To read an interesting article that appeared in Tuesday’s NY Times about concussions and contact sports click here.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health
Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled
products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell
or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Chloe, Sophie and Audrey soft dolls

Units: About 81,000 in the United States and 1,300 in Canada

Importer: Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San
Francisco, Calif.

Hazard: The hair on the Chloe and Sophie dolls may contain loops that are
large enough to fit around a child’s head and neck, and the headband on
the Audrey doll, if loosened, can form a loop that fits around a child’s
head and neck. These loops can pose a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of dolls with looped
hair, including one report in which a loop of the Chloe doll’s hair was
found around the neck of a 21-month old child. The child was not injured.

Description: This recall involves soft dolls sold under the names Audrey,
Chloe and Sophie. The dolls measure about 17 inches high and have hair
made of yarn. Audrey’s hair is black, Chloe’s hair is dark brown and Sophie’s
hair is blonde. The dolls are part of Pottery Barn Kids’ Girl Doll Collection.
The doll’s name can be found on a tag sewn onto her bottom.

Sold exclusively at: Pottery Barn Kids stores nationwide, online at www.potterybarnkids.com
and through Pottery Barn Kids catalogs from July 2006 to April 2011 for
about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the dolls away from children immediately
and cut the looped hair of the Chloe and Sophie dolls and remove the headband
of the Audrey doll to eliminate the hazard. Consumers may also call Pottery
Barn Kids for instructions on how to return the affected dolls for a merchandise
credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids
toll-free at (855) 880-4504 between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. PT seven days a week
or visit the firm’s website at www.potterybarnkids.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available by clicking on this link

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled

products, please go to click on this link.

Children can drown in very small amounts of water.  Do not overlook the risks that wading pools and portable pools can pose.  To read the full  article that appeared in the NY Times please click here.

April 4-10 is National Public Health Week; Safety is No Accident: Live Injury-Free

Injuries and unexpected accidents can happen at home, at work or at play, but New Jersey Health and Senior Services Acting Commissioner Mary O?Dowd says that making one positive change a day can lead to a safer life.

Whether it is making sure you buckle your seatbelt while driving, assessing your home for potential hazards or making sure your children?s helmets are properly secured while biking, everyone can contribute to a safer lifestyle,? said Acting Commissioner O?Dowd.

April 4 – 10 is National Public Health Week, which is recognized nationally to educate the public, policy-makers and the public health community about the issues important to improving public health.  
 
 Safety is no Accident: Live Injury-Free is the theme of this year’s National Public Health Week, which is organized by the American Public Health Association. The theme highlights the important role individuals, schools and workplaces play in preventing violence and injuries.
 
Injuries, accidents and violence are the most expensive medical problems in the country. Annually, $80 billion is spent on medical care due to injury. Another $326 billion is estimated for lost productivity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, injuries are the most common cause of death before the age of 65, accounting for 30 percent of potential years of life lost. In addition, unintentional injuries such as motor vehicle crashes, poisonings and burns rank among the top 10 causes of death for people under the age of 44.

Some injury prevention suggestions that everyone can make include:

At Home:
•        Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
•        Make sure all electrical outlets are covered and inaccessible to children.
•        Program emergency numbers such as the Poison Control Hotline Numbers into your home and cell phones.
•        Make sure cleaning supplies and medicines are in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.

At Work:
•        Wear all protective equipment required or recommended for your job.
•        Participate in all workplace safety trainings.
•        Use your rights to advocate for safety and health.

At Play
•        Always wear all protective equipment required, such as helmets, when playing sports.
•        Monitor your children when they are at play to ensure safety.
•        Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

On the Move:
•        Always wear a seatbelt, no matter how short the trip.
•        Make sure children are buckled in a car seat, booster seat or seat belt.
•        Wear a helmet and reflective gear when on a bike, skateboard or scooter.
•        Avoid texting, eating or using the phone while driving.

For more information, visit the DHSS Office of Injury Surveillance and Prevention website at http://nj.gov/health/chs/oisp/index.shtml.

For more information on National Public Health Week, visit www.nphw.org/nphw11/home1.htm.

A new recommendation advises parents to keep their child in a  rear facing car seat until 2 years of age.  To read the article click here.

This article is about renovating your home safely to keep your family, especially children, protected from environmental toxins.  Click here to read the article.

According to an article in the NY Times, Consumer Union is urging pregnant women to avoid eating tuna and young children to limit eating tuna after higher levels of mercury were found in recent tuna samples.  Click here to read the article.