Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States, reports the National Weather Service. Based on the 10-year average from 2000 to 2009, excessive heat claims an average of 162 lives a year. By contrast, hurricanes killed 117; floods, 65; tornadoes, 62; and lightning, 48. In the heat... Read more →

It’s surprising how fast a car can get hot. Today, when it was cool in the morning, I took a nap in my car. I was waiting to pickup my daughter and her family from the airport. In a half-hour, the car became uncomfortably warm. I was surprised when I... Read more →

A proposed new weight-loss drug, Qnexa, is too dangerous to be approved, Sidney Wolfe, M.D., director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, told an FDA advisory committee recently. Qnexa is a combination of two older drugs, phentermine and topiramate, each of which has significant risks, according to Wolfe. One is... Read more →

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act by a vote of 60 to 39. After Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives, signed the bill to concur with changes in the conference committee, the bill is headed to the President Obama for... Read more →

Pottery Barn Kids is recalling all models of its drop-side cribs, about 82,000. The cribs' drop-sides can detach when hardware breaks, creating a space into which a young child can become entrapped and suffocation. A child can also fall out of the crib. Drop-side incidents also occur due to incorrect... Read more →

Which consumer experiences cheered you recently and which ones made you want to scream or weep? 

Here are my best and worst consumer experiences this week: My best: Getting a fancy new skirtI had a great time shopping with my daughter in Bellingham at my niece Suzi Coombs shop, Diva... Read more →

Listing the amount of calories on restaurant menus is important. Nine out of 10 people underestimated the calorie content of certain items by an average of 600 calories, almost 50 percent less than the actual calorie content, according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health. Portion sizes... Read more →

Consumers who find a "great deal" on a repossessed car on the Internet and wire money to a "reputable dealer" have been finding themselves coming up with nothing. Fraudulent websites claim to sell repossessed cars at prices well below market rates. Buyers are instructed to wire a deposit – as... Read more →

Just as I was developing my post on the most important safety tips for summer, I read about three tragedies on Seattlepi.com. They involved swimming, ATVs, and barbecues. So it’s important to think safety when you’re having summer fun. You don’t want to have an avoidable accident happen to you... Read more →

It’s summer, and since more Americans will be traveling due to the economic recovery, it’s likely that many will be taking their pets with them on vacation. Before hitting the road, it's important to be prepared. Here are tips from Trips With Pets.com: Healthy start. To make sure your pet... Read more →