Why ignoring recalls can be hazardous to your health

A chandelier crashes down onto your guest’s head. Your 2-year-old starts to choke and turn blue. The handlebars on your 8-year-old’s bike suddenly loosen, and she takes a tumble. Your carbon monoxide detector fails and your household becomes ill.

All of these frightening scenarios were possible if you didn’t bother to notice just a few of the most recent product recalls.

Recalls these days happen with such frequency that most of us have learned to ignore them. Complacency in this instance can have dreadful consequences.

That’s why consumers should pay attention to recall notices that come in the mail. Some products may not notify you at all, especially if they were purchased on the secondary market.

Diligence is required to be sure products that have failed to meet safety standards do not harm our families and friends.

Virtually any product sold can be subject to a recall. These can include food, drugs, toys, appliances, cribs, cosmetics, clothing, boats and automobiles.

There are six government agencies that test for safety concerns of products. 2014 was a record year for auto recalls as well as medicine recalls. But other, less headline-grabbing product recalls are taking place constantly.

Manufacturers and retailers often notify customers of product recall. That’s a good reason for consumers to spend the effort required to send in the registration cards on items they purchase.

Some magazines, especially Consumer Reports, highlight the most recent recalls in special sections of their publications.

Then there are the websites designed to keep consumers alerted as to which products are currently being recalled. The government maintains a useful site, found at recalls.gov. It’s billed as a “one-stop shop” for information about recalls.

You can search for alerts by category, on everything from cars to cosmetics to medicines. It’s also possible to sign up to receive notification on new product recalls and consumer safety.

Free email subscriptions are offered for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

You may also want to visit the website of a product’s manufacturer. The company will often list any notices of recalls prominently on those sites.

Safercar.gov is a good database to search for to find out whether a specific make and model of automobile has been recalled. Remember this when buying a used car.

For children’s products, safekids.org has a great site to search for your child’s product safety. The www.fda.gov site is a great source for information about any food or drug recalls. Do a search on the site for any specific recalls, or for more general recalls regarding a specific product.

What should you do if you have a product that has been recalled?

If it’s food, obviously, don’t eat it. Don’t even open it if you haven’t already.

Check the recall notice first for any specific instructions. Otherwise, just return it to the place of purchase.

Most product recalls can be handled by following instructions at the manufacturer’s website. You may need to return it to the merchandiser or manufacturer, get a free repair kit or await a replacement from the manufacturer.

If you suspect and want to report that a product is unsafe, go to saferproducts.gov and click on the appropriate links there.

For questions or concerns about product recalls, contact the BBB at 800-856-2417, or visit bbbinc.org.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Why ignoring recalls can be hazardous to your health."