Consumer Tips - Product Safety
Knowing how to use products correctly, reading instructions and being alert to hazards will help to ensure a safe environment around you. You also should pay attention to product recalls in the news and consumer magazines.
- Read about major appliances, tools and other items before you buy them. There are several consumer magazines at the library, which give detailed information on the prices, features and safety of various products.
- Learn to use power tools and electrical appliances safely. For example, if you don't know what a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is, find out. Read the instructions carefully before using the equipment.
- Don't use things for purposes the manufacturer never intended.
- Make sure toys are age-appropriate. Your 10-year-old's baseball bat can be a lethal weapon in the hands of your three-year-old slugger.
- It is recommended that children always wear bicycle helmets. Some provinces now require it. When shopping for helmets, look for the stickers from organizations such as CSA, ANSI and/or SNELL to ensure that you are buying a safe helmet.
- Small parts can present choking hazards to young children who put things in their mouths. Beware of balloons, balls, marbles and older children's toys.
- Baby items demand special attention. Cribs and baby gates have changed dramatically because of new safety requirements. The sale, advertisement and importation of baby walkers are now prohibited in Canada. Don't buy used baby items that don't comply with current standards.
- Garage and tag sales are places where small appliances, power tools, baby furniture and toys with safety defects, lead paints or other hazards get passed along to new owners. Make sure these types of items meet current safety requirements.
- Read product labels. Some products can turn into deadly poisons when mixed with other products, stored improperly or used in poorly ventilated areas.
- Keep all medicines, cleaning products, wood finishes, toxic art supplies and paint out of the sight and reach of young children. Keep leftover products in their original containers. Post the poison control emergency number near your phone. Get rid of old and outdated products.
- Look for tamper-resistant packaging on foods and medicine.
- Watch out for lead crystal decanters and dinnerware decorated with lead paint or glaze. When there's no way to ensure the items are lead-free, don't buy them.
