What dangers lurk in your backyard? Especially for young children, the risks range from the obvious (mowers and tractors) to the unexpected (poisonous plants). Here are the major danger zones--and how to minimize your child's risk this summer:

With the memory of Sandy still fresh in many people's minds, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is forecasting an active or extremely active hurricane season for 2013. We could see 13 to 20 named storms, including 3 to 6 major hurricanes with winds of 111 miles per hour or higher. Here are six ways to weather the season.

A mowing accident in Florida in which a two-year-old lost both her feet tragically underscores the dangers posed by powerful lawn equipment. "The energy transferred by a typical lawn mower blade is equivalent to being shot in the hand with a .357 Magnum pistol," says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, whose doctors see many such injuries. "In addition, a lawn mower can eject a piece of metal or wood up to 100 miles per hour."

Since 1961, the third week in March has been designated National Poison Prevention Week. The event was established by Congress as a way to highlight the dangers of poisonings and show how to prevent them. More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year, nine out of 10 of which occur at home. While children are most vulnerable, poisonings are also one of the leading causes of death among adults.

If you've got a bedbug infestation, you probably want to do whatever necessary to get rid of them, including spraying your home with pesticides. But earlier this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned about a steep rise in injuries from misuse of pesticides to control the bugs.

There's a huge demand for portable power generators in the aftermath and clean-up from Hurricane Sandy. However 8,600 Champion-branded portable generators, sold exclusively at Costco, pose a fire hazard and are being recalled, warns the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

As survivors of Superstorm Sandy start cleaning up the estimated $20 billion in destruction, homeowners need to prepare for another possible squall—with their insurance company, according to the latest data from the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

You can't control Mother Nature, but you can be prepared when a storm such as Hurricane Sandy hits. Among the many items to have on hand are flashlights and plenty of extra batteries in case the power goes out at your home. LED flashlights are becoming more common, and many use AA batteries.

A report released today by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirms what we've known for some time: that exposure to single-use laundry detergent pods is an "emerging public health hazard in the United States," with young children being most vulnerable.

Carbon monoxide from gasoline-powered generators kills more than 70 people a year but technology available today could drastically reduce the emissions that cause those deaths, according to a new study from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. By adapting the emission controls used on small motorcycles for generators, the margin of safety for consumers would be increased twelve-fold, the agency reported.

In the wake of five incidents in which children were seriously injured after swallowing detergent pods, a group of doctors is calling for improved safety warnings and childproof packaging for single-dose laundry and dishwasher detergents. "This is a significant public health issue," which requires a rethink, the doctors wrote in a pediatric journal.

High-tech tools such as smart phones, mobile apps and social media sites are quickly become part of many people's arsenals in dealing with an emergency—such as Hurricane Isaac—and its aftermath, says the American Red Cross.

All eyes are on the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Isaac batters the region. For homeowners who live elsewhere, it's a cautionary tale about how to prepare for serious weather events that cause power failures. Consumer Reports' latest tests of 15 portable and stationary home generators confirm that some models can leave homeowners with less power than they need. And if you think a trusted name and a higher price guarantee a better generator, think again.

With Tropical Storm Isaac threatening to become a hurricane, organizers of next week's Republican National Convention are scrambling to make plans in case the storm disrupts the Tampa gathering. But Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, says a bigger concern is making sure that people in the path of the storm are getting ready now.

More leaky Arctic Zone and Cryofreeze gel packs are being recalled by California Innovations, based in Toronto. Consumers may become ill from accidentally ingesting the packs' contents—diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol gels—in large quantities, warns the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you own any of the recalled gel packs, stop using them, and safely dispose of a leaking hot-and-cold pack in accordance with local regulations.