults, alike. It can also be a dangerous season. According to experts at Children's Hospital Boston:
To help avoid injuries this winter, and to safeguard children's health and safety, Children's Hospital Boston offers the following basic winter safety tips:
Winter weather brings a higher incidence of home fires every year, many attributable to heating equipment. Many winter fires are also caused by holiday cooking, decorating and entertaining, however. This holiday season, protect your home and family by familiarizing yourself with the following winter home fire facts and safety tips, courtesy of the National Fire Protection Association:
Continue Reading...An estimated 15,600 home fires were ingnited by candles in 2005, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Worse, those candle fires claimed the lives of 150 people, and injured another 1,270. If you plan to decorate with candles this holiday season, do yourself a favor and take time to familiarize yourself with the following candle fire data and safety tips, courtesy of the NFPA:
Continue Reading...The winter holiday season is a time of celebration and relaxation, but according to the Nemours Foundation, additional cooking and home decorating also help to make it a season of increased personal injuries. This year, take time to familiarize yourself with some of the following common holiday dangers, and enjoy a happier, healthier new year:
Continue Reading...According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), General Electric is recalling approximately 92,000 microwave ovens. The CPSC notice is reproduced below in its entirety.
| Office of Information and Public Affairs | Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2007 Release #08-110 | GE’s Recall Hotline: (888) 240-2745 |
Name of Product: Built-in Combination Wall and Microwave Ovens
Units: About 92,000
Manufacturer: GE Consumer & Industrial, of Louisville, Ky.
Hazard: The door switch in the microwave oven can overheat and ignite plastic components in the control area, posing a fire hazard to consumers. The lower thermal oven does not pose a hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: GE is aware of 35 incidents of minor property damage and one incident in which a fire damaged adjacent kitchen cabinets. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall includes GE combination microwave and conventional built-in wall ovens sold under the following brand names: GE, GE Profile® and Kenmore. The ovens were sold in white, black, bisque and stainless steel. The brand name is printed on the lower left corner on the front of the microwave door. The following model and serial numbers can be found inside the microwave oven on the left interior wall.
| Recalled Models | Serial number begins with: | |
|---|---|---|
| GE / GE Profile | JKP85B0A3BB, JKP85B0D1BB, JKP85W0A3WW, JKP85W0D1WW, JKP86B0F1BB, JKP86C0F1CC, JKP86S0F1SS, JKP86W0F1WW, JT965B0F1BB, JT965C0F1CC, JT965S0F1SS, JT965W0F1WW, JTP85B0A2BB, JTP85B0A3BB, JTP85B0A4BB, JTP85B0A5BB, JTP85B0D1BB, JTP85W0A2WW, JTP85W0A3WW, JTP85W0A4WW, JTP85W0A5WW, JTP85W0D1WW, JTP86B0F1BB, JTP86C0F1CC, JTP86S0F1SS, JTP86W0F1WW, JTP95B0A2BB, JTP95B0A3BB, JTP95B0A4BB, JTP95B0A5BB, JTP95B0D1BB, JTP95W0A2WW, JTP95W0A3WW, JTP95W0A4WW, JTP95W0A5WW, JTP95W0D1WW | AZ, DZ, FZ, GZ, HZ, LZ, MZ, RZ, SZ, TZ, VZ, ZZ, AA, DA, FA, GA, HA, LA, MA, RA, SA, TA, VA, ZA, AD, DD, FD, GD, HD, LD, MD, RD, SD, TD, VD, ZD, AF, DF, FF, GF, HF, LF, MF, RF, SF, TF, VF, ZF |
| Kenmore (All model numbers start with 911) | 41485991, 41485992, 41485993, 41485994, 41489991, 41489992, 41489993, 41489994, 49485992, 49489992, 47692100, 47699100, 47862100, 47869100, 47812200, 47813200, 47814200, 47819200, 47792200, 47793200, 47794200, 47799200 | 0, 1, 2, 3 |
Sold at: Department and appliance stores from January 2000 to December 2003 for between $1,500 and $2,000.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the microwave oven immediately. Consumers should contact GE regarding their GE/GE Profile micro-oven combo or Sears for their Kenmore unit. GE is offering a free repair or rebate on a new product, a $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE brand unit, or a $600 rebate toward the purchase of a new GE Profile brand unit. Sears is offering a free repair or $300 rebate toward the purchase of a new Kenmore brand unit. Consumers can continue using the lower thermal oven.
Consumer Contact: For additional information on GE /Profile units, contact General Electric toll-free at (888)-240-2745 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit GE’s Web site at www.geappliances.com. For additional information on Kenmore units, contact Sears toll-free at (888) 679-0282 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, or visit Sears’ Web site at www.sears.com
It's the season of gift giving, and according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), one important key to an enjoyable holiday is to be mindful of the "ABCs" of toy safety: Awareness Benefits Consumers.
Continue Reading...Decorating for the holidays is one of the most common, most effective ways to express the festive mood of the season. Many holiday decorations pose safety threats when not used properly, however. This holiday season, take steps to ensure that your decorating traditions don't put you or your loved ones at risk. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) offers the following holiday decorating safety tips:
Continue Reading...Home cooking fires occur in record numbers on Thanksgiving Day, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). In 2005, Thanksgiving meal preparation caused 1,300 kitchen fires -- three times more than the usual daily average. Annually, cooking fires cause more than half a billion dollars in damage to U.S. homes.
Continue Reading...Regan Zambri & Long urges all of their readers to practice fire safety guidelines in their homes. One of the most important is to keep smoke detectors in good working order. Common sense guidelines are listed in the following release by Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs, which is quoted in its entirety.
"Use Daylight Saving Time to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe
Remember to Change Your Batteries on November 4
ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - October 23, 2007) - Twenty years ago, the people from Energizer® Batteries and the nation's firefighters came up with an idea that likely has saved thousands of homes and perhaps as many lives.
The idea connected two unrelated activities -- changing clocks for Daylight Saving Time and changing the batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Residents could change their batteries on these important safety alarms almost anytime, but in fact, many didn't. It's a sad fact that approximately 80 percent of fire deaths result from fires in homes without working smoke alarms. Since hardly anyone neglects to change their clocks, Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) decided to urge Americans through the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program to use the "extra hour" to change their smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
This year, the day to set your clocks back and change batteries in your smoke detectors is November 4.
The program started in 1987 with just two fire departments in St. Louis and Atlanta. Now as the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery program celebrates its 20th anniversary, more than 5,900 fire departments across the country are participating in the program. And as a result, many Americans have adopted the habit of changing their batteries at the same time they change their clocks.
"We have no way of knowing exactly how many lives and homes have been saved as a result," said Chief Steven P. Westermann, president of the IAFC. "What we do know is that each year more Americans are replacing their batteries before they wear out and that helps make each alarm safer."
Having a working smoke alarm can cut the odds of dying in a home fire nearly in half by adopting this simple habit. Most American homes -- 96 percent in fact -- have smoke alarms; however, more than a quarter of those homes have at least one nonworking smoke alarm, mostly due to worn out or missing batteries. The IAFC estimates more than 25 million homes are at risk.
Five common reasons home smoke alarms do not function properly are:
-- Batteries are not replaced in a timely fashion.
-- Batteries are removed due to unwanted activation from situations such
as cooking fumes.
-- Batteries are removed due to a "chirping sound," which actually
indicates the battery needs to be replaced!
-- Alarms and detectors are not cleaned regularly.
-- Alarm is aged and possibly contains outdated parts or technology.
Each of these reasons is easily remedied by either simply replacing the battery or the device.
"Many people mistakenly believe they will either see the flames or smell the smoke when a fire breaks out," Chief Westermann said. "But most fire fatalities happen while families are asleep. Smoke by itself doesn't provide a wake-up call, but a working smoke alarm surely does."
Westermann also noted that November usually brings the onset of severe weather, a time when power outages are more frequent. He urged residents to avoid using candles, which are often the cause of home fires and to instead use flashlights. Daylight Saving Time is a good time to check batteries in flashlights as well.
The IAFC (www.iafc.org) is a non-profit association representing nearly 13,000 chief fire officers and emergency services leaders worldwide. Its members are the world's leading experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response, hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue, and public safety legislation.
Energizer Holdings, Inc. (
Thanks to a change in Daylight Savings Time, trick-or-treaters will be made safer by an extra hour of evening light this year. A lack of light on Halloween evening isn't the only danger posed to young ghosts and goblins, however -- many injuries each year stem from trips and falls attributed to unsafe costumes. When planning your child's costume (or your own) this year, keep in mind the following advice, courtesy of Consumer Reports:
Continue Reading...Improper use of portable space heaters accounts for approximately 25,000 household fires each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). As temperatures begin to decline this season, and the price of heating fuel rises, more Americans will inevitably be tempted to use space heaters in their homes. Space heaters are widely available in wood, kerosene, gas, and electric models. Regardless of the model, however, CPSC offers the following fire prevention suggestions:
Continue Reading...Each year, we post new Halloween health and safety tips here on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, but the basic dangers related to Halloween festivities tend to remain the same. Following are some good, common sense tips for a safe celebration, courtesy of the American Red Cross:
Continue Reading...The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a voluntary Toshiba recall of certain AC adapters included as accessories with some Toshiba DVD players. The adapters are being recalled over concerns related to overheating and burn hazards. Consumers should stop using these adapters immediately. The following product information pertains to units affected by the recall:
Continue Reading...Home Safety Council (HSC) has announced a partnership with HotStop scald-prevention devices to prevent home-based scalding injuries. Approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths each year are attributable to scalding -- most involve the very young or the elderly. The HSC / HotStop partnership is preparing to kick off a public awareness campaign this fall which will continue into next year and educate consumers of the dangers of scalding injuries and ways to prevent them.
Continue Reading...October is Fire Safety Month, and while much can be said of fire prevention, early detection of fire is critical to keeping it contained and preventing personal injuries. The Home Safety Council reports that while 97% of American homes contain a smoke detector, one is seldom enough -- particularly if it's installed improperly. The organization reminds consumers of the following concerning home smoke detectors:
Continue Reading...Clothes dryers contribute to approximately 15,600 house fires, 400 injuries and 15 deaths each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Failure to clean lint from those dryers is a leading cause of fires. Improper installation and maintenance are also common contributing factors. Clothes dryers force hot air through a revolving drum to dry clothes. The lint that accumulates during this drying process is mostly caught in a filter trap, but some also accumulates in both the dryer and the dryer vent. This accumulation of debris reduces airflow through the machine, raises temperature levels, and provides a highly flammable source of fuel for a residential fire.
Continue Reading...Roughly 3,800 injuries -- and even 34 deaths -- occur every year due to scalding injuries from tap water that is too hot, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Most of these injuries involve senior citizens, children, and water heater thermostats that are turned up entirely too high. Don't take hot water temperatures for granted. The Home Safety Council offers the following tips to help reduce the risk that anyone suffers a scalding injury in your home:
Continue Reading...Approximately seven students die and 47 more are injured each year in college dorm fires, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Worse, data suggests that the number of fires has been increasing. The new data triggered an alarm at CPSC, and the organization issued a public warning this week, as thousands of students head toward campus to begin the new academic year.
Continue Reading...Toshiba America has announced an expanded voluntary recall of defective lithium-ion laptop batteries manufactured by Sony Corporation. The batteries, which pose a fire hazard due to overheating, were not included in the much wider recall of Sony laptop batteries issued in 2006, also due to fire hazards from overheating. Most of the affected batteries accompanied new Toshiba Satellite and Tecra notebook computers with any of the following model numbers:
More than 33 million Americans are injured in their homes each year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). While some home-based hazards arise from new trends or technologies, many are age-old dangers -- the unanchored stove that tips forward and burns a curious child, for example. To help increase awareness of preventable home injuries, CPSC recently published its list of "Top Five Hidden Home Hazards." A serious injury can change your life, or the life of your child, forever. Your own awareness of these "Top Five" dangers can be your best protection from personal injury:
Continue Reading...Ford Motor Company has announced a voluntary expanded recall of 3.6 million vehicles due to fire safety concerns stemming from faulty cruise control switches. The recall now includes more than a dozen models of vehicle built between 1992 and 2007.
In January 2005, the company had recalled approximately 6 million vehicles with similar cruise control switch problems. According to Ford, newly-affected owners will begin receiving notices of the expanded recall on August 15, 2007.
Owners with immediate questions regarding the recall are instructed to call (888) 222-2751.
Ford's latest recall involves the following vehicles:
Continue Reading...Unlike conventional ovens, microwaves cook food from the inside out, right?
Wrong, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A), which warns that the "reverse cooking" myth often puts people at risk of food contamination when items like raw meat go under-cooked in the center. The agency urges microwave oven users to utilize a cooking thermometer and check the temperature of all foods before serving them to ensure their safety. Experts also advise heating potentially dangerous foods to the following temperatures:
The Hasbro corporation is recalling approximately 1 million children's Easy Bake ovens. The move follows 249 incidents of kid's hands becoming stuck in the opening, and 77 incidents of burn injury, 16 of which involved second or third degree burns. One 5-year-old girl sustained burns that necessitated finger amputation. An earlier recall of the same toys involved the installation of a repair kit, whereas this recall requires a complete replacement of the toy.
The New England Journal of Medicine has reported an incidence of a 37-year old man who was struck by lightning while jogging in a thunderstorm and listening to an iPod. The authors warn that although lightning can strike a person directly, a phenomenon known as side flash -- which affected this man -- is much more common. In instances of side flash, lightning strikes a nearby object, then jumps to a person. The high resistance of the skin generally means that lightning is conducted over the outside of the body in these instances. Because the man was sweaty, however, and the metal wires of his iPod were running into his ears, the flashover was disrupted, and the current was directed into and through the his head. His tympanic membranes were perforated, among other injuries.
According to a recent study published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, between the years of 1990 and 2004, more than 140,000 kids made trips to U.S. emergency rooms due to lawn mower accidents -- almost 9,400 visits annually. The average age of the injured children was 10.7 years, and 78% were boys. Most typically, injuries included lacerations, burns, eye damage, soft tissue damage and bone fractures.
Continue Reading...A new standard for mattress safety has been mandated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this month, requiring that mattresses manufactured on or after July 1, 2007 be more fire-resistant. The standard is aimed specifically at reducing the release of heat in the event that a mattress is ignited. CPSC estimates that design changes may prevent as many as 270 deaths and 1,330 injuries each year.
Continue Reading...Local News4 has reported that a 18-year-old Oxon Hill, Maryland girl recently was struck by lightning, and later died from her serious injuries. She was waiting beneath a tree at a bus stop. It was National Lightning Safety Week. Last year alone, 246 U.S. residents were injured by lightning and 47 were killed.
Experts recommend that if you find yourself outdoors in lightning, you should quickly take shelter in a large, enclosed building -- its wiring and plumbing will direct lightning bolts away and from you and into the ground. If one isn't available, the next safest place is an enclosed metal vehicle (though not a convertible). Carports, pavilions or sheds without electricity or plumbing are not safe.
A local 9-year-old Queen Anne's County boy was seriously burned this week by an ignited sparkler, an incident that serves as a reminder of the dangers posed even by novelty fireworks.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, we have posted:
This Fourth of July, personal fireworks and sparklers could easily spark forest fires, according to the Virginia Dept. of Forestry. In a recent news release, the agency warned that a lack of rain throughout the month of June has left much surrounding timber particularly dry and vulnerable to wildfires this summer. As an alternative to personal fireworks displays this year, they urge residents to attend one of the many public events scheduled around the D.C. Metro area.
Previously, we have posted fireworks safety guidelines on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog.
For information about your legal rights, please click here or call the law firm of Regan Zambri & Long, PLLC at 202-463-3030.
A longstanding safety problem with kitchen ranges could affect as many as 20 million homes in the U.S., consumer advocates warn. Affected ovens tip forward when weight is applied to open doors or lower drawers, crushing and burning consumers in the process. According to Public Citizen, a national non-profit public interest group, reports of fatalities include children as young as 12 months, weighing as little as 24 pounds, and elderly people who lean on the appliances for support, particularly when cleaning or cooking. More than 100 reported cases of death and injury from scalding due to hot foods have surfaced to date. Officials believe the true number is actually much higher.
Continue Reading...Independence Day is celebrated across the U.S. each year with spectacular public fireworks displays, as well as smaller private ones. Each carries a potential for personal injury. As you prepare to celebrate this holiday season, we hope you'll exercise good judgment in preventing injuries when possible, and by being prepared to respond should an accident occur. The following tips are offered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC):
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a voluntary recall by BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a subsidiary of Bosch Appliances, of two models of its Thermador ceramic cooktops, which turn on by themselves. Consumers are urged to turn off these affected units at the circuit breaker between uses, and immediately contact the manufacturer to arrange a free in-home repair. BSH's Recall Hotline is 1-800-758-1001.
June is also National Home Safety Month, and to heighten awareness of home safety issues like those posed by defective appliances, the Home Safety Council offers these kitchen and burn safety tips:
"Cooking Safety: