CPSC Says Deadly Products Are Still In Use Despite Warnings and Recalls;
Agency Releases "Most Hazardous" List and Urges Home Inspections
Press Release # 03-119
Transcript
TEXT: Old Power Tools - Old power tools may present an electrocution hazard. In a recent year, there were approximately 15 electrocution deaths associated with old power tools. Old electric power tools (made before the 1980s) may not have modern safety features to prevent electrocution. For example, old power tools were made with metal housings, while newer tools are made with plastic housings to provide double-insulation against electric shock. Old power tools also may not have proper grounding or may have frayed wires or other hazards. Discard old power tools. Do not give them to thrift stores or sell them at a yard sale.
(Image of older power tools. View of old power drill, zoom in to close-up view of exposed, frayed wire. Zoom out to full view of old power drill. Return to view of older power tools, person reaches over the older tools holding a newer power drill. View of newer power drill)
TEXT: Old Extension Cords - Old extension cords may present a fire or shock hazard. Old extension cords, power strips and surge protectors may have undersized wires, loose connections, faulty components or improper grounding. Old extension cords may fail to meet current safety standards and can be overloaded easily. In a recent year, electrical cords and plugs were involved in about 5,700 fires resulting in 40 deaths. Look for cords with the label from an independent testing lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL. Use cords that have polarized plugs or grounded three-pronged plugs to reduce the risk of shock. Don't overload cords with too many appliances.
(View of older extension cords. Hand reaches to point at plastic covering of an older extension cord. View of older extension cord being used to operate a toaster oven and coffee maker. Cord begins to produce sparks during use, and then continues to smoke. View of newer extension cords on shelves in a store. Person reaches out and picks one up, showing a UL label. Views of various other UL and ETL labels on extension cords and power strips)
TEXT: Window Blind Cords With Loops - Window blinds may have pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation if children become entangled in the pull cords or the inner cords. CPSC knows of about 160 strangulation deaths to children that occurred since 1991. In 1995, CPSC worked with the industry to eliminate the pull cord loops on new window blinds. In 2000, CPSC worked with industry to eliminate the inner cord loops. However, older window blinds in consumers' homes still have loops that must be repaired. There are about 85 million units sold each year. Call the Window Covering Safety Council for a free repair kit: 800-506-4636, or go to its Web site: www.windowcoverings.org (NOTE: baby doll simulation is shown)
(View of older window blinds, person showing the loop created by the pull cord, then placing an arm through the loop. View of baby doll being strangled by the pull cord loop. View of person cutting the bottom of the pull cord to eliminate loop. View of young child playing with blinds and person placing plastic coverings over cut pull cord ends. View of person pulling inner window blind cord down, creating loop. View of baby doll being strangled in the inner cord loop. View of person placing safety devices on inner window blind cord)
(View of window blind cord safety material, including information booklets and repair kit contents)
TEXT: Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps - Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps:
Halogen floor lamps need a wire or glass guard and a bulb that is 300 watts or less to help reduce the fire risk. More than 40 million halogen floor lamps made before 1997 need the guard. CPSC knows of 290 fires and 25 deaths since 1992 related to halogen torchiere floor lamps. You can get free wire guards by sending a postcard to: Attention Consumer Services, 18191 NW 68th Avenue, Miami, FL 33015 (note the first line of the address beginning with "Attention" has been modifed).
(View of halogen torchiere floor lamps. View of light bulb for halogen lamp. View of lamp under curtains that are beginning to smoke and then flame due to contact with the lamp.)
(View of person placing wire guard over top of lamp and fastening. View of wire guard)
TEXT: Old Cribs - Old cribs made before CPSC's safety standards may have more than 2 3/8 inches between crib slats; corner posts that extend more than 1 1/16 inch above the level of the headboard; or cut-outs on the headboard or footboard that present suffocation and strangulation hazards. Cribs with missing or broken parts also present a risk of death. CPSC estimates there are about 30 deaths per year in old cribs. Destroy old cribs and those with missing or broken parts. Use only those cribs that meet current safety standards. (NOTE: baby doll simulation is shown)
(Image of older cribs. Close-up of corner posts on older cribs. View of person shaking mattress of older crib. View of object being moved through the slats of an old crib. View of doll being moved through the slats of a crib, with head being stuck. view of ruler being placed across distance separating crib slats, measuring nearly 3 inches.
TEXT: Cadet Heaters - Some Cadet in-wall electric heaters could cause a fire. CPSC is aware of more than 320 reports of Cadet and Encore heater models FW, FX, LX, TK, Z, ZA, RA, RK, RLX, RX, RW, and ZC that smoked, sparked, caught fire, emitted flames, or ejected burning particles or molten materials. These incidents allegedly resulted in four deaths, two serious burn injuries and property damage claims exceeding $4.3 million. Due to Cadet's bankruptcy, the opportunity to obtain discounted heaters expired on February 17, 2002. Consumers should stop using and replace those 1.9 million recalled heaters. In addition, some RM and ZM model heaters sold separately or provided as replacements for the recalled models can overheat and cause fire. Cadet will arrange for a free service call for affected RM and ZM heaters. The Cadet recall hotline is 800-567-2613 and the Web site is www.cadetco.com
(View of heaters, close-up on Cadet logo. Close-up on inside of heater, person removes lint from coils. View of Warning label inside of heater)
TEXT: Old Electric Hairdryers - Hairdryers without built-in shock-protection devices in the plug can cause electrocution. Since the early 1990s, hairdryers have had built-in shock protection devices to prevent electrocution if submerged in water. Destroy the old hairdryers. Replace the old hairdryer with a new one with a large rectangular plug and the mark of a recognized testing laboratory.
(View of old hairdryer, close-up on plug. View of new hairdryer plug, zoom-out to full view of new hairdryer. Person lifting and displaying new hairdryer plug)
TEXT: Disposable Lighters that are not child-resistant - CPSC set a standard (effective in 1994) requiring disposable lighters to be child-resistant. Since the standard took effect, there has been a 58 percent reduction in fires caused by children under age 5, representing the prevention of hundreds of deaths and injuries and thousands of fires. However, in a recent year, there were still 2,400 fires resulting in 70 deaths and 480 injuries because of children under age 5 playing with lighters. Keep all cigarette lighters away from children, and make sure your lighters are child-resistant.
(view of disposable cigarette lighters, close up on cigarette lighters. View of multi-purpose lighters. View of person using locking device on multi-purpose lighter)
TEXT: Drawstrings on Children's Jackets and Sweatshirts - Drawstrings on Children's Jackets and Sweatshirts: Drawstrings around the neck can catch and strangle children. In 1995, CPSC worked with industry to eliminate hood and neck drawstrings on kids' jackets and sweatshirts. CPSC knows of 23 deaths and 56 non-fatal incidents between 1985 and 2000. Pull out or cut all neck drawstrings on children's jackets and sweatshirts. Do not sell them at garage sales or give them to thrift stores. CPSC found that many thrift stores were selling recalled, hazardous products, including children's jackets with drawstrings.
(View of a rack housing many children's jackets, close-up of one children's jacket with a neck drawstring . Person removing drawstring from jacket. More views of children's jackets and sweatshirts with drawstrings, and people removing them)
TEXT: For media inquiries about recalled products, contact:
Ken Giles, 301-504-7052.
For recall information, people can call CPSC's toll-free hotline (800) 638-2772 or visit the CPSC web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.
For a list of major recalls, people can send a postcard to "Recall List," CPSC, Washington, DC 20207.