Is your home free of dangerous products?

by Steve Bulzomi

With holiday shopping just around the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to mention product safety.  More than 20,000 people in the United States are killed, and 30 million injured every year by defective products.

According to consumer protection agencies, even with recalls, more than 23 million defective products are likely being used in the United States alone.  Products are recalled because they have the potential to seriously injure or kill the users. 

Last week alone, a number of products were recalled.  They include:

Roman shades and roller and roll-up blinds by Hanover Direct Inc, the parent company for Domestications, The Company Store, and Company Kids.  This is an expansion of a recall that started a little over a year ago.  The products were sold from January 1996 through October 2009.

Back in May a 22-month-old boy became trapped in the pull cord of a roman shade. His father rescued him, but he later died.  The products were recalled because strangulation might occur if a child's neck becomes entangled in the cords. Concerning the roller blinds, a child can be strangled if his or her neck becomes entangled in the blind's continuous loop pull cord, if is not attached to the wall or floor with a tension device.

Since 1990, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that nearly 250 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling on window cords.

Click here for info.  

 

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Spark and Spitfire brand inline skates are being recalled by Rollerblade USA.  These were sold at sporting goods stores and on the internet from September 2009 through July 2010

Apparently the bolts attached to the frame and wheel axle can be loose on new skates, which can cause the rider to fall. 

There have been 31 reports so far, one having resulted in minor injuries.

Click here for more info.

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Pottery Barn is recalling their Clay Task Lamp, the Montgomery Task Lamp, and the Montgomery Floor Lamp because a wire running through the lamps could be pinched or severed at the lamp's adjustable point, which could cause an electric shock.

For more info about this recall, click here.

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The 2011 model Giant Anthem X 29er mountain bicycle is being recalled by Giant Bicycle Inc. because the bike frame can crack, causing the rider to fall.  Small, medium, and large sizes were sold by bicycle dealers nationwide in August.  So far, no injuries have been reported.

Click here for info.

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Big Ideas Marketing has recalled horse-on-a-stick riding toys.  The toys were sold at Love's Travel Stop and Country stores nationwide from May 2010 through July 2010.

 The reins pose a strangulation hazard to young children and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received one report in which a 2-year-old boy became entangled in the reins at his neck.   

For info regarding this recall, click here.

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Small, medium and large rocking horses with bridles are being recalled by Rocking Horse Depot. The rocking horses were sold at Rocking Horse Depot's website from November 2006 through December 2009.  Again, the reins are long enough to pose a strangulation hazard to young children.

A 21-month old girl became entangled in the reins at her neck.  Her parents freed her without injury.  For info, click here.

If you or a loved one is ever injured by a defective product, don’t hesitate to call us for a free consultation. Or visit our website.

For more recall information visit Consumer Reports online or the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Sources:

The News Tribune