On Your Side

Keeping your family safe often includes the need to remove or modify products you may have in your home that have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Double-check that none of these fire, strangling and child entrapment hazards are present on your property.

Popular Playpens, Dishwashers and Chests

These Products Are Hazards For Strangulation, Fire and Child Entrapment

Each year consumers purchase many common household products that are later found to have defects or design flaws that make them hazardous. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) works with manufacturers to help identify and recall such hazardous products from store shelves. But, according to the CPSC large numbers of consumers remain unaware that a product they have purchased has been recalled, or that it may represent a very real danger if allowed to remain in use in the home.

The CPCS's warnings should be taken seriously. Many recalled items that have remained in homes, undetected, have resulted in the deaths of children. Sometimes a hazardous product can be easily repaired or modified to render it safe to use. Others may need to be discarded.

Fire Prevention

Your hard-working dishwasher, favorite lamp, or multi-purpose (or cigarette) lighter may be a horrible accident waiting to happen. Many models have been recalled recently. Check it out.

Child Entrapment

Do you continue to use a chest-type freezer, or have a lovely old Lane cedar chest? Please check to see if these products have outdated features that endanger your family. Details.

Strangulation Prevention

There are two primary sources of strangling injuries - in the home or on the playground: Window blind cords and drapery pulls; and drawstrings in clothing. Get the latest.