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Q: Is Your House Out To Get You? ( No Answer,   9 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Is Your House Out To Get You?
Category: Family and Home > Home
Asked by: tvwarmup-ga
List Price: $40.00
Posted: 03 Aug 2005 05:20 PDT
Expires: 02 Sep 2005 05:20 PDT
Question ID: 551155
I'm conducting research on a new tv show and need info on hidden
household dangers.  It's a fun, lighter look at dangers that are
lurking in the home.

They have to be unusual, things you'd never imagine.  What I want is
"did you know that keeping certain spices over the stove can explode
if it gets too hot?" Other examples are: "deadly icemakers," "choke on
this, " venetian blind cord dangers" and so on.

What I don't want, based on the network's request is " putting
electrical or phone wires under carpeting can cause a fire" or "don't
use the oven to heat the home."

They want the unimaginable.  I need not just the topic, but info about
it.  We'll also be looking for experts to come into a home to find and
discuss these hidden, unknown dangers with our host.

Please note I am freelancing on this new tv show as a Researcher, so
the network isn't paying for this.  I offer a tip, especially if I can
get a dynamite list that will impress the producers.

If you need more info, please contact me and we can bounce ideas back
and forth until you hone in on what I'm looking for.

Remember.. while we will present facts and actual unusual home danger
findings, it's a much lighter look at this topic and can be funny!

Thank you so much.  
STEVE HOWARD

Clarification of Question by tvwarmup-ga on 03 Aug 2005 05:22 PDT
By the way, I am flying from LA to NY today (Wed. 8/3), so I won't be
able to check computer until very late tonight or early Thurs AM. 
Will reply to you then.

Many thanks.  I'm sure you people will be a great help.

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 03 Aug 2005 11:04 PDT
tvwarmup-ga,

In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission regularly reports on
household products causing hazards.

I checked some of their recent reports, and found dangers from
telephones, vacuum cleaners, pacifiers, dishwashers, paper shredders,
clothing, shoes, and even safety devices, such as smoke detectors. 
Here's a sample:



--tripping over garden hoses is a surprisingly common (and serious) hazard

--candles in the home are one of the most serious dangers (duh!)

--there were 159 "clothing-ignition related deaths" to senior citizens
in a single year

--tripping over open dishwasher doors

--one-third of ER-treated injuries (to senior citizens) are cuts from
opening cans (usually the pull-open sort that do NOT involve a can
opener).

--scalding tap water is a serious and fairly common problem

--tripping over dog leashes (and telephone cords)

--drownings in buckets as small as 5-gallons; there were two drownings in toilets

--injuries from home paper shredders (including amputations) are
increasing; about 22 million homes have paper shredders.

--riding lawn mover rollovers are common, and can be deadly

--clothing piled on top of a surge protector caused a deadly fire

--a 35-in TV on a wobbly stand toppled over and killed a child

--the handle of a home weight machine snapped back after being pulled
out, causing a fatal injury



PRODUCT RECALLS:

--12 million Mossimo sandals, the sole of which becomes dangerously
slippery when wet.

--155,000 metallic necklaces, containing high levels of lead

--102,000 pacifiers; the nipple can detach, posing a chocking hazard

--180,000 dive sticks can land upright in pools, causing impalment

--750,000 Bissell upright carpet cleaners, for posing an electric chock hazard

--600,000 GE slow cookers, with a handle that easily breaks, causing burns

--158,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs, which can overheat, spark,
and cause burns

--246,000 GE smoke detectors, for failing to activate during a fire



If these seem like the sort of examples you need, let me know, and
I'll be glad to compile another dozen or so of the best examples I can
find.

pafalafa-ga
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: hammer-ga on 03 Aug 2005 05:37 PDT
 
I imagine that, once an off-balance washing machine starts "walking"
across the floor, any number of entertaining things might end up in
it's path...

- Hammer
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: answerfinder-ga on 03 Aug 2005 05:54 PDT
 
Another researcher can use this in their answer as I?m not around next
week for any clarifications.

Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents has a database on accidents
statistics for the UK.

For instance, the following are statistics for injuries involving air freshners
2000 - 284 
2001 - 518 
2002 - 902 

Or Stud Hook Or Cufflinks
2000 - 656 
2001 - 553 
2002 - 431 
http://www.hassandlass.org.uk/query/index.htm

This may also help
http://news.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1242432004

The mind boggles!

answerfinder
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: tvwarmup-ga on 03 Aug 2005 07:15 PDT
 
I only glanced at your responses because I have to catch a plane, but
I believe you're on the right track.

Think "I had no idea!"  Shocking hidden home dangers.    

Good start, thank you.  And again, please remember I will give a tip.
Steve
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: tvwarmup-ga on 03 Aug 2005 07:16 PDT
 
Hammer... yes!  A walking washing machine. That's very funny. Now to
only prove something like that can happen!
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: hammer-ga on 03 Aug 2005 10:02 PDT
 
<<Hammer... yes!  A walking washing machine. That's very funny. Now to
only prove something like that can happen!>>

You've never seen this? My washing machine takes off across the floor
during its spin cycle. Often, it wedges itself against a nearby table
and vibrates everything on the table onto the floor.

Scares the heck out of the cats...

- Hammer
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: tvwarmup-ga on 03 Aug 2005 12:16 PDT
 
Thanks, pafalafa-ga.  The list looks good upon quick glance, as I am
at the airport.  I will respond in more detail by tomorrow morning
EST.

I will also know more when it's presented to the producers.

STEVE
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: pafalafa-ga on 03 Aug 2005 12:19 PDT
 
tvw,

Thanks for the note, and have a good trip.  Looking forward to hearing
back from you.

paf
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: ipfan-ga on 03 Aug 2005 13:54 PDT
 
How about the "Superheated Exploding Cup of Water in the Microwave"?
http://www.petting-zoo.net/~deadbeef/archive/4922.html

"Dust Mites and Dermatitis"?
http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/13.html

"Static Electricity Build-up and Leaky Gas Fireplaces"
Bottom of page 85 at http://www.tlch2o.com/courses/NaturalGas.pdf

"Deadly Cleaning Mixtures: Chlorine Bleach and Ammonia!"
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A795611)

"Hidden Home Intoxicants: Listerine and Vanilla Extract!"
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050204.html

"Is Your Home a Haven for Carbon Dioxide Dangers?"
http://www.occupationalhazards.com/articles/12795
http://www.keidel.com/resource/safety/s-monoxide.htm
Subject: Re: Is Your House Out To Get You?
From: tvwarmup-ga on 04 Aug 2005 11:37 PDT
 
Hello researchers:

From what I gather from the show's producers, it's the unthinkable,
off-beat home dangers lurking  around.

What they don't want:  eating expired foods, tripping over the open
door of a dishwasher or any other home accidents like that.

Good example:  keeping oregano over a stove in a bottle can explode.  

Basically, it's an "I didn't know that!"  show.. comical host talking
about serious dangers the avg. person would never think existed in
their home.

Thanks.
STEVE

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