The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Give a healthy gift for the holidays

 
Over at the Huffington Post, Andrew Weil, M.D., suggests giving these healthy gifts for those you care about. Weil’s list includes:

• A box of high-quality, dark chocolate.

• Flowers.

• A massage.

• Music.

• A session with a personal trainer.

• Extra virgin olive oil.

• Nuts.

And he suggests giving all or part of the money you usually give for gifts to those less fortunate.

See Weil’s article "Healthy Gift Ideas" for details on why these suggestions are healthy and for information on ideas for helping others.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Millions of blinds and Roman shades due to strangulation hazards

A dozen firms are recalling millions of window coverings, including Roman shades and roll-up blinds, because they pose a serious risk of strangulation to young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced this week

The commission has received reports of five deaths and 16 near strangulations in Roman shades since 2006 and three deaths in roll-up blinds since 2001.

 

Roman shade

Strangulations in Roman shades occur when a child places his or her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the back side of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his or her neck.

 
  

Roll-up blinds

Strangulations in roll-up blinds occur when the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his or her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

The recalled Roman shades and roll up blinds were sold by a variety of manufacturers and retailers, including major discount department stores, home improvement stores, and window covering manufacturers and retailers.

Remedies vary among firms from repair kits to refunds.

"Parents need to make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of their window coverings", said Inez Tenenbaum, commission chairman, in the announcement about the recall. "Avoid these deadly dangers by getting the repair kit or installing cordless window coverings in all homes where small children live or visit."

To help prevent child strangulation in window coverings, the commission and Window Covering Safety Council urge parents and caregivers to follow these guidelines:

• Examine all shades and blinds in the home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. The commission recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.

• Do not place cribs, beds and furniture close to windows with corded window coverings because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.

• Make loose cords inaccessible.

• Install tension devices to keep the cord taut if the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords.

The companies involved in the recall are listed below, along with a link to recall information, the number of units, and where they were sold:

Window Covering Safety Council, All, Roman shades (25 million) and roll-up blinds (27 million)

Walmart, 500,000 Roman shades and 600,000 roll-up blinds, Walmart stores and other retailers

JCPenney, More than 2.2 million Roman Shades and 340 roll-up blinds, JCPenney

Lotus and Windoware, 250,000 Roll-up blinds, Ace Hardware and Big Lots

All Strong Industry, 290,000 Roman shades, Walmart stores and other retailers

Pottery Barn Stores, 350,000 Roman shades and 45,000 roller shades, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn, and PBTeens

International Merchandise, 355,000 Roll-up blinds, Big Lots

West Elm, 42,000 Roman shades, West Elm’s catalog and website

The Land of Nod, 2,000 Roman shades, Land of Nod Stores

Louis Hornick, 6,300 Roman shades, Ross stores

Draper, 1,800 Roman shades, Specialty window covering dealers nationwide

American Vintage, 1,000 Horizontal blinds, Paramount Window Furnishings and Signature Window Coverings stores in Texas

Restoration Hardware Baby & Child, 4,600 Roman shades, Restoration Hardware Baby & Child stores and catalog

For information on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best consumer experience: Finding a new attorney to help me with my leaking roof problem

 

At a workshop, I met an attorney who emphasizes mediation and conciliation in resolving consumer problems. I’ve hired her to help me resolve my roof complaint with Custom-Bilt Metals.

I’ve written before about the problems I’m having with my Custom-Bilt vail metal shingle roof.

When the first roof was installed, it leaked due to a manufacturing defect. The replacement roof leaked in the same way. However, Custom-Bilt isn’t willing to stand behind its product.

I hope my new attorney can help me resolve this consumer complaint. It certainly has caused me a lot of stress.

My worst consumer experience: A rude cashier at Target

 

After the cashier at Target threw all the items into the bags for the customer ahead of me, I asked her not to throw my purchases as she bagged them.

Instead of replying politely or not replying at all, she was rude. She said, "Whadda you mean, throwing things?" Then she began making wise cracks about what I’d said to the girls in line behind me, who joined in and they all were laughing.

Maybe the cashier doesn’t like her job, maybe she’s mad at Target, or maybe she’s upset with her boyfriend. Whatever her problem is, she shouldn’t take out her frustrations on the purchases Target customers are making.

Target should take lessons from Apple Inc. The sales associates in the Apple stores always greet consumers in a friendly manner, like they’re glad to see them. Although I know that’s how they’re trained, it makes me feel welcome – not like the glowering, angry cashier I had to deal with at Target.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 tips for safe holiday decorating

 

Each year, during the two months around the holiday season, more than 14,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to injuries related to holiday decorating.

Christmas trees also are involved in hundreds of fires resulting in an average of 15 deaths and $13 million dollars in property damage annually.

Candle-related fires lead the list of fire hazards averaging more than 12,000 a year, resulting in 150 deaths and $393 million in property damage.

Here are 10 safety tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for your decorating this holiday season:

Trees and decorations

1. Look for the label "Fire Resistant" when purchasing an artificial tree.

2. Check for freshness when purchasing a live tree. The needles are hard to pull from the branches of a green tree and don’t break when bent between your fingers.

3. Place your tree away from heat sources such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, monitor water levels and keep the stand filled with water.

4. Take special care to avoid sharp, weighted, or breakable decorations in homes with small children. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.

Lights

5. Use only indoor and outside lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA.

6. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Don’t use electric lights on a metallic tree.

7. Read the ratings on extension cord labels to make sure they’ll be used properly.

8. Check labels for outdoor lighting to be sure the lights have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

Candles

9. Keep burning candles within sight. Extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room, or leave the house.

10. Keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains, and furniture.

For more information, see the commission’s brochure on holiday decorating safety tips.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Facts and figures for the 2009 holiday season

Consumer retail sales during the holiday season are expected to decline 1 percent this year to $437.6 billion.

This number falls below the 10-year average of 3.39 percent holiday season growth, reports the National Retail Federation.

The decline isn’t expected to be as dramatic as last year’s 3.4 percent drop in holiday retail sales nor as severe as the 3 percent decline in annual retail industry sales expected for 2009.

U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $390 on Christmas gifts this holiday season, down from last year's estimate of $418, The Conference Board indicated in its report on holiday spending.

About 87.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holidays, predicts AAA. That’s a 3.8 percent increase from the 84.5 million who traveled over the Christmas/New Year's period a year ago, and the largest projected increase for any major holiday this year.

About 16.6 billion cards, letters, and packages will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service between Dec. 1 and Christmas this year. The busiest mailing day will be Dec. 14, and Dec. 16 will be the busiest delivery day, reports the U.S. Census Bureau.

Other statistics from the bureau:

• Christmas trees sales are big business in America during the holidays, with $410 million sold by U.S. Christmas tree farmers in 2007. Oregon leads the nation with $109.3 million in sales by Christmas tree farmers in 2007.

• Christmas tree ornaments from China are big sellers with $470.3 million worth of ornaments imported of between January and August 2009. China is leading country selling the ornaments in the U.S. of origin for such items. China also was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States – $28.6 million worth – during the same period.

Eighty-three percent of Americans said they would celebrate Christmas in 2007, while 3 percent said say they would celebrate Hanukkah and 3 percent said they would recognize the Winter Solstice, according to a 2007 Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 1,000 people.

Most Americans – 67 percent – said they intended to decorate, and 24 percent said they don’t plan on decorating, according to the survey.

Sixty-one percent planned on attending a religious service during the holidays, while 31 percent didn’t.

The celebration of Kwanzaa, created in 1966 by professor Maulana Ron Karenga as a way for African Americans to honor their culture, is declining, reports the Miami Herald’s "Kwanzaa Celebrations Continue, But Boom Is Over."

Karenga estimates a half-million to two million people in the U.S. celebrate Kwanzaa, out of about 40 million Americans identified by the U.S. Census as black, including those who are multiracial.

Whatever your tradition, I hope you enjoy your holiday celebrations.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Top 10 tips for a great holiday season

 
How are your holiday preparations coming along?

 

Here are 10 tips to help you if you still need some idea or if you’re struggling with too much to do.

 

1. Plan ahead to eliminate stress. Do your present buying as far in advance as possible. If you’re feeling as though you’re falling behind, see if a friend or relative can help you.

 

2. Keep your expectations rational, take care of yourself, take control of your time, and limit your commitments so you can spend time with your family and friends.

 

3. Visit www.healthystuff.org to find out about healthy toys is you’re buying a toy for a child.

 

4. Use this list from Consumer Reports to buy seven highly rated electronic products such as a Blu-ray player, digital camera, netbook, pocket camcorder, and MP3 player.

 

5. Use this list from Mother Earth News to buy organic, fair trade chocolate.

 

6. Be aware of holiday scams such as online e-cards that are loaded with viruses, malware, and spyware; fake post office of FedEx invoices aimed at stealing your credit card ot personal information; fake e-mails from "banks" asking to validate your information in order to access your account; fake ringtone downloads, fake gift card; and refurbished items that are sold as new.

 

7. Green your holiday with tips such as shopping online, buying earth-friendly gifts, purchasing tickets to a concert or a movie, and giving a gift of rechargeable batteries and a charger.

 

8. Boost your mood by eating breakfast, exercising, snacking on fruits and vegetables, eating fish, taking supplements, drinking water, listening to music, cutting back your sugar intake, and limiting your caffeine and alcohol intake.

 

9. Ask people to bring food and drinks to holiday meals. Order food from a restaurant or deli to save time and reduce stress. The most important thing is being able to visit with your guests.

 

10. Remember food safety tips such as using a meat thermometer to keep track of the internal temperature of poultry and meat, keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and leaving food out of the refrigerator for two hours only.

 

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Studies show increased cancer risk from CT scans

Two reports in the December 14/28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine found that doses of radiation from CT scans vary widely, appear higher than generally believed, and may contribute to an estimated tens of thousands of future cancer cases.

About 70 million CT scans, or computed tomography, were performed in 2007, and the scans have been growing in popularity, reports the ConsumerAffairs.com article “Studies Measure Cancer Risks From CT Scans: Cancer Risks Doubled in Some Cases.”

"While CT scans can provide great medical benefits, there is concern about potential future cancer risks because they involve much higher radiation doses than conventional diagnostic X-rays," the authors of one report write. For example, a chest CT scan exposes the patient to more than 100 times the radiation dose of a routine chest X-ray.

The report says that while risks to individuals are likely to be small, "even small risks could translate into a considerable number of future cancers." The authors note that it is important to understand how much radiation medical imaging delivers to help balance benefits and risks.

See the article for details on what the studies found.

It’s important for consumers to be informed about possible risks from CT scans. Consumers should ask their doctors questions about the scans, such as, "Why do I need this test; how will having this test improve my health care; and are there alternatives that don’t use radiation that are equally as good?"

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Should baby boomer women wear their Christmas sweaters to holiday events?

Yesterday on the National Public Radio program The Splendid Table, Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s guest said that women shouldn’t wear their Christmas sweaters to holiday parties. He said they add 10 years to a woman’s age.

 

What do you think?

My opinion is that if a Christmas sweater gives you joy, wear it. And there are many Christmas sweaters that are sparkly and elegant, very dressy and festive for the holidays.

He may be used to entertaining in a grand way. He also advised party guests not to bring wine to be served with the meal. He plans his selections, and what guests bring don’t complement his menu.

Another recommendation: Don’t bring flowers. It takes his time away from his guests when he has to find a vase and arrange the flowers. He suggested sending flowers the next day with a thank you notes.

Leave me a comment below on your ideas on Christmas sweaters and a link to a photo of your favorite Christmas sweater.

Update: Two readers agreed with me that it's O.K. to wear your Christmas sweater to holiday events if it makes you happy. They also thought bringing wine or flowers to the hostess or host is fine, unless it is a very formal event.

I asked my niece, owner of Diva Botique in Bellingham, Wash., to send me a photo of a glamorous Christmas sweater. To the right is the photo she provided.

Undate 2: Denise, who wrote a comment below, send me a photo of a Christmas sweater to use in my post. I've added it above.

Note: Diva Botique is no longer in business.

 Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Recall of the Week: Amby Baby Motion Beds due to suffocation hazard

About 24,000 Amby Baby Motion Beds are being recalled due to a suffocation hazard, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

The side-to-side shifting or tilting of the hammock can cause the infant to roll and become entrapped or wedged against the hammock’s fabric and/or mattress pad, resulting in a suffocation hazard.

The manufacturer, Amby Baby USA, of Minneapolis, Minn., is aware of two infant suffocation deaths in the Amby Baby hammock, according to the commission.

Made in China, the Amby Baby Motion Bed is made up of a steel frame and a fabric hammock, which are connected by a large spring and metal crossbar. Only one model of the hammock is available, and a label sewn onto the hammock can identify it: “Amby – Babies Love It, Naturally.”

Ambybaby.com and other Internet retailers sold the hammocks from January 2003 through October 2009 for about $250.

Consumers should immediately stop using the Amby Baby Motion Beds/hammocks and contact Amby Baby USA for a free repair kit, the commission advises. Parents and caregivers are urged to find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby.

For additional information, contact Amby Baby USA toll-free at 866-544-9721 between 9 a.m. and 5p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ambybaby.com.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

What were your best and worst consumer experiences this week?

Which consumer happenings cheered you this week and which ones made you want to scream or weep?

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week:

My best consumer experience: Mailing my Christmas packages

Today was the deadline I set to get my packages mailed to family members.

I managed to tear myself away from e-mail, Twitter, my blogs, and Facebook by noon. At 3 p.m., I had my packages wrapped and the boxes addressed. However, I they weren’t sealed because I ran out of tape.

I had 1 hour before the post office closed. I didn’t want to use FedEx because I thought my charges last year for mailing Christmas packages with them was too high.

I debated what to do about the tape. If you buy it at the post office, you need to go to the front of the post office to buy supplies. Then, when you return to the line, many people are ahead of you.

I stopped at Safeway to get the tape. A customer helped me find it right away, and the brand was on sale. Using the express lane, I was able to get out of the store quickly.

When I arrived at the Olympia post office, all the parking spaces were full. I waited for about 10 minutes and was lucky to get a spot.

When I staggered up to the post office with my five packages, I couldn’t reach the automatic door device because I was balancing my packages, one of them large, and holding them steady with my chin. Luckily, a woman opened the door for me. I let her go ahead of me because she was so nice.

As the line moved forward, I taped all my packages.  I was done by the time I was called to the counter.

The postal clerk was pleasant. When I wished him a happy holiday season as I was leaving, he was nice, although he was tired.

All in all, a good consumer experience when it could have been dreadful.

My worst consumer experience: Squabbling with Alaska Airlines about seating

I have respiratory problems and sitting in the front of the plane by the window helps me to have a better flight.

I spent 45 minutes, 15 of it on hold, arguing with an Alaska Airlines clerk about seating.

She told me I could ask at the airport desk about the seat I needed. That doesn’t work nine times out of 10.

The irritating thing was I looked on Alaska’s Web site at the seating for the flight, which is a month away. Many good seats were available. However, it appears that these rows of desirable seats are for airline employees and preferred flier club members.

My ticket is with American Airlines, so I have the seats I need for three legs of my flight. Unfortunately, the last flight is with Alaska Airlines.

I’m going to write to the CEO of Alaska Airlines about this. I’ll keep you posted.

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist