Author: Marianne Halterman

Release Date: May 30, 2024

Release Number: 24-251

2024 Report of Deaths and Injuries Involving Off-Highway Vehicles with More than Two Wheels

New annual report shows children under 16 and adults ages 45-54 have higher death rates in off-highway vehicles

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and with it an increase in off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released its annual report on deaths and injuries from off-highway vehicles which showed a staggering 33% increase in OHV-related deaths in 2020 compared to 2019, the most recent years for which data are available. Overturning and collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects, like a tree, were the leading causes of death. OHV occupants were frequently ejected in these types of incidents. CPSC is urgently warning all riders to prioritize safety and take necessary precautions to avoid tragedy.

“Riding an OHV should be an enjoyable and safe experience. Unfortunately, our annual report shows it is often a dangerous activity,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “Deaths have gone up by 33% and those affected are disproportionately male. We are also seeing more deaths from OHV use in children under 16. We must reverse this trend and put safe riding first by wearing a helmet with proper gear and staying off paved roads.”

CPSC’s Annual Report of Deaths and Injuries Involving Off-Highway Vehicles

CPSC’s just-released report on off-highway vehicle deaths and injuries reveals that from 2018 through 2020, children under 12 years old were 44% of the fatalities among the group of children under 16. Older adults 55+ were also impacted, making up 30% of all OHV-related deaths. Nationwide, Pennsylvania, California, West Virginia, Kentucky and Florida collectively accounted for about one-quarter of fatalities and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) were the vehicle involved in more than two-thirds of all OHV-related deaths.

Over the full 5-year period from 2018 through 2022, there were an estimated 504,400 emergency department-treated injuries in the United States that were associated with OHVs. This corresponds to an annual average of around 100,900 emergency department-treated injuries over the period. Fractures, contusions/abrasions and internal organ injuries are the most common diagnoses with 76% of those injured treated and released. 

In a continued effort to keep consumers safe from dangerous products, CPSC has issued 24 OHV-safety related recalls since January 2023. 

It is important to follow some key safety tips for your next OHV/ATV adventure:

• Training: Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor. 
• Seats: Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most OHVs/ATVs are designed for one rider. 
• Stay Off Roads: Stay off paved roads. Never ride on public roads, except to cross, where permitted by law. 
• No Drinking: Avoid drinking alcohol before or while driving an OHV/ATV.
• Age Limits: Riders younger than 16 should drive only age-appropriate youth models -never adult models. 
• Safety Gear: Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. 

Additional Resources:

2023 Report of Deaths and Injuries Involving Off-Highway Vehicles with More than Two Wheels

ATV Safety Video

Business Guidance for ATVs

Pictures available here:

Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

Release Date: May 9, 2024

Release Number: 24-225

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Mega-Tac Permanent Adhesive, Silicon Liquid Glue because the glue bottles do not comply with the child resistant packaging requirements under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), posing a poisoning hazard to young children if ingested.

The liquid glue is required to have child-resistant packaging under the PPPA because the product contains four percent or more of methanol by weight. In addition, the label on the product violates the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).

CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the importer Genesis Inc., of Puerto Rico, but the firm has not agreed to recall this product or offer a remedy to consumers.

The translucent, white, plastic Mega-Tac permanent adhesive bottles have a blue, pointy cap. They were manufactured in Taiwan and imported from August 2019 through June 2021 and sold by Genesis and other craft, gift, clothing, and office supplies stores in Puerto Rico, including Detalles Impresos, Capri Guaynabo and Mundo Lápiz. Mega-Tac, the bottle size 3.38 oz (100 ml) and the UPC number 603836100083 are printed on the bottle’s white label.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the bottles immediately and dispose of the product in accordance with local disposal laws.

Report any incidents involving injury or product defect to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

(From Kim Komando newsletter 4/22/2024)

Last year, a Hawaii couple was convicted of living for decades under the identities of dead babies. Stories like this always disgust me, but after this long in tech, they don’t surprise me.

Crooks have no shame, folks: 2% of identity theft cases reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year involved the personal info of Americans age 19 or younger. Many more go unreported, partly because they aren’t discovered until the victim attempts to apply for their first loan or credit card.

Once thieves get your kid’s Social Security number, they only need basic info found easily online, like their address, name and date of birth, to take out a loan or line of credit in their name.

Worse, you might be making these common mistakes that put your kid’s credit at risk — and you won’t realize it until it’s way too late.

Identity swiper, no swiping!

Here’s how to keep thieves from stealing your kid’s data.

Step 1: Freeze your kid’s credit

• Check their credit report (instructions here).
• No one should have a credit report until they’re an adult, so no credit report is good news! If there is one, you know there’s a problem.
• Ask the credit agencies to freeze your child’s credit. Do this as soon as you get their Social Security number.
• Going forward, monitor their credit report just like you monitor your own. Go to annualcreditreport.com and sign up for alerts. You can read my full advice here.

Step 2: Protect their info

• Be skeptical: Identity thieves can be anyone from a relative, someone collecting payments at the doctor’s office or even a soccer coach. Be wary about handing over your kid’s SSN.
• Lock it up: Put physical SSN cards and birth certificates in a fireproof document box and lock down digital copies with multifactor authentication or passwords.
• Be social-savvy: Be careful about posting key identifying info related to your kid, like their birth date or physical address. No more pics of driving permits, either, OK?

Step 3: Show your kid the ropes

Gen Alpha, kids age 14 and younger, may be growing up with the internet, but that doesn’t mean they have adult judgment. Warn them of these common traps:

• “Personality” quizzes that are fronts for data miners.
• Questions from strangers on social media or video game chats.
• Phishing emails; most kids have email addresses by the time they’re in their teens.
• Handing over any info to curious strangers online.

⚡️ Share this important tip with anyone you know who has kids. It could save them and their kids a lifetime of stress. Use the handy icons below. You can make a difference!