Many of things you may buy for the holidays, such as toys, laptops, and phones, have chips in them. Since there’s a global chip shortage, prices are going up, and items with chips will probably be harder to find. Scammers are taking advantage of these shortages and are trying to sell items in short supply.
Today when I was headed to a second-hand store to donate an item, I was crossing a bridge over the freeway. I looked to the right and saw a person grab the top of the handrail with both hands, which looked odd. I thought, well, they’re probably just looking at something.
Up to five million older Americans are abused every year, and the annual loss by victims of financial abuse is at least $36.5 billion. A guide to help family members and friends of people living in nursing homes and assisted living learn how to prevent and report elder financial abuse is available from the CFPB.
myCharge is recalling about 67,000 powerbanks. The powerbank’s lithium-ion battery can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards. myCharge has received 30 reports of the powerbanks overheating, resulting in seven injuries and/or property damage to household flooring, walls, and furniture.
Things are a bit brighter this Halloween. Health officials have given the go-ahead for kids to go trick-or-treating but cautions remain: stick with members of your household, put treats outside, and wear a mask inside or when in outdoor crowded spaces. Things look good here in the Seattle area.
In late September, two Republican members of the commission that oversees the safety of the nation’s consumer products voted to eliminate items from the agency’s annual plan that would have developed new mandatory rules for preventing suffocation in infant cushions.
My kids are grown and out of the nest, so all I have to do to get ready for Halloween is to figure out where I put the treats I bought several weeks ago. Last year, no one came to the door, so I had to eat the packaged raisins myself. My daughter scolds me every year about the raisin treats, but I’m stuck in a rut.
The Food and Drug Administration has banned the use of toxic lead acetate in consumer hair dyes, an action that will help protect the public from hazardous chemicals. Lead acetate is the ingredient that slowly darkens gray hair when used every few days and can increase the level of lead in users’ bodies.
Walmart is recalling about 3,900 bottles of aromatherapy room spray that may contain a rare and dangerous bacteria that can cause serious injury and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested a version of the product and it contained Burkholderia pseudomallei.
