December 2022

 

Important Dates

National Safe Toys and Gifts Month

12/4 Santa's List Day
12/6 St Nicholas Day 
12/18-12/26 Hanukkah
12/21 Winter Solstice
12/25 Christmas 
12/31 New Year's Eve

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It is a time to enjoy your family and be in the giving spirit! While you are enjoying your winter decorations and wrapping gifts, please don't forget about safety. This month's blog will focus on some things to help keep your kiddos protected this holiday season, as well as what to keep in mind when buying gifts for your little ones.

 Winter Home Safety Tips

Kitchen
Clean and Check Range Hood
Clean Garbage Disposal
Inspect Hoses on Dishwasher, Ice Maker, and Fridge

Bedrooms and Living Areas
Check Flashlights, Replace Batteries
Hide Holiday Presents
Wipe Walls and Ceilings
Clean Lampshades

Basement
Service Generator
Vacuum and Dust HVAC System
Replace Furnace Filter

Bathrooms
Update First Aid Kit
Clean or Replace Shower Curtain

Hallways
Repair Steps and Banister
Test and Change Detector Batteries

Outside
Check for Ice Dams and Icicles
Install Outdoor Security Camera
Maintain Shoveled and Salted Walkway
Install Smart Holiday Lights

Choosing Safe Toys

According to the American Public Health Association, "Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three."

Some quick guidelines from APHA  for choosing safe toys this holiday season:

• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.

• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it.

• Be diligent about inspecting toys your child has received. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness before allowing them to be played with. 

• Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ASTM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.

• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard)

• Keep kids safe from lead in toys by: Educating yourself about lead exposure from toys, symptoms of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled; being aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint; having your children wash their hands frequently and calling your doctor if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead. 

• Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.

• Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements. 

• Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic”.

More details and a downloadable checklist at Safewise

RECALLS:

November 17, 2022 FDA; Mason Vitamins Inc. recalled its Health Sense and People’s Choice Women’s Daily Vitamins with Iron due to Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Pantothenic Acid amounts being lower than the declared amount on the label.

November 17, 2022 CPSC; Professor Puzzle recalled its Rainbow Stacking Toys sold at Home Goods, Homesense, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Winners stores because the toy’s information sticker can become exposed and detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Units: About 2,350 (an additional ~600 in Canada).

November 17, 2022 CPSC; The William Carter Company recalled its Infant’s Yellow Footed Fleece Pajamas with Animal Graphic because small metal wire pieces can be found in the pajamas, posing puncture and laceration hazards to young children. Units: About 50,800 (an additional ~200 in Canada).

November 10, 2022 CPSC; Mockingbird recalled its Single-to-Double Strollers because the lower side of the stroller frame can crack, posing a fall risk to children in the stroller. Units: About 149,000.

November 10, 2022 CPSC; Hunter Fan recalled its Hunter branded Devon Park, Astwood, Highland Hill, Kerrison, and Van Nuys light fixtures because the internal wires in the lights can be damaged, posing an electric shock hazard to the consumer. Units: 2,600.

November 10, 2022 CPSC; Generac recalled its Generac and DR 6500 and 8000 Watt portable generators because an unlocked handle can pinch consumer’s fingers against the generator frame when the generator is moved, posing finger amputation and crushing hazards. Units: About 321,160 (an additional ~4,575 in Canada).

November 7, 2022 FDA: Adam’s Polishes recalled its hand sanitizer because it contains undeclared methanol which, when accidentally ingested, poses a risk for methanol poisoning. 

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Reckitt recalled AirWick Fresh New Day Aerosol Air Fresheners because a single batch of the air fresheners is missing a corrosion inhibitor, which can lead to corrosion and rupture of the metal can and expulsion of the contents, posing injury and laceration hazards. In addition, corrosion of the container can result in leakage, posing a risk of skin and eye irritation upon contact. Units: About 67,000.

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Empower Brands recalled its Black+Decker Model HGS011 Easy Garment Steamers because they can expel, spray, or leak hot water during use, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Units: About 518,500.  

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Rad Power Bikes recalled its RedWagon 4 Electric Cargo Bikes because the rim strip on the tires can be misaligned, causing the tube to pop and damage the tire. Additionally, the tires with a ribbed sidewall can unexpectedly go flat, risk serious injuries from loss of control and/or crash. Units: About 29,300.

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Myx recalled its MYX I, II, II Plus Connected Exercise Bicycles because the pedals can loosen and/or detach when not properly tightened at installation, posing an injured hazard. Units: About 162,000.

November 3, 2022 CPSC; BS Interactive recalled its Stashables Finger Skateboard Ramp Sets because the surface paint on the miniature skateboard and scooter toys in the sets contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a risk of lead poisoning. Units: About 17,000.

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Clarks Americas recalled its Breeze Ave, Shore, and Step women’s shoes in Navy because prolonged and direct contact with the shoes’ upper material can expose the wearer to the chemicals benzidine and/or dimethoxybenzidine, which are toxic and can cause adverse health effects. Units: About 113,000 (an additional ~10,000 in Canada). 

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Tangame Busy Toy Houses recalled its Tangame Busy Houses because the yellow-painted metal zipper and orange plastic phone cord contain levels of lead that exceed the federal content ban. Likewise, the horn’s blue plastic bulb contains a regulated phthalate that exceed the prohibition of specific phthalates. Phthalates and lead are toxic if ingested by young children, posing a risk of adverse health issues. Units: About 100.

November 3, 2022 CPSC; Anker Play Products recalled its Bolt Foldable Children’s Scooters because the paint on the scooters contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a poisoning hazard if ingested by young children. Units: About 5,000.

October 27, 2022 CPSC; Goalsetter recalled its wall-mounted basketball goals because the goal can detach from the wall and fall to the ground, posing a serious impact injury hazard and risk of death. Units: About 18,000.

October 27, 2022 CPSC; Amazon recalled its Amazon Basics Executive Desk Chairs because the chairs’ leg base can break, posing fall and injury hazards. Units: About 11,400. 

October 27, 2022 CPSC; Radio Flyer recalled its Tesla Cyberquad for Kids, Model Number 914, because they fail to comply with the federal safety requirements for youth ATVs, including mechanical suspension and maximum tire pressure. Additionally, the Cyberquad lacks a CPSC-approved ATV action plan, containing safety requirements, such as rider training, dissemination of safety information, age recommendations, and other safety measures in place to reduce crash and injury hazards. Units: About 5,000.

October 27, 2022 CPSC; Bikes USA recalled its Punisher Adult Cycling Helmets because they do not comply with the positional stability and impact attenuation requirements of federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, posing a risk of head injury in the event of a crash. Units: About 3,400.

October 27, 2022 CPSC; Johnson Health Tech Trading recalled its Horizon T101-05 Treadmills because they can unexpectedly accelerate, change speed, or stop without user input, posing a fall hazard. Units: About 192,000 (an additional ~7,000 in Canada).

October 25, 2022 CPSC; Clorox recalled multiple of its Pine-Sol Cleaners because the products may contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that can lead to risk of serious infection for those with weakened immune systems. Units: About 37 million.

October 24, 2022 FDA; Whele LLC recalled its Mighty Bliss Electric Heating Pad because use of this product may lead to burns, mild shocks, rashes, or skin irritation.

October 21, 2022 FDA; Unilever recalled multiple brands of Dry Shampoo Aerosol because they potentially contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen, posing a risk of cancer if exposure occurs by inhalation, orally, or through the skin.

October 20, 2022 CPSC; Juvo Plus recalled its Butterfly Net Sets and Army Action Figure Playsets because both sets contain levels of certain phthalates and lead that exceed the federal phthalate and lead content standards, posing a risk of adverse health issues to young children if ingested. Units:  About 22,500 butterfly net sets and 4,500 action figure playsets.

October 20, 2022 CPSC; Backyard Nature Products recalled its Birds Choice Hanging and Pole-Mounted Acrylic Bird Baths because, when sunlight goes through the bath’s acrylic surfaces onto nearby wooden surfaces, such as siding or decking, the surface can overheat, posing a fire hazard.  Units: About 500.

October 20, 2022 CPSC; Gel Blaster recalled its SURGE 1.0 toy guns because the lithium-ion battery pack inside the handle can overheat and ignite, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 62,700.

October 20, 2022 CPSC; TJX recalled its Mittal International Baby Blankets because the threads in the woven baby blankets can come loose and detach, posing choking, entrapment, and strangulation hazards. Units: About 108,000 (an additional ~3,550 in Canada).

* information from Consumer Product Safety Commission