Number of children swallowing dangerous magnets surges as industry largely polices itself
December 25, 2019, Washington Post
The number of children ingesting rare-earth magnets — powerful tiny balls that are a popular desk toy and can shred a child’s intestines — has skyrocketed in the three years since courts blocked the efforts of federal regulators to force changes to the industry, which largely holds the power to regulate itself.
Conservative judiciary fatal attraction to deregulation
December 27, 2019, The American Prospect
The Washington Post reported on the 1,600 cases of children ingesting high-powered rare-earth magnets used in desk toys, up six-fold from just three years ago. The magnet ingestion has become an epidemic because the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2016 that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) overreached by issuing an effective ban on the desk toys. One of the three judges who heard that case and ruled for the toy industry, leading three years later to a surge in children eating powerful magnets and ripping up their insides, is Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s first pick for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Warning over button batteries on Christmas toys as toddler almost dies
December 25, 2019, News and Star (UK)
England’s National Health Service has advised parents to make sure that the small, flat batteries – which can be found in toys, festive lights, and musical Christmas cards – are kept away from children. It comes months after a two-year-old girl, Elsie-Rose, from Sheffield, nearly died after swallowing one.
College programs take proactive approach to helmet safety
December 15, 2019, Norman Transcript
As education has evolved about head injuries in football over the last decade, college football programs are taking a proactive approach to ensure the helmets that players wear meet proper safety standards. At Purdue, all helmets are manufactured by Riddell, with 80 percent of the helmets SpeedFlex models and the other 20 percent SpeedIcon. The SpeedFlex models hold a 4.5-star safety rating, while the SpeedIcon’s are at 4 stars.
Tel Aviv is world’s first city to require license plates and helmets for shared electric scooters
December 24, 2019, Jewish Press
The Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality has issued various unprecedented new regulations for shared electric scooters, aimed at keeping pedestrians and scooter riders safe. The new regulations include equipping all electric scooters with helmets, installing license plates, recycling used batteries, lowering the speed of the scooters in certain areas, and preventing the usage of scooters in restricted areas.
CPSC Reporting: Best practices for investigating safety complaints
December 23, 2019, Retail and Consumer Products Law (blog)
You’ve just received news that a consumer’s experience with your product did not go as expected. They’ve called, e-mailed, left a review, or even sent a tweet about a negative experience. As you address the consumer’s concerns, it is important to recognize if any reportable safety issues have been raised. If so, there is certain information that should be collected in order to complete the required section 15(b) report to the CPSC.
Quitting vaping tough for teens: ‘It’s gonna suck’
December 26, 2019, Twin Cities Pioneer Press
Stigma and fear around telling family and friends, or asking for help, can delay important conversations, teens who’ve kicked their vaping addictions said, and those under 18 can’t legally access nicotine replacement products like nicotine gum or patches without a prescription or help from an adult. As record numbers of Minnesota students report they’ve used vaping products, health officials said they’re doing what they can to support teens who want to quit. But there aren’t perfect solutions yet to do that.
Sen. Maria Cantwell discusses investigation into Consumer Product Safety Commission
December 23, 2019, High Plains Public Radio
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission failed to protect American consumers. That is what a Senate committee recently concluded in a new report looking into how the agency responded to complaints about three products – a jogging stroller, an inclined baby sleeper and residential elevators. High Plaines Public Radio discussed the results of this investigation with Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat from Washington state. She is the ranking Democrat on the Senate committee that has oversight responsibilities over the commission or CPSC.
CPSC warns of hoverboard dangers after 1 caused a house fire
December 26, 2019, CBS Local
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning the public of the dangers of hoverboards after one started a house fire in Hurst, Texas. The local fire department responded to the fire and reported that a single upstairs bedroom was aflame and “considerable smoke damage” was throughout the house.
Earbuds, fidget spinners and even a Christmas ornament: What US emergency room medics have been removing from patients’ orifices this year
December 27, 2019, Daily Mail
Emergency room medics have had a busy year of removing unexpected items from people’s orifices. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission‘s (CPSC) database documented the emergency room visits throughout 2019. The rectum appeared to be the most common place for objects to become embedded closely followed by ears and the throat.
Elevator safety law awaits Cuomo’s signature months after horrific accident
December 23, 2019, New York Post
Legislation bolstering elevator safety — just months after a man was crushed to death in a lift mishap in a Kips Bay apartment building — awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature. The “Elevator Safety Act” would have the state license mechanics and others who oversee maintenance of 70,000 elevators in the city’s high rises and require more extensive education and training. The tragic death of Sam Waisbren in Manhattan Promenade building is still under investigation by the city DOI and an attorney for the family is about to file a wrongful death suit in the case.
