Too often, we take our health and safety for granted . . . until something happens. When an accident happens, we ask ourselves, “Should I have known?” Or, “How could I have prevented this?”
Information is power when it comes to taking care of ourselves and protecting our families. How can we tell the difference between facts that help consumers and propaganda from big corporations that put profit before safety? There is so much conflicting information these days - in the media, on-line, from friends, neighbors and perfect strangers - that it is hard to know what, and who, to believe.
What's more, sorting fact from fiction takes time that most of us don’t have. We’re cramming all we can into a 24-hour day: scrambling to meet deadlines, getting meals to the table, walking the dog, helping children with homework, barely squeezing in a run or a round of golf.
The attorneys and staff at Searcy Denney have taken the time to do some of this sorting for you, researching a wide variety of consumer health and safety issues and summarizing the information in an easy-to-read web format. We hope you’ll take the time to click on topics you find interesting... and follow the links we’ve suggested to learn even more!
Home Safety
Home Safety Council
Home safety tips for all ages, including personalized checklist and safety video library.
National Safety Council
Resources include safety relating to home, work, and on the road. Multi-media resources, membership offered and regular publication magazine.
Safety Education
Large collection of home and workplace safety resources, products and education.
US Fire Administration Fire Safety
The United States Fire Administration site. This link takes you to the information and resources focusing on home fire safety. Resources for parents, kids, teachers, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Dryer Safety Tips from Consumer Reports Video
Video illustrating the problems with dryer vent fires and potential prevention tips.
National Crime Prevention Council Home Safety
This is the "McGruff the Crime Dog" site, sponsored by the National Crime Prevention Council. The site focuses on home and neighborhood safety, including neighborhood watch tips, training for home and neighborhood safety, and gas station theft prevention.
Hidden Hazards in Your Home
The Coalition for Consumer Health and Safety says many household injuries can be prevented. Steve Brobeck of the Consumer Federation of America demonstrates simple steps you can use to protect yourself and your family. Video focuses on falls and fall prevention.
Smoke Alarm Safety Tips
National Fire Prevention Association video explaining smoke alarm placement, testing and safety.
Making Your Home Hurricane Safer
Dr. Tim Reinhold, Director of Engineering and Vice President, Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has identified five steps homeowners or their contractors can take to make homes more hurricane-resistant.
Product Safety
Injuries may result from the product, not just an accident.
Too often, what we call accidents are not a matter of chance, and could have been - should have been - foreseen. Dangerous defects can originate in the design of a best-selling automobile, a grandfather's defibrillator leads, a child's harmless-looking toy.
US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
A rich and substantial collection of safety information and data relating to all kind of products.
Recalls: US Consumer Product Safety Commission
Recalls and product safety news.
US Department of Health & Human Services: Household Products Database
A database with information covering auto products, inside the home, pesticides, landscaping/yard, home maintenance, arts and crafts, pet care, and home office. Organized by product type and category to facilitate easy access to sub-categories.
Consumers Union: Product Safety
From the publishers of Consumer Reports Magazine. This organization works to encourage and achieve a “fair, just, and safe marketplace” and to “empower consumers to protect themselves.” The site contains product news, money tips, health information, and more.
Product Safety Letter
Weekly newsletter for executives concerned with consumer product regulations, legislation, and standards. Website and publications cover products regulated by federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Fire Administration (USFA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Website also includes product injury prevention resources, standards, and testing information, plus daily news briefs on product safety issues.
Recalls.GOV
A resource for the recalls from various federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Coast Guard.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
All things dealing with highway, vehicle, and driving safety. A wealth of information on topics such as child safety, teen driving, seatbelt use/safety, impaired driving, 5-star safety ratings, and fuel economy.
Defective Product Design
The potential for encountering products with design defects is almost unlimited: Household items, children’s toys, electrical and electronic devices, recreational products, automobiles and trucks, planes and trains, all manner of things that we buy and use every day.
Health Safety
US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
Information about health information privacy, covering the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Patient Safety Rule, how to file a complaint, and Frequently Asked Questions.
HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Consumer guidance and Frequently Asked Questions about HIPAA.
Healthcare Advance Directives and Estate Planning
Answers from the American Bar Association to questions about estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, and healthcare proxies; also guidelines for executors and trustees, information about tax changes for estates.
Center for Medical Consumers
Organization committed to enhancing public awareness of safety and quality problems in medical care. Information about reducing medical errors, disclosure of physician conflicts of interest, improving public access to information about comparative performance of doctors and hospitals.
National Patient Safety Foundation
Information to promote improved safety of the healthcare system; includes webinars, forums, educational materials and other resources.
Patient Advocate Foundation
Educational resources and services for patients faced with medical debt crises, insurance roadblocks and employment issues, including helpful publications and directories. Stems from founder Cheryl Grimmel’s experience helping a friend with cancer fight insurance industry denials for patient care.
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Founded by two scientists advocating for nutrition, health, and sound science. Site provides information on food, food safety, and nutrition; includes alerts about food problems.
Clean Water Action
The site provides information resources and a forum for uniting people to take action to protect America’s water resources by promoting grassroots efforts, research, and political advocacy.
Medical Device Safety
Pain Pumps: General Information
Background and information about pain pumps, manufacturing and marketing history, and defects of intra-articular pain pump devices.
Pain Pumps Information Video
Comprehensive information about defects of intra-articular pain pump devices. Provides information on manufacturers’ failure to conduct necessary research before marketing these devices; describes manufacturers’ attempts to avoid liability by citing results of irresponsibly inadequate testing.
Kugel Abdominal Mesh Information Video
A comprehensive background concerning the problems created by the defective manufacture of abdominal mesh used during surgery to reinforce patients’ abdominal walls.
Defibrillator Leads Information Video
Comprehensive background concerning the problems created by defective manufacturing of lead wires used in defibrillator devices (pacemakers), which can lead to life-threatening dysfunction.
FDA Medical Product Safety
The Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch system. This site provides a searchable database of FDA reports about adverse events connected with drugs, medical devices, and other FDA regulated products.
Prescription Drug Safety
Prescription/Medications Checklist
A downloadable checklist for patients to track and promote safety of pharmaceutical prescriptions.
Do You Know – Prescription Drugs
A downloadable pamphlet about drug alerts and information relating to prescription drug warnings.
Dangerous Drugs and Medical Devices
A downloadable pamphlet about drug alerts and information relating to prescription drug warnings.
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The site for the federal agency charged with the approval, regulation and policing of drugs and medical devices. This site provides a wealth of information for consumers and anyone who prescribes or uses drugs and medical devices.
Yaz Birth Control Pill Information
General information relating to the birth control pill called Yaz and its dangers.
Yaz – Background Information
A video presenting the history of the birth control known as Yaz; the dangers of the drug; and the advertising hype connected with targeting young women without sufficient warnings.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Information Video
Video providing background information on the problems with hormone replacement drugs (HRT) and attempts by manufacturers to hide complications to which patients were exposed.
American Pharmacists Association (APhA)
Everything you wanted to know about pharmacies, pharmacists, and medicines. This site is sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association and includes numerous pharmacy-related resources.
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
Website sponsored by non-profit organization of pharmacists, nurses, and doctors dedicated to safe medication practices. Includes articles about safe medication, drug alerts, and how to report medication errors.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Senior Health
NIH, an agency of the US Department of Health & Human Services, is one of the world’s foremost health research centers. This site focuses on in-depth information for older adults, and features access enhancements such as the ability to increase type size and color, and to read text aloud.
Drug Information Online
Searchable database of prescription drugs sold in Canada, but information is relevant for consumers everywhere.
National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)
A coalition for safe use of medicine and the promotion of patient safety. Includes tools for consumers, educational resources and general information for consumers about medicines.
Vehicle Safety
Vehicle Accident Checklist
A downloadable checklist to keep in your glove compartment in the unfortunate event of a motor vehicle accident. Lists all the information you should obtain, along with helpful general guidelines about how to handle car crashes.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
The federal government watchdog for transportation safety. Site is packed with useful consumer education about driving safety, vehicle safety, and research and regulations related to safety on the highways.
National Traffic Safety Institute (NTSI)
NTSI has trained more than 100 million drivers to be safer, in the classroom and online. This website promotes traffic safety education through multimedia resources, including online traffic safety courses approved in some state and local jurisdictions for Traffic School procedures.
US Government Distracted Driving Website
This site is all about distracted driving, how to prevent distractions, how to prevent accidents, and parent resources for educating teens. Includes valuable statistics, tools, and research for education purposes.
Texting While Driving Video
Video discusses the basic problems related to texting while driving, including the mechanics of how driving is affected by distraction.
Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations
Results of research initiated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency of the US Department of Transportation. Analyzes and discusses behaviors and impacts of distracted driving by operators of large commercial trucks.
Defective Vehicle Design
Basic information about defective vehicles, vehicle rollover problems, and laws and regulations related to vehicles.
Trucking Accidents Facts
General information relating to trucking accidents, common causes of truck crashes, truck driver improvement, and actions being taken to improve trucking safety.
Truck Transportation Resources
Various links to resources providing valuable information about truck and highway safety.
Boating Accident Video
Video discussing boating safety, including potential dangers involved with boating and the responsibilities of captains.
Safety and Consumer Agency Links
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Consumers Union
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Health & Human Services (HHS)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Public Citizen
U.S. PIRG: Standing Up to Powerful Interests
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