Advocates Push for Federal Gas Fireplace Safety Standard
Children’s natural curiosity can lead to serious injury when that inquisitiveness leads them to come in contact with hot glass used to cover gas fireplaces, report news sources. According to an independent safety researcher, from 1999 through March 2009 more than 2,000 children age 5 and younger suffered burn injuries related to gas fireplaces. Industry… read more
High Levels of Toxic Chemicals Found in Pregnant CA Women
News sources report, in a study released Wednesday, researchers discovered that a group of pregnant women in California has shown some of the highest blood levels every recorded worldwide of a toxic flame retardant chemicals. The University of California, San Francisco study tested 25 Northern and Central California women who were in their second trimester… read more
Unrestrained Pets in Vehicles a Source of Distracted Driving
While much emphasis has been placed on texting as a serious source of driver distraction, less attention has been given to role unrestrained pets can play in distracted driving-related incidents. One health resource encourages restraining pets in vehicles, noting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration categorizes unrestrained pets as a driving distraction. Keeping pets… read more
Safety Group Gives Tools to Curb Employee Distracted Driving
In a news release Thursday, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety announced that the non-for-profit safety group in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation is offering a free toolkit to help combat distracted driving among employees, employee families, and the communities in which the company operates. The 2011 Drive Safely Work Week toolkit… read more
Safety Regulators Investigate Possible BMW Roll-Away Issue
Federal safety regulators are looking into a possible issue with 120,000 BMW 7-Series sedans involving the cars not shifting into park then rolling away, report news sources. A preliminary investigation of 2002 through 2008 model year cars was opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration after the agency received a report of a 2006… read more
Study: Harmful Chemical Levels Down in Car Safety Seats
Levels of bromine, which is used in flame retardant chemicals, in car safety seats have gone down in recent years, but some advocates say the levels are still too high, report news sources. In a recent study evaluating the safety of 150 safety seats based on bromine, chlorine and lead levels, researchers found that overall… read more
Failure to Illuminate Prompts Recall of Emergency Exit Signs
In a news release Tuesday, Best Lighting Products and Lithonia Lighting announced, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, a voluntary recall of emergency exit signs due to a failure to illuminate. Approximately 450 LHQM LED Exit Signs with Emergency Lights are subject to recall due to a malfunction in that causes the… read more
Poll: Anti-Texting Support, Opinion of Teen Drivers Linked
A recent survey found that about 60 percent of individuals in favor of a federal law that sets minimum standards for state graduated driver licensing and that support of the law corresponds to unfavorable opinions of teenage driving ability, report news sources. The survey of 1000 American adults, sponsored by an auto insurer, showed that… read more
Children Up to Age 2 Should Use Rear-Facing Safety Seats
A pediatricians group is recommending that children ride in rear-facing safety seats longer than originally suggested, report media sources. According to the American Association of Pediatricians, children from infancy through age 2 (or until the child has outgrown the seat) should ride in rear-facing car safety seats. The three types of rear-facing safety seats are… read more
Free Smart Phone App Tackles Texting While Driving
A new smart phone app is targeting texting while driving by disabling texting and calling capabilities on phones that are determined to be in a moving vehicle, report news sources. The PhoneGuard app, which runs in the background on Android and Blackberry phones, pings GPS satellites every few seconds to determine how fast the phone… read more
OrganiX Bars Recalled Due to Undeclared Peanut Allergen
In a news release Monday, Xymogen announced that it recalling specific lots of three varieties of OrganiX Bars because the bars may contain undeclared peanut protein. The bars affected by the recall were distributed nationwide via mail order between August 4, 2010 and April 19, 2011. They were distributed in boxes containing 12 50g bars…. read more
VW Jetta Under Investigation for Possible Fuel System Leak
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into possible flaws in the fuel systems of 2011 Volkswagen Jettas in the wake of several consumer complaints, report news sources. Seven complaints have reached the NHTSA’s Office of Defect Investigations from owners of VW Jettas outfitted with the 2.0L TDI diesel engine. The reports claim that… read more
