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Portable Generator Deaths During Hurricanes

Will Sciba — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:10:40 GMT

Hurricanes can be deadly for many reasons. Some deaths will be caused by portable generators. Most people are not aware that a portable generator can produce several hundred times the carbon monoxide (CO) produced by a motor vehicle. Warnings on generators are inadequate and at times misleading. As a result, deaths cause by portable generators significantly increase after hurricanes and other natural disasters. Deaths caused by generators have been on the rise ever since the sale of generators increased due to concerns about Y2K. Most of these deaths are preventable.

Generator manufacturers typically blame generator related deaths on the user of the generator. Companies that manufacture generators need to take their responsibility to those that purchase their products more seriously. It is not that people who use these products want to get sick or die. The problem is that most people don't understand the risks of CO poisoning. Generator companies have done a poor job of protecting their consumers from a danger that the generator companies know about, but the public does not comprehend. Most people who are injured or killed from carbon monoxide produce by a generator have place the generator in a location that they believe to be safe. These locations include basements, garages, adjoining rooms, car ports, and even outside. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been studying the dangers posed by generators. Here are some things manufacturers can do to reduce the risk of CO injury and death.

1. Improve the warning labels on generators to better educate the consumer,
2. Decrease the amount of CO emitted by generators,
3. Put an automatic shut-off devices on the generator, and
4. Provide CO detectors to customers who purchase generators.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission makes the following recommendations for portable generator users.

CO from a generator is deadly and can kill you in minutes. One generator produces as much CO as hundreds of cars. It can incapacitate and kill consumers within minutes.

NEVER use portable generators indoors or in garages, basements, or sheds. They should always be used outside well away from windows, doors, vents, or any other opening.

Always have a working CO alarm in your house.

Also, never burn charcoal grills indoors, even with ventilation. Charcoal also quickly produces deadly CO.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Will Sciba

CPSC - Target Corp. To Pay $600,000 Civil Penalty

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:16:00 GMT

Target Corp. denies any wrongdoing but has agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty to resolve claims that it knowingly violated the federal lead paint ban on toys.

The tenative penalty would resolve CPSC claims that from May 2006 through August 2007, the company knowingly imported various toys (Kool Toyz Products and others) with paint or other surface paint that contained lead levels about legal limits.

The agency asserts the company failed to take the proper steps to ensure that no toys or children’s products would have lead-containing paint, thereby creating a risk of lead poisoning and other adverse health concerns to children.

“This penalty should remind importers and retailers that they have always had the same obligation to meet the strict lead limits as the manufacturers,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Good Neigh Bears Recalled By State Farm Due to Choking Hazard

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:37:00 GMT

State Farm, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced a voluntary recall of State Farm Good Neigh Bears because the plastic eyes on the bear can detach, posing a choking hazard to children.

To date, there has been one report of the plastic eye detaching and a young child placing it in her mouth, but there have been no injuries.

The recall involves both the 11-inch and 18-inch State Farm Good Neigh Bears. About 800,000 of them have been recalled in the U.S. and 27,000 in Canada.

Consumers are advised to discard the bears to prevent a choking hazard to young children.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact State Farm toll-free at (877) 226-8079 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT or visit the company’s website at www.statefarm.com or www.statefarm.ca

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

House Fires - Time Change Is Time to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

Mike Parker — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:52:04 GMT

At 2:00 a.m. Sunday, November 2, 2008, Daylight Savings Time ends. Remember to set your clock back 1 hour. However, now is a good time to change the batteries in your home's smoke alarms.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 5,000 Americans die each year in fires, and 80 percent of those deaths result from home fires.

Statistics show that more American's are killed from fire each year than from all natural disasters combined.

Don't be a statistic! Change your smoke alarm batteries this weekend when you move your clocks back 1 hour.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Parker

Seat belt may have saved a life

Wanda Logan — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:27:24 GMT

A 37-year old Robstown man died after he apparently lost control of his Dodge ram truck and veered off the road causing the truck to roll. He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown from the truck. A DPS official said speed and alcohol were not factors in causing the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wanda Logan

Chinese Products with Melamine Continue to Cause Deaths of Animals

Wanda Logan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:17:49 GMT

Chinese products containing the chemical melamine continue to cause deaths of animals. It is believed that melamine is being added to products to artifically raise nitrogen levels which makes the product seem higher in protein when tested. Melamine has also been found in milk products, candy, cookies and pet food. When humans ingest melamine, it can cause kidney stones, and can lead to kidney failure in extreme cases. In China tainted dairy products have caused kidney stones in tens of thousands of children and has caused the deaths of four infants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wanda Logan

Early morning car accident takes life of passenger

Wanda Logan — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:56:07 GMT

An early morning car accident on October 12, 2008, took the life of 19-year old passenger Tray Lynn Dabney. The driver in the one-vehicle accident, Barbara Cox, was taken to Matagorda General Hospital in Bay City, Texas, where she was listed in good condition.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wanda Logan

1.6 Million Cribs Recalled by Delta Enterprises

Robert W Soliz — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:09:35 GMT

Two infant deaths causes a massive recall on cribs by Delta Enterprises. The deaths were caused by either missing safety pegs in the cribs. The cribs were sold over the last 10 years through the United States.

The Washington Post has more detail at washingtonpost.com.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Robert W Soliz

Victoria County Texas Workplace Accident Kills Man

Mike Parker — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:33:35 GMT

On Wednesday, October 1, 2008, a man in his mid-20s was killed just south of Victoria, Texas at a grain silo. The man and two other workers were working inside the silo attempting to loosen up some grain.

At approximately 8:00 a.m., the man fell when the grain loosened up and sucked him down. After some time, the firefighters' rescue mission turned into a recovery. It took several hours for the workers to recover the man's body.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Parker

18-wheeler Wreck in Tyler, Texas Kills 2

Wanda Logan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:25:11 GMT

Six 18-wheelers and one car were involved in a horiffic accident in Tyler, Texas, killing two. An 18-wheeler crashed into the back of a car that had stopped to avoid hitting an overturned 18-wheeler, killing the two occupants, and then proceeded to run into three other 18-wheelers and caught fire.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wanda Logan