SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer products present significant injury risks to older Americans, sending more than three million seniors to the hospital each year.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is hard at work addressing these hazards and helping them to live safer, more independent lives.

According to CPSC's most-recent report, Senior Injuries and Deaths Associated with Consumer Products: 2024 Report, consumer products are associated with 41,000 senior deaths each year.  CPSC is emphasizing the importance of keeping older adults safe during June-National Safety Month.

This report comes as the CPSC sets yet another recall record for products violating the Safety Standard for Adult Portable Bed Rails.  Last week CPSC announced the results of a recent enforcement sweep targeting these products, which can pose deadly entrapment and strangulation hazards when they don't comply with federal safety standards.  In doing so, CPSC secured remedies for consumers in multiple recalls, totaling more than 95,000 units.

"CPSC continues to carry out its vital mission and is outpacing key safety and performance metrics from recent years, including with respect to senior safety," said Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. "I want to recognize the leadership of my colleague Commissioner Dziak, who has done more than others to advance this cause."

"My family has seen firsthand how a senior injury can change lives forever," said Commissioner Douglas Dziak.  "Several years ago, my mother-in-law suffered a serious head injury after an in-home fall.  She has never fully recovered and requires significant ongoing treatment and care.  Unfortunately, as the Commission's report describes, our story is not unique, and I will continue to prioritize senior safety by seeking to reduce consumer hazards for seniors and increase awareness regarding senior injury risk."

Older adults and their caregivers can work to prevent these tragic injuries and deaths by following these safety steps:

  • Check if the portable adult bed rails in your home have been recalled.  If they have, do not use them.  If purchasing new ones, look for bed rails that meet the ASTM voluntary standard ASTM F3186 – 17, Standard Specification for Adult Portable Bed Rails and Related Products.

  • Install handrails on both sides of any stairs in your home and grab bars in bathrooms. Keep stairs well-lit and free of clutter.  

  • Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside each bedroom.  Install carbon monoxide alarms on each floor outside sleeping areas.

  • Do not wear loose clothing while cooking on the stove.  The clothing can catch fire.  Keep an eye on food cooking on the stovetop and in the oven.  Stand by your pan.

  • Do not swim alone.  Take swim lessons.  Use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation device if you are unsure of your swimming ability.

  • Never operate a portable generator inside the home.  Generators should be used outside at least 20 feet away from the house, never near windows or vents.

  • Watch for traffic and wear the appropriate gear when riding four-wheelers, bicycles and e-scooters, including bicycle helmets.

For more tips go to Older Adult Safety | CPSC.gov 

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually.  Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts. 
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn and Truth Social.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
- Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 25-309

 

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