Ingested Magnets Can Cause Serious Intestinal Injuries
In spite of the fact that hardware and supply stores sell different magnets that are intended for ingestion by livestock to capture swallowed hardware, it is a very bad idea for children.
As reported by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Small magnets, like those found in magnetic building sets and other toys, can kill children if two or more are swallowed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware of at least 33 cases of children being injured from ingesting magnets. A 20 month-old died, and at least 19 other children from 10 months to 11 years old required surgery to remove ingested magnets.
In many cases, magnets had fallen out of larger components of toys. Some children swallowed intact toy components containing magnets.
If two or more magnets or magnetic components or a magnet and another metal object (such as a small metal ball) are swallowed separately, they can attract to one another through intestinal walls. This traps the magnets in place and can cause holes (perforations), twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning (sepsis), and death. When multiple magnets are ingested surgery is required to remove the magnets and sometimes sections of the intestines need to be removed.
PSC cautions the public that small magnets found in other non-toy products may present the same hazard. To help prevent serious magnet ingestion injuries:
Protect Your Passwords When Going Online With a Password Manager
As a consumer you’re most likely no stranger to online shopping and other activities that requires filling in a username and password to be able to login to your personal accounts.
You know that in order to keep your accounts safe and secure you need to use strong passwords, passwords which will not be easy to remember if they need to be secure, because easy passwords are easy to guess and add no value to the security of your online shopping account or other accounts you need to access regularly.
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Thumbs Up for AMW 19″ LCD Monitor for $129
Last week I purchased an AMW 19 inch LCD from Fry’s for $169, with a $30 rebate (now, if I can just get it into the mail). Running it off of my Dell Latitude notebook as a secondary monitor, it extends my desktop very nicely. At first I noticed a little bit of flicker, but that seems to have disappeared just as the owners manual indicated.
It is basic with no USB pass-through ports or built-in speakers. The color is good, and it accepts VGA and DVI input, but no composite video. As you can see, it is not a TV of any kind, but is good for watching a DVD while you work on your computer.
With prices coming down like this, getting a decent LCD monitor is no longer the problem; instead, it is the question of what to do with the old CRTs – especially for those who have to worry about disposal fees.
By the way, I see that Fry’s now has that monitor on sale for $159 with a $30 rebate.
Super Magnet Toys Recalled by MTC Due to Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
Per the CPSC:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 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.
Name of Product: Super Magnets
Units: About 2,800
Importer: Man’s Trading Company, of Brisbane, Calif.
Hazard: The magnet attached to the bottom of a small toy panda can detach. If swallowed or aspirated by young children, the magnets can attract each other internally and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
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Analog Cellular Networks to be Decommissioned in Feb ’08
As reported by CNN:
United States – The FCC voted in 2002
to allow cell phone carriers to begin allowing their
analog networks to go offline beginning February
18, 2008. As this date is fast approaching, as
many as 500,000 OnStar users will no longer
have access to emergency services.
It is believed as many as one million
cell phone users will be shut out, as will about
400,000 wireless home security systems.
Many people are also completely unaware
this shutdown is coming.This is just one example of progress
and obsolescence. Next on the horizon is
the advent and takeover of high definition video.
Per FCC directives, all TV stations in the US will
be required to broadcast in HD and analog will
be left by the wayside.
Today I was ticked off that nobody makes the Flash and other plug-ins for Windows 98 that the web browser needs to play kiddie games and other media. A parent can’t even give their kids a hand-me-down computer anymore.
Surprise! Unexpected Names for the Losers in Consumer Reports Annual Car Reliability Survey
Consumer Reports calls them “bad bets”. The top ten for 2007 are:
- BMW 7-Series
- Infiniti QX56
- Jaguar S-Type
- Jaguar X-Type
- Mercedes-Benz M-Class (V8)
- Mercedes-Benz SL
- Nissan Armada
- Nissan Titan
- Volkswagen Touareg
- Volvo XC90 (6-cyl.)
The winners (“good bets”) are not so surprising:
- Honda Civic
- Honda CR-V
- Honda Element
- Lexus ES
- Lexus LS
- Toyota 4Runner
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Prius
- Toyota RAV4
Gap Outlet Recalls Boys Jackets; Drawstring at Waist Poses Entrapment Hazard
As reported by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 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.
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Choking Hazard Recall for Tot Tower Blocks
eeBoo Corp is recalling 170,000 units of their Chinese-made Tot Tower Blocks. The plastic covering on the toy blocks can detach, posing a choking hazard. For more information, visit www.eeboo.com contact eeBoo Corp. at (800) 791-5619
