It won’t be long before our cars “talk” to each other, keeping tabs on everything around us and alerting us to threats we aren’t aware of. Several automakers are developing these nanny cars, and the government is seeking ideas to advance the technology. Ford has shown the technology works, rolling out a crash-avoidance system that [...]
FEMA to use social media for emergency response
The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to engage the public more in disaster response by sharing data and leveraging reports from mobile phones and social media, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate said today. People are increasingly connected in disaster areas, and FEMA needs to factor that into its disaster planning, Fugate said in a keynote speech [...]
Camden, N.J., Braces For Police, Firefighter Layoffs
On Tuesday, officials in Camden, N.J. — a city that ranks high in crime and poverty — are planning to cut almost 400 workers, nearly half of them police officers and firefighters. With fewer city workers fighting crimes and fires, some residents worry life will be more dangerous. Carmelo Villegas, who has owned Camden Laundromat [...]
GM Recall 2011: Automaker Expands Recall Of Trucks, SUVs
General Motors is expanding an earlier recall of some 2011 model-year trucks and SUVs to fix a problem that could cause the vehicles’ rear axles to lock. The recall, originally announced in December, now covers 26,751 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC trucks and SUVs. The models affected are: Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Cadillac EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, [...]
Feds issue rule to cut deaths in rollover crashes
The government announced Thursday that it will require automakers to have new safety features for side windows to keep occupants from being ejected from cars and trucks during rollover crashes. “Rollover crashes are the deadliest of all crash types, and this is another important step in our efforts to reduce fatalities and serious injuries that [...]
Facebook teams with agencies for AMBER Alert pages
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Department of Justice are teaming with Facebook to create AMBER Alert pages to help in the search for missing children. Andrew Noyes, manager of public policy communications at Facebook, says there will be a page for each state, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico [...]
Disney Safety 1st, Eddie Bauer play yards recalled for suffocation risk
Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. is recalling more than 200,000 play yards sold under the Disney-Safety 1st and Eddie Bauer brands due to a risk of suffocation, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced. The metal bars supporting the bassinet floor can come out of the fabric sleeves, making the sleeping surface uneven posing the risk [...]
Keep holiday food safe
Busy cooks need to take time to prepare their offerings not only with taste and appearance in mind but also with safety and care in order to prevent food-borne illnesses. Most food-borne illnesses cause flu-like symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting and only last a few days. But depending on the health of the person [...]
50 million blinds recalled due to strangulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) are announcing today a voluntary recall to repair all Roman shades and roll-up blinds to prevent the risk of strangulation to young children. This recall involves millions of Roman and roll-up blinds. About five million Roman shades and [...]
UPDATE Zhu Zhu Pets are apparently safe
Toy safety regulators say one of the holiday season’s hottest toy crazes — Zhu Zhu Pets robotic hamsters — do not violate federal safety standards after all. A spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the toy “is not out of compliance” with a new U.S. toy safety law that began taking effect [...]



