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This morning I looked into my storage room and thought by Saturday afternoon it will be clean after the yard sale. Dreams of having a clean storage room for a change really brought a big smile to my face. As I stand there smiling, my son walks by with a scowl on his face. My son keeps going in the room trying to salvage a few items from the pile, but these are unsuccessful attempts to hang onto unneeded dust collectors. One item in particular is baby toy that I picked up at my first yard sale as a buyer. This brings back memories of long ago….
My husband was going to Amphibious War School at MCB Quantico and we had two months to go before heading to Whidbey Island. The last thing we needed prior to a big PCS move across the entire United States was more stuff of any kind. I heard our Alaskan Malamute barking in the backyard and decided I needed to check it out, after all it was an early Saturday morning when most sane people like to sleep late. With my morning coffee in hand, I looked out the window in the direction of the barking, and, low and behold, it looked like Toyland in my neighbor’s backyard! Actually, it was a toy Mecca. The neighbors had finally decided after 20 years of shipping their kids’ outgrown toys and furniture around the world, they were getting rid of everything. I practically drooled over the priceless Fisher Price and Tonka toys. Still in my robe and change purse in hand, I practically ran out of my house into their backyard. I bought a castle, gas station, a Brio set, and a little red wagon. My husband stood there with his mouth wide open as I proudly strutted back into my house with my goodies neatly stacked in the little red wagon. He didn’t say a thing, but I could read his mind…. spending Happy Hour money on someone else’s junk. For $10 dollars, I bought many hours of fun for my child. He learned to use his imagination while planning battles and sieges at the castle. He designed great cities with train station using the Brio set. The little wagon served a dual purpose. I used it as my gardening wagon for dumping fall leaves and cleanup duty following East Coast hurricanes once my son outgrew it.
There are a lot of great bargains at yard sales and thrift shops. But along with the great buys are some dangers. A recent study conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPCS) revealed recall items are regularly showing up in yard sales and thrift shops. If you buy at thrift stores, here are some tips from the CPCS to help you make safer purchases.
Cribs
Make sure cribs meet current national safety standards and are in good condition. Look for a certification seal. Check that crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Crib mattresses should fit snugly. If crib slats are too far apart, infants can slip between them and strangle. If the mattress doesn’t fit snugly, infants can become entrapped and suffocate.
Clothing Drawstrings
Be sure there are no drawstrings around the hood and neck of children’s upper outerwear clothing, such as sweatshirts. Other types of clothing fasteners, like snaps, zippers, or hook and loop fasteners, should be used. Drawstrings at the waist should not extend more than three inches. Drawstrings can catch on playground and other equipment, and can strangle young children.
Hair Dryers
Look for hair dryers with large rectangular shaped safety plugs. These immersion protection plugs prevent electrocution by shutting off the current if the hair dyer comes into contact with water.
Halogen Floor Lamps
Make sure that halogen torchiere floor lamps have glass or wire guards over the bulb shield and the bulb is 300 watts or less. Glass wire guards with lower wattage bulbs can prevent fires that occur when flammable materials like curtains get too close to the lamp. Wire guards are free.
Playpens and Play Yards
Check that playpens and play yards have not been recalled. Recalled products include play yards with protruding hardware or rotating top rails that don’t properly lock into place. Children can strangle if pacifier strings or clothing become entangled on protruding hardware. Folding play yards that collapse can entrap children.
Car Seat Carriers
Check to make sure the infant car sear carrier you are buying has not been recalled. Car seat carrier handle locks on recalled models can unexpectedly release when used as a carrier outside of a car. Infants can fall forward and strike the ground if the handle disengages. Please note it is not advisable to purchase second hand seats. Due to car design changes, many seats are outdated even though they are not on recall lists. Also, the car seat may have a crash history which may have caused hairline cracks.
Bunk Beds
Make sure all spaces between the guardrail and the bed frame and all spaces in the bed headboard and footboards of the top bunk are less than 31/2 inches. Make sure there are guardrails on both sides of the top bunk. Children can become entrapped and strangle in the bed’s structure or wedge between the bed and wall, causing suffocation.
Toy Basketball Nets
CPSC has recalled millions of hazardous toy basketball nets. Check before you by. Children can strangle on loops or openings in basketball nets if the nets come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the nets can get tangled around their necks. Even toy basketball nets can present a strangulation hazard to children.
Accordion Style Safety Gates
Do not buy older accordion style child safety gates. Make sure that newer style child safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas, especially stairs. Older child safety gates that do not meet current safety standards can present strangulation and other hazards to young children.
Bean Bags Chairs
Do not buy beanbags chairs with zippers. CPSC has recalled more than 12 million beanbag chairs. Young children can unzip beanbag chairs and choke or suffocate on the small pellets of foam filling.
Electrical Appliances
Used electrical appliances may have wiring problems, which can lead to house fires. Typical appliances found at yard sales and second hand shops are toasters, coffeepots, and small ovens. Prior to purchase, check the cords and plugs carefully. Plug the appliance in and let it run for several minutes before deciding to purchase it.
Remember, you can get great sales in your neighbor’s back yard or the local thrift shop, but you can also get a fire or choking hazard too. Use your safety smarts before purchasing second hand items and get your money’s worth.
Creator- Wanda Walters
Email: waltersw@nassig.sicily.navy.mil
Graphics:Kurt Davis
Email: kdavis@nassig.sicliy.navy.mil
Tuesday, March 27, 2001
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