Author: Marianne Halterman

Release Date: June 24, 2024

Release Number: 24-280

CPSC Releases New Data on Fireworks-Related Injuries and Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  It’s that time of year when Americans everywhere will be celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with family, friends and fireworks. A new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlights the hazards posed by consumer use of fireworks. CPSC is raising awareness and sharing safety tips to prevent these types of injuries and deaths over the holiday.

For 2023, CPSC received reports of eight deaths and an estimated 9,700 injuries involving fireworks. Out of the eight deaths, five were associated with firework misuse, two with a device malfunction, and one involves unknown circumstances. 

The report shows that between 2008 and 2023, injuries from fireworks have increased overall, despite recent data showing a steady decline since the peak in 2020 during the pandemic when public displays were canceled.

“While it is a great American tradition to enjoy fireworks around the 4th of July, it is important to remember that all fireworks, even sparklers, pose dangers to consumers. The safest way to view fireworks is to watch professional displays,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “If you choose to light your own, make sure you only buy legal fireworks intended for consumer use from a reputable retailer. And follow the simple safety tips provided below and on CPSC’s website.” 

To understand more about fireworks-related injuries hazards around the 4th of July, CPSC conducted an analysis of the injury data in the four weeks surrounding the holiday in 2023 and found the following:

• Teenagers ages 15 to 19 years of age had the highest estimated rate of emergency department-treated, fireworks-related injuries, with children ages 5-9 years old having the second highest rate.
• There were an estimated 800 emergency department-treated injuries associated with firecrackers and 700 with sparklers. 
• The parts of the body most often injured by fireworks were hands and fingers (an estimated 35 percent of injuries) along with head, face, and ears (an estimated 22 percent).
• About 42 percent of the emergency department-treated fireworks-related injuries were for burns.
• In fiscal year 2023, approximately 18% of selected and tested fireworks products were found to contain noncompliant components, including fuse violations, the presence of prohibited chemicals and pyrotechnic materials overload.

CPSC urges consumers to celebrate safely this holiday by following these safety tips: 

Tips to Celebrate Safely

• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals.
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap. 
• Light fireworks one at a time, then move back quickly.
• Never try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
• Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move to a safe distance immediately after lighting fireworks.
• Never point or throw fireworks (including sparklers) at anyone.
• After fireworks complete their burning, to prevent a trash fire, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding the device.

View CPSC’s latest fireworks PSA video here. 

For more fireworks safety tips, visit Fireworks | CPSC.gov

Release Date: June 20, 2024

Release Number: 24-268

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using Xastro fuel bottles sold by Zhengzhou Weipai Jiajuyou Xian Gongsi because they pose a risk of poisoning and burns to children due to lack of a child resistant closure, which violates the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act.

Furthermore, the fuel bottles pose a flash fire hazard to all users because they lack a flame mitigation device. Under the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act, portable fuel containers manufactured after July 12, 2023, must have flame mitigation devices that impede the propagation of a flame into the container. The manufacture dates of the bottles are unknown. Additionally, the labeling violates the Federal Hazardous Substances Act because it lacks mandatory safety information.

CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller Zhengzhou Weipai Jiajuyou Xian Gongsi, of China, doing business as WPHome, but the firm has not agreed to recall these fuel bottles or offer a remedy to consumers. Consumers who purchased the product will receive this notice directly.

The fuel bottles were sold online at Amazon.com from July 2021 through April 2024 for about $12. The Xastro fuel bottle is orange with a black cap and white markings “Xastro,” “fuel bottle”, “750ML”, and warnings and instructions in English with a skull and crossbones symbol and a fire pictogram.

CPSC urges consumers to stop using the fuel bottles immediately and to dispose of them empty in the trash.

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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: June 20, 2024

Release Number: 24-267

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the risk of serious injury or death associated with defective smoke and carbon monoxide detectors manufactured by Shenzhen Lidingfeng Tech. sold under multiple brand names, including PetUlove, ORIKLON, SENCKIT, Kingebai, Gaoducash, LDASEC, and AMS. The defective detectors have model number JSN-JY-909COM. Consumers should immediately dispose of these products and install new detectors.

The detectors can fail to alert consumers to the presence of smoke. Smoke sensitivity testing by CPSC found that they fail UL 217, the voluntary safety standard for smoke alarms, and may not alert consumers in the event of a house fire. 

In typical residential fire scenarios, there may be as little as three minutes to escape after a smoke alarm sounds before the conditions in the home become incapacitating or deadly. An estimated 2,440 people in the United States die every year from residential structure fires. Furthermore, the risk of dying in a fire is twice as high in homes without a working smoke alarm as compared to homes with smoke alarms.

Shenzhen Lidingfeng Tech. Co., Ltd., of China has been unresponsive to CPSC’s request to recall the products.

The combination detectors are made of white plastic and measure about 4 x 1.5 x 4 inches, featuring a digital display, “CO & Smoke Alarm,” the model number, and “Shenzhen Lidingfeng Technology Co Ltd” are printed on a white sticker on the detectors. The combination detectors are advertised to detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and smoke and alert with a flashing red LED and a loud alarm pattern. Model No. JSN-JY-909COM was sold under the Amazon ASINs B09B9WLQGZ, B0B9XZSZS8, B0BLMWFT1N, B09WK3KVPH, B09WK3ZQYG, and B0CGZK53VP on Amazon.com for between $17 and $30. The combination detectors were also sold online at Snapklik.com, Desert CRT U.S., TVCMall.com, Kmart, Sears, Mega-DiscountStore.com, AliExpress, Alibaba, eBay, ATO.com, and Chimiya.com.

CPSC urges consumers not to purchase or sell these combination smoke and CO detectors. Stop using them, dispose of them in the trash after removing batteries, and install new smoke detectors. 

Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.

Note:  Consumers should install combination smoke and CO detectors on each level of their homes and outside separate sleeping areas. Combination smoke and CO detectors should be battery operated or have battery backup. Test combination smoke and CO detectors frequently and replace batteries as needed. Consumers should only buy combination smoke and CO detectors that meet both the UL 2034 and UL 217 safety standards.

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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: 6/10/2024

Release Number:

We all handle storms differently. Some of us hide under the covers while others can’t wait to jump in the puddles once they’re over. No matter which of these groups you relate to the most, it is important to be aware of storm-related hazards this hurricane season.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is not the only danger your household could face after a storm. Other common post-storm hazards include electrocution, fire, and gas leaks.

Being aware of these hazards can help you and your loved ones stay safe long after the storm. To learn more about how to protect against these hazards, check out our hurricane season news release. 

In addition, our safety guide can be used as a quick reference for hurricane season safety tips.

Download the Survival After The Storm Safety Guide (1.33 MB PDF)

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.