Toy Safety 2012 - Health Watch

>>> WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS YOU WERE GROWING UP?
WHAT IS YOUR CHILD'S FAVORITE TOY TODAY?
IS IT SAFE? COMING UP ON HEALTHWATCH,
HOLIDAY TOY SAFETY TIPS. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com
>>> HELLO. I'M TERRANCE AFER-ANDERSON AND
THIS IS HEALTHWATCH. WE'RE INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON
NOW AND PARENTS ACROSS THE NATION ARE VISITING RETAILERS
AND SHOPPING ONLINE FOR A DIZZYING ARRAY OF CHILDREN'S
TOYS. BUT WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TOY
SAFETY? DO YOU KNOW WHAT AGE-APPROPRIATE
TOYS TO BUY FOR YOUR CHILD, GRANDCHILD, NIECE OR NEPHEW?
WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU TODAY WITH SHOPPING TIPS AND
INFORMATION THAT SHOULD HELP YOU AS YOU MAKE YOUR PURCHASES.
I DON'T WANT TO ALARM YOU, BUT WE FEEL COMPELLED TO SHARE THE
FOLLOWING STATISTICS. IT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY
TOY SAFETY IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC AND WHY WE ARE BRINGING
YOU THIS IMPORTANT INFORMATION TODAY.
THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REPORTS THAT IN 2010,
THERE WERE SOME 251,700 TOY-RELATED INJURIES TREATED IN
U.S. EMERGENCY ROOMS. THAT NUMBER HAS ESSENTIALLY
REMAINED THE SAME FOR THE FIVE YEARS FROM 2006 TO 2010.
45% OF THESE TOY-RELATED INJURIES WERE CLASSIFIED AS
LACERATIONS, CONTUSIONS, OR ABRASIONS.
46% WERE TO THE HEAD AND FACE AREA, THE MOST COMMONLY AFFECTED
AREA OF THE BODY. OF THE 251,700 TOY-RELATED
INJURIES IN 2010, 181,500, 72%, WERE TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE
OF 15. 89,200, 35%, OF THESE INJURIES
WERE TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN 97% OF TOY-RELATED EMERGENCY ROOM
VISITS, THE PATIENTS WERE TREATED AND RELEASED.
BUT NOW THE TRAGIC NEWS. IN 2010, THE CONSUMER PRODUCT
SAFETY COMMISSION ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE WERE 17 TOY-RELATED
DEATHS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 15.
BALLOONS AND SMALL BALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH 47% OF THESE
REPORTED DEATHS. FIVE FATALITIES WERE ATTRIBUTED
TO BALLOONS, AND THREE DEATHS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SMALL
BALLS. MOST OF THESE TOY-RELATED
DEATHS, 11, WERE FROM ASPHYXIATION.
ANOTHER FOUR WERE FROM DROWNING. AS SOBERING AS THESE NUMBERS
MIGHT BE, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PRECAUTIONS YOU
CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD FROM BECOMING A STATISTIC.
I CHATTED RECENTLY WITH NYCHELLE FLEMING, A SENIOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
SPECIALIST AND LEAD SPOKESPERSON IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS,
U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, BETHESDA, MARYLAND.
MS. FLEMING WASN'T ABLE TO JOIN ME IN THE STUDIO TODAY, BUT SHE
SHARED SEVERAL VERY BRIEF, BUT INSIGHTFUL VIDEOS THAT WE ARE
GOING TO FEATURE TODAY ON HEALTHWATCH.
THE FIRST IS ENTITLED "TOP HOLIDAY TOY SAFETY TIPS" AND
FEATURES MS. FLEMING SHARING THREE KEY TOY SAFETY TIPS FOR
THE HOLIDAYS. LET'S TAKE A PEEK AND THEN I
WILL SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL INFO WITH YOU LATER.
\M\M >> DURING THE GIFT-GIVING
HOLIDAY SEASON, VARIOUS GROUPS WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR TOP TOYS
FOR THE SEASON. HERE AT CPSC, WE'RE HAPPY TO
REPORT THAT TOY RECALLS ARE DOWN THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAVE SEEN A
RISE IN INJURIES INVOLVING TOYS. WE WANT YOUR HOLIDAYS TO BE
HAPPY AND INCIDENT-FREE, SO CPSC IS ENCOURAGING CONSUMERS THIS
YEAR TO CONSIDER THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE TOY PLAY
SAFER. FIRST, START BY CHOOSING
AGE-APPROPRIATE TOYS. FOR CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN AGE 3,
AVOID TOYS WITH SMALL PARTS WHICH CAN CAUSE CHOKING.
FOR CHILDREN UNDER AGE 6, AVOID BUILDING OR PLAY SETS WITH SMALL
MAGNETS. IF MAGNETS OR PIECES OF MAGNETS
ARE SWALLOWED, SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATHS CAN BE OCCUR.
UNINFLATED BALLOONS ARE ALSO A CHOKING HAZARD.
DISCARD PIECES OF POPPED BALLOONS IMMEDIATELY.
WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT BATTERY CHARGING SHOULD BE SUPERVISED BY
ADULTS. BURNS CAN BE POSED TO YOUNG
CHILDREN. SECOND, GEAR UP FOR SAFETY.
INCLUDE SAVES GEAR WHENEVER SHOPPING FOR SHORTS RELATED
GIFTS. RIDE-ON TOYS, BICYCLES, SKATES
AND SCOOTERS. WHEEL TOYS CAN GO FAST AND FALLS
CAN BE DEADLY. HELMETS AND SAFETY GEAR SHOULD
WORN AT ALL TIMES. THIRD, LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION. YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD AVOID
PLAYING WITH RIDE-ON TOYS WHERE THIS IS AUTOMOBILE TRAFFIC,
FOOLS OR PONDS. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE AVOIDING
ROOMS WITH CORDED WINDOW BLINDS AND BATHROOMS.
ANOTHER GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE IS TO HAVE A TRASH BAG READY WHEN
KIDS ARE OPENING PRESENTS. BY IMMEDIATELY DISCARDING THE
TRASH, IT CAN KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFER.
CHOOSE AGE APPROPRIATE TOYS, WEAR SAFETY GEAR, AND PLAY IN A
SAFE LOCATION. CPSC WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US
AT CPSC.GOV. >> HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
>> THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION ALSO RECOMMENDS THESE
HOLIDAY TOY SAFETY TIPS. BE A LABEL READER.
LOOK FOR TOY LABELS THAT GIVE AGE AND SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
AND USE THAT INFORMATION AS A GUIDE.
SELECT TOYS THAT NOT ONLY SUIT THE AGE OF THE CHILD, BUT THEIR
ABILITIES, SKILLS AND INTEREST AS WELL.
FOR ALL CHILDREN UNDER 8, AVOID TOYS THAT HAVE SHARP EDGES AND
POINTS. ONCE THE GIFTS ARE OPEN,
REMEMBER TO DISCARD PLASTIC WRAPPINGS ON TOYS IMMEDIATELY,
BEFORE THEY BECOME DANGEROUS PLAY THINGS.
KEEP TOYS APPROPRIATE FOR OLDER CHILDREN AWAY FROM YOUNGER
SIBLINGS OR NEIGHBORS. AND REMEMBER, PAY ATTENTION TO
INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS ON BATTERY CHARGERS.
SOME CHARGERS LACK ANY DEVICE TO PREVENT OVERCHARGING.
NEXT UP, THE CPSC WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT SMALL BATTERIES
CAN POSE QUITE A HAZARD. THIS VIDEO FEATURES CPSC
SPOKESPERSON KIM DULIC, AS WELL AS DR. TOBY LITOVITZ, DIRECTOR,
NATIONAL CAPITAL POISON CONTROL CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C.
YOU'LL SEE THAT WHEN A CHILD SWALLOWS A TINY BATTERY, IT IS A
VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
\M\M >> THIS IS A BUTTON BATTERY.
THESE COIN-SIZE BATTERIES CAN INCREASINGLY BE FOUND IN
PRODUCTS USED IN AND AROUND THE HOME.
AS BUTTON BATTERY USE INCREASES, SO DOES BATTERY RELATED INJURIES
AND DEBT. INJURIES FROM BUTTON BATTERIESES
HAVE INCREASED NEARLY SEVEN-FOLD IN RECENT YEARS.
>> WHEN CHILDREN SWALLOW BUTTON BATTERIES, THE BATTERIES OFTEN
PASS RIGHT THROUGH THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT WITHOUT
ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. THE CATCH IS THAT THAT BATTERY
IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE STUCK IN THE ESOPHAGUS.
THEY BURN A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE ESOPHAGUS.
THE EXTERNAL CURRENT IS GENERATING THESE SMALL AMOUNT OF
ALKALI AND CAUSE EROSION RIGHT THROUGH THE CHILD'S ESOPHAGUS
AND IMAGINE IF IT GOES GO A BLOOD VESSEL.
THESE ARE VERY SERIOUS CASES, ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM IN YOUNG
CHILDREN, CHILDREN 4 YEARS OF AGE OR YOUNGER ARE THE ONES AT
MOST RISK, ALTHOUGH OLDER CHILDREN OCCASIONALLY SWALLOW
BATTERIES AND HAVE COMPLICATIONS TOO.
THE 20-MILLIMETER LITHIUM CELL ALMOST 13% OF THE TIME GETS
STUCK IN THE ESOPHAGUS AND CAUSES A SERIOUS COMPLICATION,
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS 20-MILLIMETER LITHIUM CELL. >> LOOK AROUND YOUR HOME TO SEE
IF YOU HAVE ANY BUTTON BATTERIES.
THEY CAN BE FOUND IN REMOTE CONTROLS, GAMES, TOYS,
ELECTRONIC THERMOMETERS, TALKING BOOKS, BATHROOM SCALES, AND
HEARING AIDS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
HOW ACCESSIBLE ARE YOUR BUTTON BATTERIES IN YOUR HOME?
HERE ARE A FEW SAFETY TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR KIDS SAFE.
KEY REMOTES AND OTHER ELECTRONICS OUT OF YOUR CHILD'S
REACH IF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENTS DO NOT HAVE A SCREW
TO SECURE THEM. TAPE MAY BE USED TO HELP SECURE
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT. KEEP BUTTON BATTERIES OUT OF
YOUR CHILD'S REACH. DISCARD BATTERIES CAREFULLY.
DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO PLAY WITH BUTTON BATTERIES.
NEVER PUT YOUR BATTERIES IN YOUR MOUTH FOR ANY REASON.
THEY ARE EASILY SWALLOWED ACCIDENTALLY.
ALWAYS CHECK MEDICATIONS BEFORE INGESTING THEM.
ADULTS HAVE SWALLOWED BATTERIES MISTAKEN FOR PILLS OR TABLETS.
>> IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOUR CHILD HAS SWALLOWED A BUTTON
BATTERY, THEN YOUR CHILD NEEDS URGENT MEDICAL INTERVENTION.
YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR CHILD TO AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR AN
X-RAY RIGHT AWAY. DON'T WAIT, GO STRAIGHT TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. YOU CAN CALL THE BATTERY
INGESTION HOTLINE AT 202-625-3333 FOR GUIDANCE, BUT
GET YOURSELF ON THE WAY TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AS YOU MAKE
THAT PHONE CALL. >> WHEN A SMALL BATTERY IS
SWALLOWED, IT IS INDEED A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION.
HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL SAFETY TIPS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
POISON CENTER. NEVER LEAVE BATTERIES SITTING
OUT. STORE SPARE BATTERIES AND
BATTERIES TO BE RECYCLED OUT OF SIGHT AND REACH OF YOUNG
CHILDREN.  IF RECYCLING IS NOT POSSIBLE,
WRAP USED BATTERIES SECURELY AND DISCARD THEM WHERE A CHILD CAN'T
FIND THEM. REMEMBER, LITTLE CHILDREN ARE
VERY INQUISITIVE, AND THAT IN TODAY'S ELECTRONIC AGE, TINY
BATTERIES ARE UBIQUITOUS. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.
IN ADDITION TO TOYS, HERE IS A PRETTY GOOD LIST WHERE YOU CAN
FIND THEM, SOME PLACES YOU HAVE LIKELY NOT CONSIDERED.
REMOTE CONTROLS, GARAGE DOOR OPENERS, KEYLESS ENTRY FOBS,
BATHROOM SCALES, CAMERAS, WATCHES, DIGITAL THERMOMETERS,
HEARING AIDS, SINGING GREETING CARDS, TALKING BOOKS,
HANDHELD VIDEO GAMES, CELL PHONES,FLASHING SHOES,
TOOTHBRUSHES, BEDWETTING MONITORS.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL POISON CENTER ADVISES YOU TO BE
ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS WITH ANY PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS A BATTERY
AS BIG AS A PENNY OR LARGER. THE 20-MILLIMETER DIAMETER
LITHIUM CELL BATTERY IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN
SWALLOWED. THESE PROBLEM CELLS CAN BE
RECOGNIZED BY THEIR IMPRINT, ENGRAVED NUMBERS AND LETTERS,
AND OFTEN HAVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE CODES: CR2032,
CR2025, CR2016. IF SWALLOWED AND NOT REMOVED
PROMPTLY, THESE LARGER BUTTON BATTERIES CAN CAUSE DEATH OR
BURN A HOLE THROUGH YOUR CHILD'S ESOPHAGUS.
HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL POISON
CENTER. MAKE SURE ALL HEARING AIDS FOR
CHILDREN HAVE CHILD-RESISTANT BATTERY COMPARTMENTS AND MAKE
SURE THE LOCK IS ACTIVATED WHEN THE CHILD IS WEARING THE AID.
ALERT FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WEAR HEARING AIDS OF THE IMPORTANCE
OF KEEPING THE BATTERIES OUT OF REACH OF SMALL CHILDREN AT ALL
TIMES.  MOST HEARING AID USERS REMOVE
THE BATTERIES EACH TIME THEY TAKE THE DEVICE OFF.
DON'T INSERT OR CHANGE BATTERIES IN FRONT OF SMALL CHILDREN.
REMEMBER, THE LITTLE ONES ARE OFTEN WATCHING WHEN WE ARE NOT
AT ALL AWARE. HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR
PROTECTING OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
NEVER PUT BATTERIES IN YOUR MOUTH TO TEST, TO HOLD, OR FOR
ANY REASON. THEY ARE SLIPPERY AND EASILY
SWALLOWED. DON'T STORE BATTERIES NEAR PILLS
OR IN PILL BOTTLES.  THEY HAVE BEEN MISTAKENLY TAKEN
AS PILLS. LOOK AT EVERY MEDICINE YOU
INTEND TO SWALLOW. TURN ON THE LIGHTS, PUT ON YOUR
GLASSES, READ THE LABEL, AND LOOK AT THE MEDICINE ITSELF. 
DON'T LEAVE BATTERIES ON BEDSIDE TABLES OR PLACE THEM LOOSE IN
YOUR POCKET OR PURSE. AVOID STORING OR LEAVING
BATTERIES WHERE THEY MIGHT BE MISTAKEN FOR, OR SWALLOWED WITH,
FOOD. DON'T LEAVE BATTERIES IN
DRINKING GLASSES OR ADJACENT TO NUTS, CANDY, POPCORN, OR OTHER
FINGER FOODS. IF A BATTERY IS SWALLOWED OR
PLACED IN THE EAR OR NOSE, CALL THE NATIONAL BATTERY INGESTION
HOTLINE AT 202-625-3333 AND CALL THEM IMMEDIATELY.
PROMPT ACTION IS CRITICAL. DON'T WAIT FOR SYMPTOMS TO
DEVELOP. IF THE BATTERY WAS SWALLOWED,
DON'T EAT OR DRINK UNTIL AN X-RAY SHOWS THE BATTERY IS
BEYOND THE ESOPHAGUS.  BATTERIES STUCK IN THE ESOPHAGUS
MUST BE REMOVED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SEVERE DAMAGE CAN OCCUR IN JUST TWO HOURS.
BATTERIES IN THE NOSE OR EAR ALSO MUST BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY
TO AVOID PERMANENT DAMAGE. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON
THE INGESTION OF BATTERIES, PLEASE VISIT THE NATIONAL
CAPITAL POISON CENTER WEBSITE AT WWW.POISON.ORG/BATTERY/TIPS.ASP.
OKAY, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M READY FOR A BREAK.
LET'S TAKE A BREAK NOW. WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT AND LOOK AT SOME OTHER TOY SAFETY TIPS.
WE THINK YOU'LL FIND THEM VERY NOTEWORTHY.
SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BREAK.
>> SEE THESE MAGNETS? THEY CAN MAKE HOLES IN YOUR
STOMACH. SERIOUSLY.
I KNOW, THEY LOOK A LITTLE LIKE JEWELRY, SO YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S
COOL TO PUT IT IN YOUR NOSE OR TONGUE.
BUT DON'T TRY IT. TRUST ME, NEVER PUT A MAGNET IN
YOUR NOSE OR MOUTH. DON'T LET YOUR BABY SISTER OR
BROTHER PLAY WITH THEM EITHER. YOU CAN EASILY SWALLOW THESE BY
MISTAKE AND THE MAGNETS CAN CONNECT INSIDE YOUR BODY, JUST
LIKE THE OUTSIDE. YOU COULD DIE.
IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE SWALLOWED A MAGNET, CALL YOUR PARENTS AND
CALL A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE MAGNETS GO IN EASIER
THAN THEY COME OUT. >> WELCOME BACK.
THAT WAS A PRETTY INTERESTING PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT,
WASN'T IT? WERE YOU AWARE THAT MAGNETS
COULD BE SO DANGEROUS? LET ME SHARE SOME SAFETY TIPS
WITH YOU. JUST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION ISSUED A PRESS
RELEASE WARNING THAT, QUOTE, HIGH-POWERED MAGNETS AND
CHILDREN MAKE A DEADLY MIX. THE RELEASE WENT ON TO STATE
THAT, FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS, CHILDREN SWALLOWING MAGNETS
ENDURE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. ALTHOUGH THE RISK SCENARIOS
DIFFER BY AGE GROUP, THE DANGER IS THE SAME.
WHEN TWO OR MORE MAGNETS ARE SWALLOWED, THEY CAN ATTRACT ONE
ANOTHER INTERNALLY, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES SUCH AS SMALL
HOLES IN THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES, INTESTINAL BLOCKAGE,
BLOOD POISONING, AND EVEN DEATH. INCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE
HIGH-POWERED, BALL-BEARING MAGNETS HAVE BEEN STEADILY
INCREASED SINCE 2009, INVOLVING CHILDREN RANGING IN AGE FROM 18
MONTHS TO 15 YEARS OLD. OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS, 17
INVOLVED MAGNET INGESTION AND 11 REQUIRED SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE
MAGNETS. YOU SHOULD NOTE THAT WHEN A
MAGNET HAS TO BE REMOVED SURGICALLY, IT OFTEN REQUIRES
THE REPAIR OF THE CHILD'S DAMAGED STOMACH AND INTESTINES.
THE CPSC OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TIPS TO AVOID MAGNET INGESTION
INJURIES, AS WELL AS ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT THAT
YOUR CHILD HAS SWALLOWED MAGNETS.
KEEP SMALL MAGNETS AWAY FROM YOUNG CHILDREN WHO MIGHT SWALLOW
THEM. LOOK OUT FOR LOOSE MAGNET PIECES
AND REGULARLY INSPECT TOYS AND CHILDREN'S PLAY AREAS FOR
MISSING OR DISLODGED MAGNETS. IF YOU SUSPECT THAT MAGNETS HAVE
BEEN SWALLOWED, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.
LOOK FOR ABDOMINAL SYMPTOMS, SUCH AS ABDOMINAL PAINS, NAUSEA,
VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. NOTE THAT IN X-RAYS, MULTIPLE
MAGNETIC PIECES MAY APPEAR AS A SINGLE OBJECT.
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ONE MORE
VIDEO FROM THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.
AS WE'RE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON, THIS PARTICULAR VIDEO WILL FOCUS
ON DECORATING SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE CPSC, WHICH IS ALSO YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR TOY AND
MANY OTHER RECALLS. THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION IS CHARGED WITH PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM
UNREASONABLE RISKS OF INJURY OR DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF
THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS UNDER THE AGENCY'S
JURISDICTION. DEATHS, INJURIES, AND PROPERTY
DAMAGE FROM CONSUMER PRODUCT INCIDENTS COST THE NATION MORE
THAN $900 BILLION ANNUALLY. THE CPSC IS COMMITTED TO
PROTECTING CONSUMERS AND FAMILIES FROM PRODUCTS THAT POSE
A FIRE, ELECTRICAL, CHEMICAL, OR MECHANICAL HAZARD.
CPSC'S WORK TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS SUCH AS
TOYS, CRIBS, POWER TOOLS, CIGARETTE LIGHTERS, AND
HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS CONTRIBUTED TO A DECLINE IN THE RATE OF
DEATHS AND INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMER PRODUCTS OVER THE
PAST 30 YEARS. OKAY.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAST VIDEO WE'RE GOING TO SCREEN
TODAY FROM THE CPSC. IT IS ON HOLIDAY DECORATING
SAFETY, AND IF IT DOESN'T GET YOUR ATTENTION ON THE
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLIGENCE, INATTENTION, AND SIMPLY BEING
UNINFORMED, NOTHING WILL. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
[ SIRENS ] >> HOME DECORATING FOR THE
HOLIDAYS IS A WONDERFUL TRADITION AND CPSC WANTS YOUR
HOLIDAY SEASON TO BE SAFE AND HAPPY.
HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO PREVENT HOLIDAY DECORATING RELATED FIRES
AND INJURIES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY
DECORATING HAZARDS COMES FROM UNINTENTIONAL CANDLE FIRES.
KEEP BURNING CANDLES WITHIN SIGHT AT ALL TIMES.
EXTINGUISH ALL CANDLES BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, LEAVE THE ROOM,
OR LEAVE THE HOUSE. KEEP LIT CANDLES IN A STABLE,
HEAT-RESIST TANT SURFACE WHERE KIDS AND PETS CAN'T REACH THEM
OR KNOCK THEM OVER. CANDLES SHOULD BE PLACED AWAY
FROM ITEMS THAT CAN CATCH FIRE OR BURN EASILY, SUCH AS TREES,
BEDDING, TABLECLOTHS, DECORATIONS AND CURTAINS.
WHEN YOU BUY A LIVE TREE, CHECK FOR FRESHNESS.
A FRESH TREE IS GREEN, THE NEEDLES ARE HARD TO PULL FROM
THE BRANCHES AND DO NOT BREAK WHEN BENT BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS.
THE BOTTOM OF A FRESH TREE IS STICKY WITH RESIN.
WHEN TAPPED ON THE GROUND, THE TREE SHOULD NOT LOSE MANY
NEEDLES. MAKE SURE TO PLACE YOUR TREE
AWAY FROM HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS FIREPLACES, VENTS AND RADIATORS.
ALSO KEEP THE STAND FILLED WITH WATER.
WHEN YOU BUY AN ARTIFICIAL TREE, LOOK FOR THE LABEL "FIRE
RESISTANT." ALTHOUGH THIS LABEL DOESN'T MEAN
THE TREE CAN'T CATCH FIRE, IT DOES MEAN THE TREE IS MORE
RESISTANT TO BURNING. HOLIDAY LIGHTS KEEP YOUR HOME
LOOKING FESTIVE, BUT THOSE TOO COME WITH A SET OF SAFETY TIPS.
ONLY USE LIGHTS TESTED FOR SAFETY BY A NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED TESTING LAB. CHECK ALL SETS OF LIGHTS WHETHER
THEY ARE NEW OR OLD FOR BROKEN OR CRACKED SOCKETS OR DAMAGED
CONNECTIONS. THROW AWAY OLD SETS.
MAKE SURE YOUR LIGHTS SAY THEY ARE CERTIFIED FOR OUTDOOR USE
AND ONLY PLUG THEM INTO A QFCI OR GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT
INTERRUPTER OUTLET. IF YOU USE AN EXTENSION CORD,
MAKE SURE IT IS RATED FOR YOUR INTENDED USE.
KEEP THESE SAFETY TIPS IN MIND AND HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY
HOLIDAY SEASON. >> I'M SURE YOU FOUND THAT TO BE
VERY USEFUL INFORMATION. IN THE VERY LEAST, I'M HOPING
THAT IT SERVES AS A GREAT REMINDER OF THE SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD BE TAKING AS YOU DECORATE YOUR HOME THIS
HOLIDAY SEASON. WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TODAY.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK ON TOY RECALLS ISSUED BY THE
CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION, AS WELL AS OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES, VISIT WWW.RECALLS.GOV.
YOU WILL ALSO FIND A LINK TO THE CPSC HOME PAGE THERE.
THAT'S WWW.CPSC.GOV. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A
SAFETY ISSUE WITH A TOY OR OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCT, VISIT THE CPSC
WEBSITE AT WWW.SAFERPRODUCTS.GOV.
THE CPSC TOLL-FREE CONSUMER HOTLINE IS 800-638-2772.
THEIR TTY NUMBER IS 301-595-7054.
THE TOLL FREE HOTLINE HOURS ARE FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M.
EASTERN STANDARD TIME, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
MESSAGES CAN BE LEFT ANYTIME. THE MAILING ADDRESS OF THE U.S.
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION IS 4330 EAST WEST
HIGHWAY, BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20814.
THE GENERAL INFORMATION TELEPHONE NUMBER IS
301-504-7923. THOSE HOURS ARE MONDAY THROUGH
FRIDAY, 8:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH
PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF HEALTHWATCH ONLINE AT WWW.NORFOLK.GOV.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO DROP ME A LINE, YOU CAN E-MAIL ME AT
TERRANCE.AFER-ANDERSON@VDH. VIRGINIA.GOV.
PLEASE ALSO FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL AT 757-683-8836.
AGAIN, THAT'S 757-683-8836. FOR THE NORFOLK DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC HEALTH, I'M TERRANCE AFER-ANDERSON AND THIS HAS BEEN
HEALTHWATCH. CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com