Every day two children die and more than 300 kids under the age of 19 are treated in emergency rooms as a result of unintentional poisoning. In fact, over the last decade, there's been an 80 percent increase in child poisoning deaths. During National Poison Prevention Week, experts are reminding parents about the everyday products in their homes that put children at risk. Here are the five most common household culprits, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and how to keep them secure in your home.
Consumer Reports has removed its "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" designation from a stroller it tested last year after finding that a newer model did not pose the same safety risks. In earlier tests, we found that the positioning of the grab bar on the Mutsy Evo stroller posed a strangulation hazard if the child was not harnessed. The Consumer Product Safety Commission agreed and announced the stroller's recall in February. But a newer model, which offers more clearance between the bar and the seat, corrected the flaw and in our second round of tests we rated the stroller very good overall.
Briggs & Stratton has announced the recall of 5,400 Ariens 920014 Snow-Throw snow blowers. A carburetor-bowl nut can allow fuel to escape from recalled units, creating a fire hazard. The Ariens 920014 appears in Consumer Reports' snow blower Ratings.
OWT Industries has recalled 254,600 Homelite electric leaf blowers and 131,500 Expert Gardener leaf blowers because objects drawn into the blower during vacuum mode can break through the plastic housing, posing a laceration hazard.
Consumer Reports has designated the Babyhome Eat high chair as Don't Buy: Safety Risk because it lacks key safety features designed to prevent an unharnessed child from sliding out of the seat or possibly being caught and strangled during a fall. Consumer Reports knows of no deaths or injuries associated with this high chair model.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of approximately 340 Mutsy Evo strollers because the opening between the grab bar and seat bottom can allow a child's body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck--a strangulation hazard if the child is not harnessed. The recall comes after Consumer Reports discovered the problem in December 2012 as part of our stroller testing program and notified the CPSC and Mutsy. We designated the stroller as Don't Buy: Safety Risk.
Novartis Consumer Health has recalled 2.3 million containers of Triaminic and Theraflu Warming Relief syrups because the child-resistant caps can be removed by children with the tamper-evident seal still in place, posing a poisoning risk.
Whole Foods Market has recalled one lot code of 4-oz packages of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon (cold smoked and sliced) because the product may contain Listeria Monocytogenes, which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Hy Cite Enterprises has recalled 1.7 million Royal Prestige 9-Ply thermal-wall pots and pans because they can collapse, crimp, or severely deform when exposed to heat, posing a burn and fire hazard.
Believing that radon is only a problem in some parts of the country is just one of the myths surrounding the radioactive gas that's responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year. Elevated radon levels have been found in one in 15 homes nationwide. That's why every January the Environmental Protection Agency reminds us to test our homes and fix them if radon levels are a threat.
Target has recalled 560,000 Circo and Xhilaration children's two-piece pajama sets and 42,000 Circo girls' fleece blanket sleepers because both products violate the federal flammability standard for children's sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries.
Bugaboo has recalled 46,300 of its Cameleon and Donkey strollers in the U.S. and 4,440 in Canada because a button on the stroller's carrycot/seat carry handle can become disengaged and cause the handle to detach, posing fall and choking hazards to young children.
Fisher-Price Inc., of East Aurora, N.Y., has "recalled to inspect" 800,000 Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleepers for mold that can develop between the seat cushion and frame when it remains moist or is infrequently cleaned. The recall was announced today by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Subaru is recalling 2010 and 2011 Legacy and Outbacks, 2009-2012 Foresters and 2006-2012 Tribecas due to an electrical issue in a lighting system that could cause a fire.
In 2012, millions of units of children's products were recalled, though not all those recalled products were manufactured in 2012. Below are just some of the most dangerous to look out for.