Insight With Sylvia Maus 062523 Summer Safety

"MaryAnn McGerty Sieber, Product Investigator from the U. S. Product Safety Commission shares ways to keep you and your family safe during all of your fun filled summer activities." CPSC.gov

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss, andthis is Insight, a presentation of iHeartMedia
where we really do care about ourlocal communities and all our listeners who live
here. Think about my guest,like your mom, she gives your great
advice even though sometimes you don't wantto hear it, but inevitably you know
that she has a real good chanceof being right with me on the phone.

(00:20):
Is Marianne mcgurdy Seaver. Yep,she is a real mom, but
she's also a product safety investigator fromthe US Product Safety Commission. And just
like your mom, all that Marianne'sasking you to do is be aware and
stay safe this summer. So nowis that asking too much, Marianne,
I don't think so. Well,let's begin by cooling off. When I

(00:43):
think about summertime as a mother orgrandmother, first thing I think about his
little kids in swimming pools. Whatshould people be aware of when they own
their own pool or there's a poolclose by? Okay, so the backyard
pool is one of the biggest concernsfor the CPSC because that's typically, believe

(01:03):
it or not, where we seethem most near drownings and drownings for children.
And what we're really looking at ischildren under the age of fifteen.
So a couple tips. Keep inmind, the idea is setting up barriers,
so that was what does the childhave to get through before they reached
the final destination of the pool.So typically depending common where you live,

(01:23):
that's key finding out, you know, what's the rules, risk of the
regulations for the town or township.What kind of pool are you again,
so a couple of different types ofpools out there for younger children. Sometimes
families will get like that waiting pool. You just put a couple inches of
water in there and you turn itover at the end of the day and
dumped the water above ground pool.I think in the last couple of years,

(01:45):
maybe it was you know, sortof COVID time, we saw out
there those above ground but they wereinflatable pools and they were actually the size
of a typical large of Graham pool. So the problem with those pools is
that that is something that you canyou know, the consumer can put them

(02:07):
up themselves and may not be awarethat you know, there's requirements, maybe
their backyard. It's not sensed innbut these pools can be as I said,
the same size as a standard typicalabove ground pool where you have to
have somebody come out and stall it. You know, you might have to
get a permit depending a coontom whereyou live, you know, for the
installation, and that's where the requirementscome in for the fencing. So for

(02:31):
CPSC, we recommend four sides aroundthe pool. So three sides ends up
usually being in the backyard. Fourside is the house. So from there
we can go ahead and put upan alarm. Pretty simple to put together,
but you know what it does letyou know that the child is not
in the family room, not inthe kitchen any longer having her lunch.

(02:53):
She's now entered into the backyard.So that's the barrier. She's gone through.
One barrier. Fencing four feet ahigh we recommend, but again go
back to where you live because itmay be different. Four feet high,
no footholds or handholds. That meansthat someone can't, you know, actually
step on to your fence and climbover it. Gate self closing, self

(03:17):
latching, never promp open the gate. Your kids might be older or your
grandchildren might be older, and they'rethe ones that use the pool. But
maybe three doors down there's a threeyear old grandma watching a three year old
and parents are going to work duringthe day and grandmam is the daycare provider,

(03:37):
and we all know that, youknow, we can turn around and
they're off, so always make surethat gate is closed, and maybe even
an extra precaution when you go onvacation or maybe normally during the summer,
your kids are at camp. Youguys are you know, both at both
working during the day, so noone's using the pool during the day during

(03:58):
the week, so maybe put alock on it, you know, or
going on vacation the pool itself.So let's talk about the above ground pool.
The above ground pool typically has sometype of ladder. Sometimes there are
requirements that there like a little bitof gait that goes around that actual fence.
So that's what you can lock.That's what is preventing somebody from getting
in, you know, the childfrom getting an inch into the pool.

(04:23):
If you have the ability, andtypically you do, you can remove that
ladder at the end of the day, cuts off the access you know to
the above ground pool. Regardless aboveabove ground, in ground, we always
recommend that you remove everything at theend of the day, in terms of
toys, anything else, that everybodywas playing with because that again the water
is blue, what's pretty. They'reheading for those items that they played with

(04:46):
earlier in the day. The inground pool, sometimes you see where someone
has actually like a cover almost lookslike a shade that you have in your
house to close your window, exceptthis goes across the pool. Well,
you know you don't have that,That's right. No, I'm just going
to say pretty much, the bottomline to all the safety is if you
can afford to get a pool,you can afford to keep kids in the

(05:10):
neighborhood safe from anything that could happen. How about it. Yeah, And
you know what, these are justprecautions because sometimes we're not often we're reactionary.
Well I didn't realize that that couldbe an issue, or you know,
then you read about something or youhear about something. But again it
goes back to what's requirement. You'renot seeing above ground pool or in ground

(05:31):
pools that there's not some type oftypically fencing that's required. We're only advising,
you know, these situations for thefencing, and we're talking about these
barriers between the back door. Youknow, in ground pool, you can
there's an alarm it almost looks likea saucer that if the water is disturbed,

(05:53):
that that alarm goes off. SoI think people typically think that,
well, you know what, inthe end and if something happened, I
hear it, it be loud,there'll be a lot of splashing. There's
actually not. It's actually very quiet. And that's what we recommend to anyone
in the situation that kids are goingto be in the backyard in playing that

(06:15):
if you cannot find a child you'rewatching during the day and there is any
type of water in the backyard,we'd recommend go to the backyard first.
Unfortunately, there have been some incidenceswhere the pool has not been kept up
and I'm cleaned properly and you cannotsee the bottom of the pool. We
have done investigations, unfortunately, youknow, in that type of situation,

(06:41):
and the kids themselves, you know, my girls grew up with the swimming.
She put them, you know,on their arms. Yes, you
know you have various flotation devices,but you know all that stuff says on
there. These are not life savingdevices either. Are not the best that
you see or anybody would wear ifthey got on a boat. Um,
these are really only meant to helpyou with them in the water. And

(07:03):
often you see sometimes families will youknow, have kids in swimming lessons as
really as babies, so that therewas a comfort level to everyone in the
family. UM. And today weall have cell phones, we haven't you
know, with us all the time. You know maybe if so, if
there's an emergency, of course,you know, you have no excuse that

(07:24):
you're running into the house for something. At any age, even though they
get older, there still could beyou know, knuckleball. You know,
yes, that kind occur. Wedon't recommend that anyone swim or use you
know, a pool by themselves.And take this information. I know you
referred much to the backyard, buttake this with you when you travel,

(07:48):
when you go to the resort.UM, more often than not, we
see that sign that says knock lifeforward on duty um it you know,
we all want to take a break, you know, it's vacation time.
We want to read a book,we want to have a chat with a
friend, family member, whomever.UM. Sometimes we go to water parks.
UM. There are hundreds of kidsand adults at these water parks UM

(08:13):
and maybe what two three lifeguards UMkeeping eyeballs on your own kids. Is
the safer precaution, um, notrelying on someone else. UM. And
you know I also have heard too, which is actually a great idea when
families have parties, you know,graduation parties, reading and they hire a
lifeguard X. UM, great idea, you know, I mean and you

(08:37):
think, well, you know,but you know what this is what you're
not flopping back and forth between allright, who's who's watching, what adult
is handling? You know, everyonehas some great time. That's what you
know that that person you've hired,that lifeguard that you've hired, is doing
They're paying attention to everyone that's inthe water. Um. And again,

(08:58):
like I said, these are alllife saving precautions. Um, you can
have lots of fun with your backyardpool, your resort pool, the family.
Yes, because you know how itya here. Everybody goes to the
on the east coast because the Jersey, Maryland, Virginia beaches. You know
that is absolutely you know you hear, whether it's the beach or whether it's

(09:20):
you know, the resort, thehotel you're saying at, um where sometimes
there is not a lifeguard on duty. Actually, you know, just just
recently even over the holiday weekend inthe World Day weekend, there were some
incidences UM in New Jersey at theshore in reference to people going on to
beach that did not have a lifeguard. UM. So it can be a

(09:45):
lot of fun, um, youknow, but sometimes people adults are not
comfortable around water. So you know, rather than rely on another adult to
pay attention to you know, kidsand adults. Wire, you know,
everybody's seven fun at a party highera lifeguard. I think that's a wonderful
idea. You know, there's alot of people who aren't real crazy about

(10:05):
water and they end up going tothe mountains and you think, well,
sure there's there's water there. Theyhave to fill these same precautions. But
a lot of people to go tothe mountains are there because they want to
fly around and scooters the ATVs ebikes. What are your concerns about that?
So we have done a number ofrecalls in the last seple years in

(10:26):
reference to e bikes, UM andUM some recalls. So let me kind
of throw out these scs website oneUM that is cpwww dot CPSC dot gov.
So if you have a scooter,hoverboard and e bike, I recommend
you go to our website c ifthere perhaps was a recall, and if

(10:48):
there was, we'll give you thesimple details as what do you need to
do um for those products that havelooking on ion batteries. We have found
is yes, where there have beenfun You've been telling me this for years,
and I know here in Hallisburg acouple of years ago there were two
sisters in that situation that died intoterrible fire because of lithium iam batteries and

(11:13):
correct and they that was for hoverboards. So really the bottom line is we
recommend that you not buy these typeof products secondhand or you know, on
the street, you know, outof the parking lot. Buy them in
reputable businesses. And when you buythem, please make sure that you're buying

(11:37):
not only the product, but thereis a battery that goes with it.
Subsitting out the battery you know thatdoesn't match the product, or an inferior
type of battery. It's not thegreat buy that you think it is.
And follow the directions. In termsof use of these batteries, we typically
don't recommend that people leave them onand go to bed at night or leave

(12:00):
their homes. We really recommend thatyou remain near buy. There has been
devastating fires and fatalities from just theseLythian ion batteries can happen not too far
from here, is it? AndI think in Lancaster County, Howard Town
or do the two sisters that diedin that recently? I think yes,
yeah, yeah, that was Ithink about two years ago, UM when

(12:24):
that when that incident occurred. Butyes, that's where we always recommend.
You know that the people buy theirUM their products, not secondhand or you
know, not at a reputable location. UM. Do you know, do
do your own you know investigation,your due diligence in terms of where are
you buying something from. You know, it might seem like a great idea

(12:46):
or a great deal, but inthe end, you know it's you don't
need to hassle UM. And thenwe also talked about two and the opportunity
whether it's the mountains or maybe youlive in an area has lots of green
space, or you live your ownhome half lots of green space and you
ride ATVs. UM. Couple thingsto give in mind. One, there

(13:07):
are two types of ATVs that areout there, one for children under the
age of sixteen and then those olderUM We always recommend that riders younger than
sixteen should always drive age appropriate,use models, never adult models. Stay
stay off roads, stay on,stay off paved roads. I mean,

(13:28):
I've seen reports in Philadelphia. I'veseen them on the Schoogle Expressway. Verbs.
Yeah, where it is several youknow or you see news reports you
know where. Um, you knowriders will use ATVs. Of course they
you know, run the risk ofgetting in trouble with the law. Besides

(13:52):
the fact that you know the hasare associated with it. A lot of
investigations we also look at are peoplewho just don't drive them properly. You
know that you use them that youknow you've been partying and you're you're you're
not you know, you're kneed createdand you shouldn't behind be behind any wheel,
especially ATVs. These are pretty powerfulpieces of equipment, and I think

(14:16):
that sometimes we let our guard downmaybe a little bit. And of course,
UM some types of training, gettinghands on training from a qualified instructor
UM and safety gear. Always weara helmet and other protective gear, eye
protection, boots, gloves, longpants, long sleeved shirt. Think about
you know what you're wearing and justin case something you know might occur.

(14:41):
You know, just like we talkabout outside doing your yard work, um,
wearing foot flaps and maybe not havingsunglasses on. You know, Um,
it's not such a great idea.Just you know, think about,
um, you know, what protectivegear you should be wearing so that when
you know, they can be alot of fun. Um that can be
dangerous if they're not sparky. Weknow, Marian. We've been doing this

(15:01):
program a couple times a year forI don't know how many years, and
I do pay attention because I justthis seriously. I was talking to a
friend about Lithian batteries and how dangerousthey are. And the gentleman's wife joined
us, and she said, that'sright, what you bought her cheap.
I hit Lithian batteries. You're goingto cause a fire, and it's true.

(15:22):
And I said, that's right.I'll give you the website and everything.
But one of the things, asfar as safety and riding these altering
vehicles, I remember whether had todo with that. Anything that a child
is on, don't think that lastyear's helmet is going to fit the kid
right right, well, also thinkabout the helmet itself, so you know
whether it's bikes, inline, scape, scooters, hoverboards, you name it.

(15:46):
We recommend the head be protected andthere are laws that are out now,
you know, depending fond the stateor town, township where you live
that there are typically requirements somewhere inthe neighborhood of twelve, thirteen, fourteen
years old. You know that kidsdefinitely have to have some type of helmet,
but for younger kids up to theage of five, it's a larger

(16:07):
helmet almost looks like a motorcycle helmet. And then you go into the traditional
helmet where you I mean I hadtwo girls, you know, I could
never figure out what the front andthe back was on that flip it over
because as donical, you know,and that's the helmet that you know,
as we grow up, that waswhat the pros had. Well, we

(16:29):
didn't grow up with bike helmets,you know, thankfully we made it through
childhood and I mean we all hadaccents to we all fell off our bikes,
but we didn't hire read. Sothe helmet is you know, that's
what it's there to do. Soif you or your child or your grandchild,
you know, is riding any ofthese type of products, recommend one
were a helmet too. As youmentioned the use of the helmet, we

(16:52):
won't recommend by them second hand.You don't know their history because sometimes the
helmet could have hit the grounds,been involved in some type of vaccinate,
but you don't see any external damage. But if you have a helmet and
you hit the floor, and youhit the ground and the helmet protects that
head, it did its job,we recommend that you go and buy another

(17:12):
one. There are labeling on thesehelmets. There's actually CPSC labeling on the
helmets that means that helmet has beentested and that it is safe. But
externally, if you ever see ahelmet, maybe you're you know, renting
bikes and you're also get a helmettoo, you would think they were going
to do their due diligence and lookat it, but you never can tell

(17:34):
if something gets by. Look atthe exteer of your helmet, you know,
and that goes also too for yourown house, you know, see
what's going on, see what thecondition is. Like I said, the
only changeover typically is for the youngerjob up to the age of five.
But if you know, for adults, it's we're better off we're in those
helmets because Yeah, when we fall, we fall hard. There's physical therapy,

(18:00):
you know, and all kinds ofstuff. So, um, you
know what a great you know examplethat we can can use and and you
always see it. I mean,whether these are e bikes or you're taking
a ride with your kids or grandchildren. I mean, the e bikes are
like they're like many motorcycles. Imean you can move at a pretty good

(18:21):
clip. Uh, you know onthe e bikes, and you are in
traffic um with other cars, sobe aware. Um, maybe get some
training if you're not comfortable. Um, you don't want to run into you
know, any kind of accidents becauseyou're out and about in traffic. Um.
But again, going back to thesecan be so much fun. Um,

(18:44):
but make sure you have some ideaon how to use them and where
that protective gear. You know whatMy favorite part isn't I don't know what
that says about me, but Ialways look forward to the taste of the
food that comes off of a grill, and I'm really surprises how many people
out there don't have the common senseto get that daring grill away from the

(19:04):
side of this the signing on thehouse, I know when yes, it's
a little bit melted. Yeah.Yes, Solitation is always key when using
a grill, that's the truckle grillor a gas girl musing an outside in
a well ventilated area. Never indoorsor in a garage, breezeway, car

(19:25):
porch, porch under a surface thatcan burn. And as you mentioned,
you know, whether it's on topof the desk next to the house,
you really want to keep it ata good distance away from there. Never
leave a hot grill unattended to kidsaway from the grill area. Um,
you know use an abuse. Um, I mean I think almost everyone's grill.

(19:45):
Uh. You know, whether youput it in the shed or whether
you keep it out in a certainarea covered over the winter can get can
get a lot of just weather youknow related exactly type of wear and tearror.
So um, you know we're we'rea little bit into the warmer weather.
Um. But if you did notclean up that grill, you know

(20:07):
after the last season, easy wayto do it is get it nice and
hot and then take a wire brushout um or aluminum you know, foil
or nylon brushes and give it agood cleaning. Um it. What happens
is it starts to build up righton that individual surface and create problems and

(20:30):
issues um about you know, asfar as the charcoal is concerned, carbon
monoxide is an issue, has labelingright on there. But also with a
gas grill as well. Um,the tank you know, you don't know
that it's empty, um until youturn it on and it's not working.
Same thing, wear and tear checkingthose tubes. You can put a little

(20:51):
distrecurgeon on there. If it beginsto bubble up, then you know you
have some cracks, um. Andyes, yeah, and just getting the
new tank, make it the onestop. You know, only put it
in the car, securely on thefloor, go and get it replaced or
filled or wherever however you do itfor your gas grill, come back,

(21:11):
put it back on again. Don'twant to leave that gas you know,
gas of tank or tank of gasinside an It seems invisible, um,
but it is you know, canbe dangerous. So securely putting it somewhere
in the car, going getting inthat changed up and then returning back to
the house and it's go ahead.I'm sorry, no, you go ahead.

(21:33):
Finished. And as far as evenjust the common areas, we all
besides the grilling I didn't really touchon a little bit. I know you
mentioned the Poconos. Sometimes people willtake um, small grills into tent um
for eating. Yeah, um,and yeah, well you know what they

(21:56):
think. Okay, well my my, my tent is screened, you know,
so they're ventilation. But actually there'snot there are you know, heat
heaters for camping. Yes, pleasedon't take that small grill into the tent
for a you know, heating sourceat night as the temperatures drop down.

(22:17):
Oh my gosh, I can't believeeven discussing that people would do stuff,
but I guess they do. Youknow what else gets real hot? And
I noticed that when it starts gettingnice out, all these vendors are on
the side of the road and that'sfireworks. Yes, thing, depending again,
depending upon where you live. Keepin mind that, I know sometimes

(22:37):
people will maybe make that purchase whenthey're down south, um, and they
will bring the fireworks up north.But there are you know, sometimes pop
up shops that could be you know, right in your local area. Um,
you know that just sell fireworks forthe small period of time. But
you know, we're we are sofortunate where we your live that we have

(23:00):
the opportunity to go to city ballparks, public displays where they put on great
shows by professionals who have insurance.So our messages leave it to the professionals.
However, if you decide that you'regoing to use fireworks, pay attention

(23:22):
to where it is that you're goingto use them, because you may run
the risk. Besides the issue ofyou know, you know, possibly getting
hurt, you now have to dealwith law enforcement and is it in your
area. So one, keep abucket of water nearby. We never and
put that firework in there immediately afterusing it. Never relight a firework because

(23:45):
it hasn't gone off correctly. Payattention to how you're lighting fireworks. You
never want to lean over to adevice that you're trying to light. As
far as injuries, I mean,they can be devastating fingers, hands,

(24:07):
the eyes, yes, um kids, pet um, you know, not
letting you know them nearby. Wehave typically you know, each year,
m a fireworks display down in DCwhere we show what can happen. And
we are the agency that blows upthe watermelon each year to show what can

(24:30):
happen. And we also identify toeven with something as simple as sparklers.
Um. You know that. Youknow, we see that on a birthday
cake. UM. What we yes, But what we demonstrate is is that
putting a sparkler in the hands ofa doll and the sparks that come off

(24:52):
of there and adhere to the clothingof the doll, and how that can
ignite. So just so showing Iguess the simplicity of just something that I
think, well, this doesn't youknow, nothing can happen, It's just
a sparkler, um. But wewant to demonstrate that, you know that
an incident can happen. Something simpleas the clothing, um, you know

(25:17):
can get um ignited and you runinto the risk of having you know,
a fire, having burns. Andagain leave it to the professional. Absolutely
they can do a fabulous job.You have a great time, it's your
family. You can sit back andrelax. There are the pros. They

(25:38):
have insurance um. And you knowyou and your family have a great time.
Mary Anne, time always goes soquickly with you in the same story
today. But before we say goodbyefor the day, I want to let
our listeners know the impact that youand US Product Safety Commission has on all
of us, especially when it comesto recalls, talk to us about isn't

(26:03):
there something is it called the Rockand Play sleepers for children? Talk to
me about that one not to beYes, So I'm glad you brought that
up. So CPSC actually did thisrecall back in twenty nineteen. At the
time that the recall was announced,there were over thirty fatalities reported from a

(26:26):
Fisher priced Rock and Play sleeper.Since that recall has occurred, we've had
at least eight additional deaths. Sowe re announced that recall recently to get
that back out into the news andso people begin to talk about it.
So a couple of ways for wealways recommend for consumers is one, especially

(26:48):
children's products, when you get agift, open that box, buy something
still out the registration card when ifthat product has ever recalled, they will
notify you. We do two fiftyto four and fifty recalls each year.
We could be in the news everysingle day. I can imagine you also
have Okay, I'm sorry, sorry, no, I just want to make

(27:11):
sure we get everything in go ahead, dare I'm sorry. It was four
point seven millions these were sold backin twenty Yes, please, if you
have any Children's bout any consumer products. Fill at the registration gart and if
you didn't do it, go goto CPSC's website. It is www dot
CPSC dot dov g V. We'vebeen in business for over fifty years.

(27:34):
Every recall that we've ever done isthere. That's great for anyone who is
getting a product secondhand, a handme down, a thrift store, a
yard sale. You can go literallyto our website. Has it been recalled?
Okay, what do I need todo? That sounds terrific, Marianne.
Anything that we talked about today,As you said, I mean,

(27:56):
there are resources for teachers for Sundayschools. You can go to print things
out. But the first thing you, whether you receive something as a gift
for yourself or a child, orwhether you're going out shopping, check the
website first and see what information isavailable. What is that website again,
Maryanne? It is www dot CPSCdot gov GV. And we have a

(28:19):
toll three highline number. It's oneeight hundred sixty three eight two seven seven
two. My guest is Veneriam andGertie Sieber from the US Product Safety Commission.
Please check out that website, MaryAnne. Thanks so much. You're
wonderful. All the information and giveit in. Believe me, gets out
there because my big mouth has itgoing all the time. I'm going to

(28:40):
touch base at the end, probablyright before Christmas. Okay, yeah,
ok good. Have a great summer, you two dear. And for my
listeners, if you can't catch insightwhen an ares on a many stations,
find it on your iHeart and manyother podcast steps. Thank you so much
for listening. I'm Sylvia Mossy.Next week