Consumers should adopt ‘safety first’ policy

For most of us, summer means more time outside for projects or pleasure. A reminder about child safety is in order as well.

As little ones begin to explore, they’re drawn to windows. Just last week, a toddler in Brooksville got out an upper-story window and landed on the ground, luckily without serious injury. A screen is not enough to keep young explorers inside. Use of guards or opening only the top part of a window can reduce risks. You also can use stops that keep windows from opening more than a few inches.

Summer is also a time to keep up on product recalls so your outdoor ventures don’t include unexpected mishaps.

Our frequent rain showers have us cutting the grass often. Stay safe when you mow, and be aware that just last month a lawnmower recall was issued.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, in cooperation with Honda, recalled the HRX walk-behind mowers with model numbers HRX217(K)2HXA and HRX217(K)2HMA. The rear shield can break off, allowing the blade to throw debris back at the operator.

As with all recalls, the CPSC advises owners to stop using their machines. In this case, owners should take their machines to an authorized Honda dealer for a free repair. Registered owners should already have received a notice to that effect from the company.

In the news release announcing the recall, CPSC notes only one instance of shield breakage. No injury resulted. Still, with the mowers sold in Honda dealerships and Home Depots from last October to June, the agency wants owners to err on the side of caution.

A potentially more widespread risk may be posed by a gas grill, the subject of a voluntary recall on Aug. 7. The Perfect Flame Double Lid Four Burner Gas Grill Model GAC3615 has a cooking chamber that can melt or ignite. Approximately 24,000 grills, manufactured by Lucas Innovation Inc. of China, were carried by Lowe’s Home Centers and Lowe’s HIW.

No injuries had been reported at the time of last month’s recall of the SLA90 Youth All-Terrain Vehicles made by SunL Group Inc. of Irving, Texas. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the defects are serious enough to cause young operators to lose control of the vehicles. Only about 144 ATVs are involved, and the individual vehicle identification numbers are listed on the CPSC Web site.

A couple of recent recalls involve bicycles or parts. In about 4,500 Amsterdam bicycles sold by Electra Bicycle dealers from January 2007 to June 2008, interior alignment tabs in the chain guard can be pushed against the chain, causing a derailment. The steel axle inside about 40,000 pairs of Keo bicycle pedals can break, causing the cyclist to fall.

Even our places of rest are subject to recalls. About 4,500 Best Value park benches, sold by Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, were recalled in May. The benches were sold from January through March of this year for about $30. They can become unstable and break, bringing your rest break to a sudden and bumpy ending.

For information about recalled products, call CPSC’s hot line at 800-638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at 800-638-8270. The agency’s Web site is www.cpsc.gov.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration, now in its 30th year, of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual and business memberships are available at modest rates. Interested and motivated prospective volunteers are always needed and welcomed to apply to help with our mission. For assistance with consumer-related issues, including consumer fraud and identity theft, or for more information, write: Consumer Forum, P.O. Box 486, Brewer ME 04412, or e-mail contacexdir@live.com.