Category Archives: Safety

Fisher Price recalls over 10 million toys & products

More than 10 million children’s toys have been recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the toys’ manufacturer Fisher Price, the CPSC announced today.

The toy giant has recalled toys — including tricycles and play places — citing potential dangers from falling onto certain protruding parts and choking hazards from small parts.

“Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed,” the CPSC said in a statement.

Here’s the list of products being recalled in the U.S.:

About 7 million Fisher Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles

About 950,000 Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs

Call the company to see if the product you own can be fixed or if they will offer you a new product.

SOURCE: ABC News

Click here to visit Mattel’s (Fisher Price parent company) Recall page for a detailed recall list

Motorola MJ270R Two-Way Radio review and free designer faceplate offer

Two-way radios have been around for years but up until a few years ago I didn’t feel the need to own a two-way radio.  HOWEVER now, I can imagine not having two pairs of two-way radios.  I know what you’re thinking.. don’t you all have cell phones?   Yes, my husband and I have iPhones and my son (spoiled) has a Palm.  Oh, and my 4 year old has a very cute Barbie cell phone that she uses often.  But, I don’t want to use our phone minutes just to tell my son that it’s time to come inside for dinner or to call him home from a nearby friend’s house.  That’s when our Motorola two-way radios come in handy.

My dad bought my family our first pair of Motorola two-way radios about 5 years ago and now we take those and our new Motorola MJ270R two-way radios with us on camping trips, hikes, and most vacations.  We have two two-way radio charger stations in our front hallway.. that tells you how often we use them.   Motorola’s  MJ270R two-way radios are great to take to places like Disney World, Busch Gardens, the Zoo, and Great Wolf Lodge, where older kids are likely to want to go to a different area than the younger kids.

Motorola’s MJ270R two-way radios are the perfect emergency preparedness communication tool for outdoor enthusiasts and active families and include features like an emergency alert button, 11 weather channels with an alert feature and a built in flashlight.
Want to keep in touch with changing weather conditions during your family camping adventure? There’s no need to stop the fun.  Weather alerts will provide you with warnings of incoming storms or dangerous conditions. And, by tuning in to one of 7 NOAA channels (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on your MJ270, you will always know what to pack with continuous local and regional weather broadcasting. When you are hiking up a steep mountain trail, you really need to keep your hands free to brace the rocky terrain.  With iVOX acting like a speakerphone and allowing hands-free communication, you can keep on moving without stopping to answer a call.

For just about $50 you are giving yourself the opportunity to save money on your cell phone bill, be prepared in the case of an emergency, and have quick access to your child’s whereabouts whether they’re in the backyard or at a nearby friends house.

Buy your family a pair of Motorola TalkAbout MJ270R 27-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios here.

Take a look at Motorola’s full line of Two-Way Radios here on Motorola’s website.

Bonus.. get free designer faceplates for your two-way radios!

Purchase a pair of Motorola MR350, MR355R, MR356R and MJ270R Talkabout 2-way radios from a participating retailer by December 31, 2010 then go to www.talkaboutpromo.com and follow the instructions on the website. You will be asked to fill out the promo code provided on the pack to receive your choice of free designer faceplates (includes two faceplates).

On The Oprah Winfrey Show today – texting, cell phones and driving

It’s America’s new deadly obsession and millions of people do it every single day – texting, cell phones and driving. On Monday, January 18, The Oprah Winfrey Show presents an hour of television that could save your life.

The Oprah Winfrey show texting and driving

You’ll hear stories of people who have lost loved ones in crashes caused by distracted drivers and also see what happens when drivers who text are put to the test.

It’s an issue that Oprah is passionate about. “Most people think they can text and talk on the phone and they can handle it, and it’s the ‘other’ people who can’t really handle it….Everybody thinks they can handle it. But you can’t. You can’t.”

Be sure to tune in on Monday, January 18th, to find out just how dangerous distracted driving really is, and how you can join the movement to stop it.

Useful links related to today’s The Oprah Winfrey – texting and driving show

Where is your first aid kit? Do you have one?

It’s summer, the kids are out of school, and I’m sure you need something to do right? Well, pack your bags and hit the local trails but don’t forget your first aid kit.  My guess is that at least 50% of hikers including families on day trip hikes, don’t carry a first aid kit.  Like I said, that’s just my guess but that doesn’t have to be the case. I always pack bandages, sunscreen, insect repellent, and water when planning a day trip, even a trip to the pool.  No kidding..always.  If it were up to me, I would have a location unit like the kind skiers use so rescue teams could find us quickly in the case of an emergency. As you might know from some of my previous posts, I am a paranoid, ‘germaphobic’ mom.  I have anti-bacterial gel and wipes in my handbag, car, and even in our garage for when the kids play in there while I’m on the treadmill or doing laundry.  I know.. studies may show that using a lot of anti-bacterial stuff doesn’t help them get used to germs but the thought of my kids hands being on a shopping cart handle that has some other kids invisible snot on it grosses me out.  Library books even disgust me.  That’s terrible, I know.

CVS/pharmacy first aid and survival products

I am a big fan of drugstores because I know that I can get in and out quickly. Yes, you tend to pay more for name brand products at the drugstore but think about it.. you don’t have to buy name brand products!  For example, did you know that CVS has their own line of first aid products that are the same high quality and more affordable than ‘big brand’ first aid products?  CVS/pharmacy has their own line of bandages, band-aids, sunscreen, insect repellent, and anti-itch spray and as a mom on a budget, I appreciate the affordability of their products.

Below is a list of items you can grab at any CVS/pharmacy store, that should be included in your first aid kit:

  • Bandages, band-aids and alcohol wipes to handle cuts and scrapes
  • Sun protection – whether you’re looking for a sunscreen that’s waterproof with a high SPF, something for the kids, or a cooling sunscreen that can be applied quickly, CVS/pharmacy has a line of continuous spray sunscreens that work great, smell nice and spray on evenly. Don’t forget to wear a hat to protect the face and neck.
  • After-sun relief, in case you forget to re-apply your sunscreen or miss a spot behind your knees. Packing a bottle of CVS/pharmacy’s instant burn relief spray with lidocaine & aloe vera can make all the difference.
  • Insect repellents and anti-itch remedies for bug bites and rashes. CVS/pharmacy has a variety of convenient, pocket-sized spray pens that relieve pain and itching associated with insect bites and minor rashes due to poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac

Visit the CVS/pharmacy website to take interactive quizzes such as this one on how well you know your insect bites and this one on common first aid mistakes.

GIVEAWAY!
We are giving a lucky reader a kit with all of the following products:
•    CVS Kids Sunblock Continuous Spray Spf 50
•    CVS Cooling Mist Sunblock
•    CVS Aftersun Instant Burn Relief Spray
•    CVS Instant Itch Relief Spray
•    CVS Waterproof Bandages
•    CVS Antibacterial Plastic Bandages
•    CVS Travel First Aid Kit

To enter to win, leave a comment telling us what your favorite summer destination is and which of the products above you can’t live without and why. Contest ends August 15th, 2009.

Solaroo UV Blocking Sun Clothing from SunFriendlyProducts.com

Solaroo-blueI received two Solaroo UV blocking suits last summer and failed to write the review and now I can't find the photographs of the kids wearing the suits to post in this review.  Anyway.. I am giving you the heads up now that Solaroo's UV blocking sun clothing is a must have this coming spring and summer

Both of my kids loved their suits last summer.  Sebastian felt cool in his surfer style blue shirt and Madelyn looked adorable in her pretty pink one piece suit.Solaroo-pink

My kids were outside a lot last spring and summer and Sebastian wore his Solaroo shirt when playing with his friends outside and helping me in the garden.  I am paranoid about sunburn and UV damage and love knowing that the kids Solaroo UV blocking sun clothes protect them from UV rays and I never forget to cover the rest of their bodies with super spf sunscreen.  It's not worth it to skip the sunscreen or UV blocking clothes if you have them!  I just wish I had a Solaroo shirt and Extreme Performance Hat
for when I'm out in the yard or playing with the kids.

Solaroo UV blocking sun clothing is lightweight, dries quickly, and keep 98% of the UV rays out.  Available in kids sizes 0 months to 8 years, womens sizes up to 18 and mens sizes up to XX-Large with varying prices.

Go to SunFriendlyProducts.com to see their huge selection of UV Blocking Sun Clothing and accessories for babies, kids, and adults.