Grand Prize Winning Poster: Designed by 8th grader Trachell from Hawaii

Out of the nearly 450 entries submitted in the contest, CPSC judges chose nine finalists. The judging was based on CO safety message, visual appeal and design originality. Each finalist receives $250. The grand prize winner receives an additional $500.

Here are all the finalist posters:

To see all the posters that were submitted, go to www.challenge.gov/CPSC

(Read the transcript, watch in Windows Media format, or on CPSC’s YouTube Channel.)

So stored-away space heaters emerge in our efforts to stay warm. We at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (C.P.S.C.) want to remind you about a few winter safety tips. From 2003 through 2005, there was an annual average of 57,300 fires and 270 fire deaths associated with portable heaters, central heating systems and fireplaces and chimneys.

To use your space heater properly, there are several do’s and don’ts:

Do:

• Use a space heater that has been tested to the latest safety standards and has been certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. These heaters have the most up-to-date safety features. Older space heaters may not meet newer safety standards. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper use.
• Place the heater on a level, hard nonflammable surface such as a ceramic tile floor.
• Keep the heater at least three feet away from bedding, drapes, furniture and other flammable materials.
• Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
• Turn the heater off if you leave the area.

Don’t:

• Never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep.
• Don’t place a space heater close to any sleeping person.
• Never use gasoline in a kerosene space heater, as even small amounts of gasoline mixed with kerosene can increase the risk of fire.
• Don’t use portable propane space heaters indoors or in any confined space unless they are specifically designed for indoor use.

Also, be sure to guard against carbon monoxide poisonings by installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Make sure that your CO alarm batteries are fresh and working.

(Read the transcript or watch in Windows Media format)

Recent Infant Death in a Recalled Simplicity Wooden Drop Side Crib Raises Number of Fatalities to 11. Some of the Cribs include the Graco Logo and Winnie-the-Pooh Motif.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the dangers associated with recalled Simplicity wooden drop side cribs manufactured by Simplicity Inc. and SFCA Inc., of Reading, Pa.  The firms appear to no longer conduct day to day operations. 

CPSC has recently been made aware of an additional death which occurred in September 2009 involving a 7-month-old child from Princeton, Kentucky who became entrapped in the crib when a part of it broke.  On July 2, 2009, CPSC issued a recall describing the death of an 8-month-old child from Houston, Texas who became entrapped and suffocated between the drop side and the crib mattress when a plastic connector on the drop side broke.  CPSC also is aware of an additional 25 incidents involving the drop side detaching from the crib. 

To date, CPSC has recalled over 2 million Simplicity wooden drop side cribs due to problems with the crib’s plastic hardware.  The plastic hardware can break or deform, causing the drop side to detach. When the drop side detaches, it creates a space between the drop side and the crib mattress.  Infants and toddlers can roll into this space and become entrapped which can lead to suffocation.   

Previous Simplicity crib recalls were issued in December 2005 , June 2007 , September 2007 , September 2008 , and July 2009 .

All Simplicity wooden drop side cribs have been recalled.  Some of the model numbers include but are not limited to:  4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8050, 8324, 8325, 8620, 8740, 8745, 8748, 8750, 8755, 8756, 8760, 8765, 8778, 8800, 8810, 8910, 8993, 8994, 8995, 8996. The recalled drop side cribs were sold in department stores, children’s stores, and mass merchandisers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for between $150 and $300.

CPSC is reminding parents and caregivers to check their cribs to see if they have a recalled Simplicity drop side crib.  Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.  Consumers should not attempt to fix the cribs.  Consumers can also check with the retailer where purchased to receive a remedy.

(Read the transcript or watch in Windows Media format)

As the holiday season approaches, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to make safety a factor in holiday decorating. Whether it is careful candle placement or checking the warning label on the holiday lights, simple safety steps can go a long way in preventing fires and injuries this year.

Annually, during the two months surrounding the holiday season, more than 14,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday decorating. In addition, Christmas trees are involved in hundreds of fires resulting in an average of 15 deaths and $13 million dollars in property damage annually. Candle-related fires lead the list of hazards averaging more than 12,000 a year, resulting in 150 deaths and $393 million in property damage.

“Holiday decorating-related fires and injuries most often involve defective holiday lights, unattended candles and dried-out Christmas trees,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “We are providing this list of 10 simple safety steps to help keep your holiday home safe.”

Ten Tips to Keep Your Holiday Home Fire and Injury Free:

Trees and Decorations

1. When purchasing an artificial tree, DO look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
2. When purchasing a live tree, DO check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
3. When setting up a tree at home, DO place it away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to monitor water levels and keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.
4. In homes with small children, DO take special care to avoid sharp, weighted or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

Lights

5. Indoors or outside, DO use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA.
6. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. DON’T use electric lights on a metallic tree.
7. If using an extension cord, DO make sure it is rated for the intended use.
8. When using lights outdoors, DO check labels to be sure the lights have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Candles

9. Keep burning candles within sight. DO extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house.
10. DO keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.

Get a free brochure with more holiday decorating safety tips at CPSC’s web site www.cpsc.gov .

A cooking fire can turn a holiday feast into a family tragedy, by making safety part of the Thanksgiving dinner recipe; cooks can avoid preventable cooking fires and keep the celebration joyful. Here are some tips to keep your family safe from cooking fires:

• Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. Most kitchen fires occur because food is left unattended. Turn off the burner if you have to leave.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of an emergency and know how to use it.
• Keep smoke alarms connected while cooking. It can be tempting to disable smoke detectors, especially if they are triggered easily. However, smoke alarms can save lives. Make sure smoke alarms are installed and working.
• Be extremely cautious if using a turkey fryer. They can pose serious burn and fire hazards. If you decide to use a turkey fryer this Thanksgiving, be extremely cautious and read all the safety tips at cpsc.gov.

(Read the transcript or watch in Windows Media format)

Are your window coverings safe?  Over the weekend, a young child from Damascus, Maryland tragically strangled in a window covering. About once a month a child dies from a window cord strangulation. In recent years, CPSC has recalled more than 5  million window coverings.

Today, we are urging parents to examine all window coverings in their homes. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit. Watch the video, download our new Safety Alert, and let’s prevent these tragedies.

(Read the transcript or watch in Windows Media format)

The end of the outdoor swimming and pool season doesn’t mean the end of drowning dangers for young children. After pools, more children drown in bathtubs than in any other product in and around the home. Children can drown in only inches of water in bathtubs, baby seats or bathinettes, buckets and pails, landscaping or yard products, and other products found in and around the home. The majority of reported in-home drownings and non-fatal submersion incidents in homes involved children younger than 2 years old. See CPSC’s staff report on young children’s drownings and non-fatal submersion incidents in homes.

Parents need to know that water anywhere is a potential drowning hazard to children. A lapse in supervision by caregivers is the leading cause of preventable children’s in-home drownings. Never leave young children alone, even for a moment, near any water.