Internet threat to minors overblown, study suggests posted by Jana on 14 January 2009, 1:45 pm, under Safety

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8250135

Worries that the Internet and social networking services like MySpace pose a threat to child safety may be overblown, a report by industry, academics and technology experts suggests. The report, which will be released on Wednesday, suggests that the biggest threats to children's safety online may come from other children, and that their own behavior could contribute to the trouble they encounter.

GPS wristwatch helps parents track children posted by Jana on 12 January 2009, 1:15 pm, under Safety

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/12/num8-gps-wristwatch-child-security

Launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the Num8 watch from British company Lok8u is said to be the first tracking device specifically designed to help parents keep tabs on wayward offspring. The £149 Num8 looks much like any ordinary digital wristwatch, but it houses a GPS chip similar to that contained inside a satnav unit. This constantly keeps tabs on the location of the child - it is accurate to within 3 metres - and beams it back to Num8's website for monitoring. Relatives can receive text messages about the watch's location direct from the device, pinpointing the street address of their youngster at the touch of a button.

Internet sites could be given 'cinema-style age ratings', Culture Secretary says posted by Jana on 27 December 2008, 2:17 pm, under Safety

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/technologynews/3965051/Internet-sites-could-be-given-cinema-style-age-ratings-Culture-Secretary-says.html

Internet sites could be given cinema-style age ratings as part of a Government crackdown on offensive and harmful online activity to be launched in the New Year, the Culture Secretary says.

If you’re in danger of enjoying Christmas . . . well, watch out posted by Jana on 22 December 2008, 3:44 pm, under Safety

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5380460.ece

Britain beware. The nation has been put on alert for a sinister Christmas-time menace. Failure to heed the warnings, say ministers, could result in "tipsy" grandmas "toppling down the stairs" or
"crashing to the floor when they miss their seat at the dinner table", exploding gravy dishes and "parents stabbing themselves with scissors they've grabbed instead of screw-drivers to assemble toys". These danger signs are outlined in a "festive" leaflet designed to look like an Advent calendar and entitled "Tis the Season to Be Careful". Some 150,000 will be thrust upon unsuspecting shoppers in high streets around the country in the last three shopping days before Christmas.

Toddlers' toilet seat crush peril posted by Jana on 12 December 2008, 3:33 pm, under Safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7779024.stm

An increasing number of small boys may be finding toilet training a more painful experience than they anticipated, say safety experts. Doctors at one English hospital reported four cases in which a toddler's penis had been injured by a falling toilet seat. The fashion for heavy wooden and ceramic seats is worsening the problem, they say.

Call to ban baby walkers as child dies posted by Jana on 7 December 2008, 2:31 pm, under Safety

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5299143.ece

THE death of a toddler from injuries sustained when she fell down a flight of stairs while using a baby-walker has led to renewed calls for the devices to be banned. Medical experts believe that baby- walkers — frames with wheels which help infants to move around before they can walk properly — are dangerous and could even hamper the child's normal development.

EU plans tougher toy safety rules posted by Jana on 7 November 2008, 4:02 pm, under Safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7713768.stm

The new rules for toy firms will ban chemicals that can cause cancer or genetic changes, allergenic fragrances and parts that can choke children.

Single vaccine 'safety' warnings posted by Simon on 29 October 2008, 12:36 pm, under Safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7689901.stm

UK researchers have raised concerns over the monitoring of the safety of single measles and rubella vaccines.

It comes after an unexpectedly high number of cases of anaphylactic shock after single vaccines given at private clinics in south west England.

Canada bans 'gender-bend baby bottles', putting Britain under pressure to follow suit posted by Jana on 20 October 2008, 12:57 pm, under BPA

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1078912/Canada-bans-gender-bend-baby-bottles-putting-Britain-pressure-follow-suit.html

Baby bottles containing a controversial 'gender bending' chemical are to be barred in Canada, the first country to introduce such a ban. In a move that will put pressure on Britain to follow suit, health officials have officially classified bisphenol A (BPA) - an everyday chemical added to plastics and food packaging - as toxic.

Polycarbonate Baby Bottles Containing Bisphenol A To Be Banned In Canada posted by Jana on 18 October 2008, 1:13 pm, under BPA

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125943.php

Canada has announced it will proceed with drafting regulations to ban the importation, advertising and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A (BPA). Measures will also be taken to reduce the amount of BPA that is released into the environment.

UV light fear over 'green' bulbs posted by Jana on 10 October 2008, 2:37 pm, under Safety

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7661462.stm

Being too close to energy-saving light bulbs could cause skin reddening because of ultraviolet light emissions, health experts have warned.

British agency orders ports to inspect imports for contaminated milk posted by Jana on 30 September 2008, 1:03 pm, under Safety

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/29/sciencenews

All imported food arriving at British ports and airports via China will be tested for melamine in what officials say will be a vast operation.

‘One-stop shop’ to keep children safe on internet posted by Jana on 28 September 2008, 3:46 pm, under Safety

http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4842548.ece

Help is at hand for parents who fear for their children's safety while using the internet with the launch today of a government scheme aimed at keeping children safe in cyberspace. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety will bring together more than 100 public and private organisations to develop a national strategy on child safety on the web. It will become a one-stop shop for parents, providing the information they need to keep themselves and their children safe.

Will using a mobile phone really cause brain cancer? posted by Jana on 27 September 2008, 6:41 am, under Safety

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article4831164.ece

New research suggests that using a phone increases your risk of cancer, but the numbers tell a different story

Tesco recalls Chinese sweets over melamine fears posted by Jana on 25 September 2008, 6:57 am, under Safety

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/sep/24/foodsafety.tesco

The supermarket chain recalled White Rabbit Creamy Candies because of reports about the presence of melamine, the chemical that has contaminated formula milk in China, killing four babies and leaving about 53,000 children ill.