Consumer Awareness

Car seats are designed to save young lives. Unfortunately, most parents think they are installing the seats correctly, when inspections show seven in 10 are installed wrong! The consequences can be deadly given that motor vehicle accidents are the number one killer of kids in this country. And in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than half of those deaths and serious injuries could be prevented by placing children in age- and…

Women Spread Word About Problems With Essure Women who suffer serious complications from an implantable birth-control device called Essure want others to think twice before undergoing the procedure. So they launched a Facebook page, YouTube channel, website and enlisted Erin Brockovich to tell their stories.

2-Fold Increase Energy drinks were cited as the primary cause for 20,783 emergency room visits in 2011, double the total reported in 2007. Source: More Emergency Room Visits Linked to Energy Drinks, The New York Times 

Human health and food safety compromised despite laws As Americans we want to trust the federal agencies that are designed to protect us, such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), which is charged with developing and enforcing food safety laws across the country. But what happens when these organizations are the ones breaking the very laws they established? Feeling violated In a May 2013 audit from the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the…

Map Shows State-by-State Licensing Information The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education features an interactive map that shows state licensing and regulation information for child care. Is Your Day Care Provider Accredited? Find Out Accredited providers have met child care standards higher than most state licensing requirements. Look up providers through the National Association for the Education of Young Children or the National Association for Family Child Care,…

By the numbers 38 States Report – Just 38 states require licensed child care providers to report fatalities to state officials. Child care centers in 12 states and home-based providers in 11 states are not required to report fatalities. There is also no federal reporting requirement. Source: Why Aren’t We Outraged? Children Dying in Child Care Across America, Child Care Aware of America 4:1 Staffing Ratio – National standards recommend that there be one care…

Finding affordable and safe day care has become a major challenge for working parents. Recent studies show that child care now exceeds the annual median rent in almost half of all states, straining already tight budgets to the breaking point. But money means nothing if little Johnny or Judy doesn’t come home safely at day’s end. Serious inconsistencies in licensing, enforcement and training have created dangerous situations where thousands of kids are injured each year…

Campaign Wants Accountability for Generic Drug Makers Take Justice Back is fighting to hold generic drug companies accountable when they cause serious injury or death. Listen to Karen Bartlett’s tragic story and learn about ways you can help make a difference. Stay Informed About Unsafe Drugs Stay informed with drug alerts and recalls, search for approved drugs, and access educational resources on drugs and generics – including online alerts and podcasts – from the U.S….

By the numbers 2 to 4 Million Hurt – Between 2 to 4 million Americans suffered serious, disabling or fatal injuries after using prescription drugs in 2011, based on estimates from data issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Source: QuarterWatch May 2012, Institute for Safe Medication Practices 80 Percent Generic – Even though nearly 80 percent of all prescriptions written in the United States are filled with generic drugs, the U.S. Supreme Court…