Consumer Reports

The nailers could have a faulty feeder that can allow nails to be ejected sideways, posing a serious injury hazard to the user or bystanders. The coil nailers are used to project nails into drywall, wood or other materials. The model number is NV83A2 and can be found on the body of the product. Only those units manufactured between October 2002 and September 2005 are included in this recall. The manufacturing date can be identified by the serial number engraved at the end of the handle, the first digit representing the month (1 for January, 2 for February, 3 for March, 4 for April, 5 for May, 6 for June, 7 for July, 8 for August, 9 for September, O for October, N for November and D for December) and the second digit representing the year (2 for 2002, 3 for 2003, 4 for 2004 and 5 for 2005). Read more…

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate. Read more…

This weekend, March 13 and 14, we will all be setting our clocks to Daylight Saving Time. The time change is a good reminder to check your smoke alarms. Read more…

Daylight Savings Time in the United States starts on the second Sunday in March of each year and the Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages all Americans to use the change to daylight savings time to update emergency preparedness plans. For years, firefighters and safety professionals at every level have asked the public to change smoke alarm batteries throughout their homes, as they move their clocks ahead. According to FEMA Acting Regional Administrator Dennis Hunsinger, the March ritual of making homes safer from fire is also a great opportunity to review disaster response plans and restock disaster kits. Read more…

Fairbank Farms, an Ashville, NY, establishment, is recalling approximately 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products were distributed by multiple retailers. Each package bears the establishment number ‘EST. 492′ inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label. These products were packaged on September 15 and 16, 2009, and may have been labeled at the retail stores with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009.

Public Lands Day is Saturday, September 26. Volunteer to plant trees, remove trash and invasive plants, and build trails and bridges at a federal land site. Visit the FAQ at USA.gov to find a location.

There is no national hunting or fishing license — such licenses are under the jurisdiction of individual states. Saturday, September 26, is National Hunting and Fishing Day. Visit the FAQ at USA.gov to learn how to obtain a license.

Tuesday, September 22, is the first day of fall, which is also known as the autumnal equinox. Learn more about the seasons — visit the FAQ at USA.gov.

More than 88,000 servicemembers, from World War II to the Iraq War, remain missing. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is September 18, to honor prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. Visit the FAQ at USA.gov for more information.

Sunday, September 13, is Grandparents’ Day. Visit the FAQ for a link to USA.gov’s resources for seniors. There you’ll find consumer protection tips, information on health issues, links to federal and state agencies, and much more.