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Mattel Promises To Get Tougher on Toy Safety

The CEO of toy maker Mattel promised legislators Wednesday that the company is doing all it can to prevent more massive safety lapses like those that forced the recall of millions of toys. Testifying before a Senate subcommittee, Mattel boss Robert Eckert blamed overseas contractors as the major cul

By Claude Wyle

/ 13 Sep 2007

Profits Drive Lead Paint Use by Manufacturers

When Mattell announced its third recall in six weeks because of toxic levels of lead paint in toys, as well as 16 other recent recalls, we said that this was because of China and money. All the dangerous products were made in China. So why would the Chines manufacturers use lead paint in children’s’

By Claude Wyle

/ 13 Sep 2007

Faulty Spindle-Back Chairs Linked to Whiplash

The title of this blog is not a typo. Unfortunately, it is true that at least one consumer did suffer whiplash after the wooden chair he purchased at J.C. Penney collapsed beneath him. Other consumers suffered bruising and other injuries from similar accidents. Consumers may contact J.C. Penny for a

By Claude Wyle

/ 12 Sep 2007

Teen Texting and Driving Ban Proposed by Lawmaker

Doesn’t texting require both hands? Yes, and this is exactly why Senator Joe Simitian proposed legislation to ban all 16- and 17-year-old drivers from texting, and using other electronic devices, while driving. If this bill passes, fatal highway accidents like the one in the Finger Lakes region of N

By Claude Wyle

/ 10 Sep 2007

Tragic Train Accident Takes Life of Young Woman

Our hearts go out to the family of Britta Aker. At the young age of 27, her life was prematurely taken early yesterday morning as she walked over Union Pacific Railroad tracks in Newark, California. Unfortunately, it will be a tough task for her family to persuade a court to permit recovery for civi

By Claude Wyle

/ 10 Sep 2007

Children's Clothing Poses "Entrapment" Hazard

Children decked out in Kmart’s Basic Edition Girls’ Clothing Sets may be risking more than just bad fashion. Some shirts in this line have especially dangerous drawstrings at the waist, which can pry loose and become entangled in a vehicle door, creating a risk of death or serious injury. Kmart reco

By Claude Wyle

/ 7 Sep 2007

Dangerous Outdoor Candles Recalled

Hayes, a manufacture of outdoor products, is recalling three styles of their “Avant Yarde” outdoor citronella candles. These candles burn at such high temperatures, the wax catches fire and transforms these outdoor candles into dangerous torches. The recall was announced after the company received r

By Claude Wyle

/ 6 Sep 2007

More Toys Full of Lead

In its 3rd Recall, Mattel Announces More Toys Include Lead. Mattel issued another global recall, this time of 848,000 toys last night, the toy company’s third recent recall because of dangerous levels of lead paint on toys. This latest recall includes 3 toys sold by Fisher-Price and 8 Barbie accesso

By Claude Wyle

/ 6 Sep 2007

Traumatic Brain Injuries From Car And Motorcycle Accidents

Astoundingly, 1.5-2 million people a year sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI) from motor vehicle accidents such as automobile accidents and motorcycle accidents, as well as bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents and falls, sport injuries, and other traumatic events. 500,000 of these TBIs are se

By Claude Wyle

/ 5 Sep 2007

Five Dead From Motor Vehicle Accidents in San Francisco Bay Area Over Weekend

Even before the Labor Day weekend was half over, it proved deadly for several people traveling on San Francisco Bay Area roads and highways. By Saturday night, a 61 year old man died in a motorcycle crash in Concord, when he rode into the Kohl’s department store. On Highway 4, a motorcyclist was kil

By Claude Wyle

/ 4 Sep 2007

Pedestrian Attorneys Seek Accountability From Muni

In SAN FRANCISCO, the fourth victim of a Muni-involved pedestrian crash in two weeks was struck by a Muni train Tuesday. According to the Muni’s own spokesperson, as of last week, San Francisco Muni vehicles had been involved in 956 accidents this year alone, 39 with pedestrians, five of which were

By Claude Wyle

/ 3 Sep 2007

Anti Bacterial Soap Better or Just a Wash?

According to University of Michigan researchers who reviewed 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006, antibacterial soaps that have triclosan as the primary active ingredient are not better at preventing bacterial infections than regular soaps. They also found that these antibacterial soaps could

By Claude Wyle

/ 2 Sep 2007