The Haliburton Kawartha Pineridge District Health unit wants you to be carful when hunting for certain bargains this summer.
Some used and out-of-date items, especially those for children, can be dangerous if they no longer meet safety standards the Health Unit warns. They recommend dismantling, destroying or throwing out any unsafe items.
Children’s products such as car seats, cribs, playpens, strollers, walkers, baby gates/barriers, sports equipment, bike helmets and toys should thoroughly be checked for potential hazards and if in doubt throw it out they say.
“If you are planning a garage sale, don’t sell out on safety. Many older products may be past their best-before or expiry dates and no longer meet specific regulatory rules. In these cases, it is best to throw the items out. While it’s true one person’s trash may be someone else’s treasure, if that item is hazardous or unsafe, then it just belongs in the garbage.” says Kelly Taylor, Family Health Nurse, HKPR District Health Unit
The Health Unit recommends buying things such as car seats, cribs and helmets ‘new,’ since these products will still be under warranty and meet current safety standards.
Not only is it dangerous to buy these items it can be dangerous to sell them. According to officials anyone caught selling an item that fails to meet safety standards could be held responsible if someone is injured by it.
While most childhood injuries are predictable and preventable, Parachute Canada notes that injuries remain the leading cause of death for children in Canada and a leading cause of hospitalization.
photo credit: CarbonNYC [in SF!] Junk in My Trunk via photopin (license)
