consumer safety -

We often take to this blog to warn consumers about trending circumstances which can lead to injuries.  Whether it be a defective product, an inattentive driver, or some other type of hazardous situation, the potential for injury in our modern day society could be endlessly explored.  But there’s one type of injury that goes largely unnoticed:  children accidentally hurting their parents.

An intriguing article in the New York Times takes a look at the phenomenon, classified by one blogger as Unintentional Parental Abuse, in greater detail.  The truth is, parents who aren’t careful around their younger children could find themselves on the receiving end of an injury.  Children don’t know their own strengths and limitations, and thus it’s not at all uncommon for an unsuspecting parent to find themselves being whacked in the face by an errant hand or noggin.

These types of injuries don’t exactly receive their own classification at hospitals, but anecdotal evidence suggests that they happen more often than you might think.  Parents routinely suffer from facial fractures, lacerations, eye scratches, and even concussions.

One New York-based pediatric doctor explained that corneal abrasions are incredibly common, as kids tend to want to reach out for their parents’ glasses.  They’re also curious about things like earrings, and they might reach out to grab such objects before you have the opportunity to react.

Stay cautious around your kids, and click the link to read the full tongue-in-cheek article.

Not too long ago, we explained the precautions that should be taken when you attempt to make a purchase on Craigslist.  This site and others like it don’t have the same safeguards against harm that other websites do, as you’re basically dealing with private citizens that you’ll more likely than not have to meet in person.  Those previous tips we provided focused on staying safe when making a purchase, but the tips included in a new report detail what to do if you’re the seller.

You’ll want to limit your identifying information in any ad you take out, and when someone gets in touch with you, you should make sure that you get their name, phone number, and maybe even an address or driver’s license number if they’re purchasing a car.  Once you know who the person is, do a Google search and see if you can find them and confirm that they are who they say they are.

Setting up a meet in the appropriate place is critical.  The Milwaukee PD has taken to advising citizens to meet buyers in the parking lot of a local police department.  Whether you meet at such a place or elsewhere, make sure that the venue is public, in sight of a bunch of people, and that you’re meeting during normal business hours.  Make sure that you take an acquaintance with you to the meet and that you’ve informed others of where you’re going to be.

Every once in awhile, though, this kind of public meet isn’t going to be possible.  For instance, you might be trying to get rid of something like an entertainment center that isn’t easily moved.  Thus, if you have your heart set on selling your hefty item on a site like Craigslist, you’ll have to run the risk of letting someone into your home.

You must take extreme precautions during these times.  If possible, bring the object outside onto your driveway so the buyer can’t get a look at the inside of your home.  But if moving it is out of the question, partition the room the item is in from the rest of your residence.  Just like at the public meet, you absolutely must have someone or even a group of people with you who can act immediately should someone try something dangerous.

Exercise your rights to protection.  Take a photo of the buyer and the vehicle they drive up in.  Even ask them for their driver’s license so that you have a point of reference for the cops.  An unsavory character will be loathe to hand over this information, but anyone else should oblige.  If the buyer shows up with someone, that’s fine, but make sure they stay together.  Don’t let one person out of your sight.

Finally, if something seems awry, call the authorities.  Take no chances with your personal safety.

There are fewer and fewer transactions taking place with cold hard cash.  Nowadays, people use their credit cards or simply make many of their purchases online. But there are still holdouts to the electronic transaction era, and at such times, you’ll likely have to go to an ATM at some point.

But as a recent slew of robberies in Waldorf, Maryland demonstrates, drawing money out of an ATM could pose a hazard.  Thieves will lie in wait in particularly susceptible areas and then rob an individual that just took out money.  To make sure that such an incident never befalls you, consider some of the safety tips offered in a new report.

You first want to make sure that the ATM you use isn’t in an area that could contribute to thievery.  For one thing, any ATM you draw money from should be located along the side of a building as opposed to a corner.  When the ATM is on the corner, your ability to see all around you is compromised, whereas an ATM on a wall or in an open area ensures you’ll be able to see suspicious persons coming from far away.

It’s perhaps best to simply not put yourself in a dangerous situation and instead opt to use an ATM in a public place.  But make sure that even public places are adequately lit, especially at night, and that large items like bushes aren’t around, as these could block your sight and the sight of others who would be able to identify a robbery taking place.

Also realize that a robbery is possible even via a drive-thru ATM.  This won’t prove a deterrent to particularly enterprising thieves.  When you pull up to the ATM, make sure that you don’t turn off the vehicle.  That way, you can post a hasty retreat if someone tries something untoward.  Give the person in front of you ample room with which to navigate, and keep doors and windows locked until you’re actually using the machine.

If you have to bank in an area you’re unfamiliar with, gauge your surroundings prior to making any sort of transaction.  Should a parking lot be relatively empty save for a few cars, keep an eye on those vehicles and any persons inside.  And if an individual is loitering in the area, you might be better off simply going elsewhere to conduct your business.

Finally, expedite the process as best you can.  Get your transaction ready prior to going to the ATM, with deposit envelopes or your ATM card ready to go before you walk or pull up.  And when your cash spews out, take it and leave.  Wait to count it until you’re home or in a place where onlookers can’t see you.

With spring weather proving alluring to runners across California, we thought there was perhaps no better time to direct you toward some tips on runner safety that might prevent a potentially serious injury.

Although we tend to think of distraction as being a driving hazard, runners are privy to distraction as well.  A cellphone might not be used by many considering how hard it is to jog and talk at the same time, but an MP3 player could also pose a distraction.

When you focus on the music, you fail to take aural environmental cues into account.  You’ll be unable to hear an oncoming vehicle plowing through an intersection, a cyclist approaching from your rear, or a child running into your path.  A lot can go wrong when you remove one of your senses from the equation.

You also shouldn’t assume that supposedly having the right of way automatically means you’ll be granted that privilege.  Drivers could be distracted by any number of things, or they could just be plain aggressive or reckless.  If you have to cross a street, use an appropriate crosswalk and wait until you get a walk signal.  Even then, wait until any approaching vehicles stop, and lock eyes with the driver before you cross.  That way, they know your intentions and you know theirs.

Finally, run on designated walking paths or in well-lit parks if you can.  If you don’t run near traffic, you won’t be endangered by traffic.

It seems like every month has some sort of safety designation, and April is no different.  Not only is Distracted Driving Awareness Month being recognized across the country, but April is also designated as National Safe Digging Month.  The distinction hopes to raise awareness about the importance of always checking up on what types of lines run underground prior to conducting digging work.

Making sure that you’re not putting yourself at risk is a simple matter of calling 811 to have an underground utility locator come out to your residence and determine if the spot you plan to work on lies right above electric lines, gas lines, water pipes, sewage pipes, and more.  He or she will spray paint the appropriate color over the dangerous zone, and you’ll know exactly where you’re allowed to work.

This is an advisable step even on minor work, such as erecting a mailbox or planting a sapling that you hope will grow into a tree.  Consumer Reports explains the consequences of not checking up on underground infrastructure by relating the story of a Berkeley home and vehicle fire started last month when a worker’s pick axe struck a gas line and ignited a blaze.

Protect yourself by dialing 811.  If utility structures are discovered beneath your workspace, alter your plans to eliminate the danger.  And if you’re working with a contractor, verify that they have taken the same precautions.

Yesterday we brought you a variety of tips geared toward making sure your home is safe for children.  But there are a number of common hazards around households across the country that could compromise safety even when children are not in the residence.  It might be going a little overboard to say it’s time to adultproof your home, but the following tips as provided in a new report could nevertheless help you and your family avert tragedy.

Many people will make simple mistakes with their electronics that could come back to haunt them.  For one thing, you should always take pains to ensure that every electronic product you purchase contains the seal of approval of Underwriters Laboratory.  And when you start to suffer from an overabundance of electrical appliances, make sure that you’re not plugging all of those into a single socket.  That socket can become overloaded and cause a short circuit, endangering persons in the vicinity.  And every time you make coffee, or curl your hair, or do anything else that requires you to turn on an electrical appliance, get in the habit of unplugging that device.  A hazard is posed every time you leave an electrical appliance plugged in without supervision.

Whenever you get ready to take part in a home improvement project of some sort, it’s essential that you take steps to protect yourself.  If you’re going to be using power tools, safety glasses are a must.  And a breathing mask is necessary during such times that you plan on using industrial-grade cleaners that could expose you to harsh chemicals.

Many such projects will require you to pull out a ladder.  Don’t cut corners by opting for a wobbly chair or table because you think it will save time.  Pull the ladder out of storage and use it safely.  Have someone assist you, and when you climb the unit, make sure you’ve put on adequate footwear.  And if the height of your project is such that you’re tempted to climb to the top rung, climb back down and invest in a taller ladder.  It’s never wise to use the top rung.

Even if you think you’re a particularly safety-conscious parents, it’s still important to consider some of those precautions you might have missed.  Is your child’s swing set in good repair, or does it suffer from rust or noticeably sharp edges?  How close is any furniture to the windows?  A child could be tempted to climb the chair and then end up falling out of a window.

Finally, always make sure that you’re keeping up with the latest recall information.  You can sign up for alerts from various agencies, but if you elect not to do this, at least make a quick check of the newest recalls a part of your weekly routine.

The budget cuts set to go into effect among various federal organizations Friday could have a marked impact on your ability to get safe and viable new drugs and medical devices.  That’s because the Food and Drug Administration, the agency responsible for the approval and subsequent monitoring of these items, would lose much of its funds.  It might become more difficult for patients to obtain medications, and long-awaited generics and medical devices which may save lives could have to wait even longer for approval.  The FDA, which has expressed a desire to refrain from giving employees furloughs, would instead make cuts in travel and training, the sorts of things that could have a longterm impact on health.

For more information, click here.

In what doesn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone, the first lawsuits have been filed against Carnival for their role in the Triumph cruise incident.  They accuse the company of being negligent in regards to the situation which played out last week onboard the Triumph.  Passengers who claim they were subjected to psychological and physical trauma by being forced to remain onboard a stranded ship for days are taking action against the cruise company.  And although cruise tickets contain a clause stating that passengers waive their right to a class action lawsuit if they board, one filing attempts to establish just that type of suit.  The suit contends that allowing the ship to transport passengers in the first place was a form of negligence and thus class action status should be permitted. Going against passengers, though, could be a ticket clause requiring suits to be filed in Carnival’s backyard:  South Florida.

Click here to learn more.

This past Thursday, passengers aboard the Carnival Triumph were finally able to walk ashore after days of enduring grueling conditions.  Earlier in the week, a fire broke out and cut power to the ship.  After days filled with no running water, a scarcity of food, and no navigation abilities, cruise passengers were likely thrilled that they finally were able to set foot on land.  Anyone would be after trudging through halls reportedly lined with sewage and sleeping above deck because of the unbearable stench emanating through the cabins.

But could this incident have been prevented?  Although it’s not easy to come to any steadfast conclusions, a new report shows us that cruises exist in a regulator gray zone that allows them to operate outside the bounds of United States law.  This is despite the fact that Carnival is very much an American company.  Both it and Royal Caribbean call Florida their home turf, but the ships that actually transport passengers are registered as far afield as Liberia, Malta, the Bahamas, Panama, or Bermuda.

Because of this, instead of being subject to United States regulations, the ships are subject to laws imposed upon cruises by the country they’re registered in.  This also gets them around paying American taxes on funds collected from passengers aboard.

There are certain times when the ship is subject to United States law. When a boat comes ashore in our country, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Coast Guard can carry out inspections and see to it that the ship is meeting certain regulations.

Offshore, it’s a whole different matter.  Standards are put in place by the International Maritime Organization, and that agency has created benchmarks that must be met by cruises hoping to operate.  But there are problems with their rules.  For instance, four years ago saw the IMO introducing a law requiring ships longer than 120 meters to come equipped with certain safety measures that could maintain power to the ship in an emergency.  But because the rule only applies to newly built ships and doesn’t apply retroactively to cruise ships currently on the water, the Triumph and other ships privy to malfunction weren’t subject to the new rules.

People aren’t even sure if the IMO could truly enforce rules in a way that could ensure safety.  Although a safety issue onboard a plane could lead to fleet grounding (which is what happened to the new 787 Dreamliner), cruise ships have never been taken out of service in such a widespread manner.  The IMO might not even be able to do so without getting into a lengthy legal dispute over its authority.

It’s clear that it’s time for lawmakers to take a look at this issue.  Doing so is vital to ensuring the safety of people onboard cruises for years to come.

How safe are your financial accounts?  Unfortunately, far too many people fail to take the steps necessary to protect themselves from online fraud.  A new report takes a look at the propensity of hackers to target companies, and it also contains some tips that can be followed by anyone looking to protect themselves.

A security expert interviewed for the story contends that, because online is where all the money is, that’s where fraud is taking place.  He compares the situation to that of banks being robbed 100 years ago.  And although hacking seems like a new phenomenon, he explains that the practice dates all the way back to at least the 70s.  Victimization requires companies to go into action to protect their customers’ sensitive information, and doing so isn’t always easy.

However, there are precautions you can take to limit your exposure to danger.  If you sign up for a product or service with a company, don’t be keen to provide every piece of identification information at the slightest provocation.  Most businesses won’t require you to provide sensitive information, and if they do, a phone call might be in order.

This is particularly important when it comes to security questions.  These are used to verify your identity if you lose your password.  But it’s not hard for a scammer to get ahold of these answers, especially in this era of social media proliferation.  A little exploration on your Facebook account can reveal all a person would need to know to crack the answer to your security question.  Provide fake answers when you’re prompted, and limit the information you fill in on social accounts.