Why should 3 year old Jason Whitley have dies a lingering and horrible death after swallowing three ounces of hair conditioner> Two weeks after drinking the liquid, which contains ammonia, the little boy died.
And why should 7-month old Adrian Gonzales have died? He crawled through a puddle of spilled laundry bleach which gave him third-degree burns on 50% of his tiny body, and burned his lungs from the fumes as well. It took him four agonizing days to due. And why should little Peter Schwab have suffered so much? When he was a year old he crawled over to the dishwasher to watch his mother unloading it. Suddenly he put a finger into the detergent dispensing cup and ate a fingerful of wet but undissolved Electrasol. In minutes his was red and blistered, and the inside of his mouth and his tongue were burned white. Because of a series of lucky circumstances, Peter was in a hospital within minutes and he recovered in a few days. Not so for the little girl across the hall in the hospital who (according to Peter's mother) ate some dishwasher detergent and required seven operations to reopen her scarred esophagus. Or the 18-month old boy who had to eat and breathe through tubes for 5 months and at last count has had 30 operations. Dishwasher detergent is what destroyed his throat too.
Why must these children have suffered so? if only they had never been exposed to such hazardous chemicals. Every year five to ten million household poisonings are reported. These poisonings are the result of accidental ingestion of common household substances found in just about every home.
The real tragedy is, accidents like these can easily be avoided. Buy most parents aren't aware that there are effective products on the market that are much safer than nationally advertised brands and, in most cases, cost less.
This is simply meant to be a wake-up call for parents. I think you will be shocked to learn about some of the health hazards your child is exposed to every day because of the cleaning and personal care products in your home.
Household Chemicals - A Loaded Gun
The average home today contains more chemicals than were found in a typical chemistry lab at the turn of the 20th century. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has determined that cleaning products are some of the most dangerous substances in the home. Go into your kitchen and bathroom and look under the sinks where you keep your cleaning supplies. What have you found? Window cleaner? Bleach? Laundry and dishwashing detergent? Shampoo? Mouthwash? These products can be violent, lethal poisons with the potential to kill or seriously injure your child - or any child who may come into our home.
Would you keep a loaded gun under your sink? Of course not! What a silly question! Yet these products can be just as deadly.
Maybe you keep your cleaning and personal care products locked away or up high out of reach of children. If you do, good! But I ask you again. Would you feel comfortable keeping a loaded gun there? Would you bet your child's life that he or she could never get to that gun? Of course not! Yet more children under four die of accidental poisoning at home than are accidentally are killed with guns at home. My point is this - why are these lethal products in your home at all? Probably because you didn't realize how dangerous they can be. And you probably weren't aware that there are products on the market that are effective, much safer and more economical than grocery store brands. The fact is by using safer household products, you would no longer be taking unnecessary chances with your child.
Long Term Health Hazards Of Household Products
Most poisoning happen slowly, over a long period of time, by daily exposure to toxins int he air and toxic chemicals that come into contact with the skin. Household products are among the most toxic substances we encounter daily. In one study conducted over a 15 year period, a woman who worked at home at a 50% higher death rate from cancer than women who had jobs away from home.
This study concluded that the increase death rate in the woman was due to daily exposure to the hazardous chemicals found in ordinary household products. Also a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission on chemicals commonly found in homes identify 150 that have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer and physiological abnormalities. And a 1985 EPA Report concluded that the toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution. Obviously children are exposed to the same chemicals at home. After day in day out exposure to these toxins they may suddenly respond with cancer, learning difficulties, allergies, lung problems or damage to the immune system.
With your child's long term health at stake, should the chemicals remain in your home?
Toxic Ingredients In Personal Care Products
Personal care products are made to put on your skin, in your hair or in your mouth. But many ingredients used in personal care products are also toxic and can be either ingested during use (like some ingredients in mouthwash and toothpaste) or can be easily absorbed through the skin into the blood stream (like some ingredients in soaps, lotions, creams, cosmetics, shampoos, deodorants, etc.)
In 1989 a house subcommittee asked the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to analyze 20983 chemicals used in personal care products. The results were as follows: 884 of the ingredients were found to be toxic. Of these 778 can cause acute toxicity. 146 can cause tumors. 218 can cause reproductive complications. 314 can cause biological mutation and 376 can cause
Indoor Air Pollution
Are you concerned about the air your child breathes? You may be shocked to learn that according to an EPA report to congress on indoor air and the subcommittee hearings on the indoor air quality act of 1989 indoor air pollution is one of the nations most important environmental health problems, according to the EPA. Most homes have airborne concentrations of hazardous and toxic chemicals that are 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. In one 5-year study the EPA reported that a number of homes had chemical levels that were 70 times higher inside the homes than outside. One reason chemical concentrations are so high in some homes is that cleaning products and some personal care products release toxic vapours into the air when they are used - and even when they are stored. This process is called out-gassing. It's alarming that indoor air is so full of chemical vapours because most children spend 12 to 20 hours a day in their homes. Physiologically children are most vulnerable to toxic vapours than adults because of their higher metabolic rate. They require more oxygen and they breathe in 2 to 3 times as much air (and therefore toxins) relative to the body size than adults. Children are more physically active. This also increases the breathing rate and intake of toxins. In addition children play close to the floor where heavier pollutants settle. Airborne chemicals are a suspected cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which takes the lives of thousands of infants each year. This may explain the documented higher incidence of SIDS in the winter time. During the winter windows are left closed, decreasing the ventilation, which increases the concentration of out-gased vapors in the home. No one knows what causes SIDS, but why take unnecessary chances with your infant? Fortunately parents can do something t reduce their families exposure to airborne toxins from household products. They can simply switch brands.
Turning Dreams Into Reality....
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
First day of summer!
Wow! First day of summer 2010! Doesn't it seem not that long ago we were bringing in the New Year?? Now here we are 6 months into the "New Year".
We're always making New Year's resolutions... making goals for ourselves. "This year will be different". We've all done it. Those goals stick with us for a few weeks, maybe even a few months... but then what happens? We move on. We forget. Maybe we don't forget, we think about those goals on occasion.... but we're really too busy to spend much time on them.
Reality is simply that if we seriously want to accomplish a goal, we must do something to make it happen.
It's real easy to sit back and wish our life will change... to be better... but what are we doing??
I love the quote, "Continue to do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." In other words, if we keep doing the same things over and over and over, we will always have the same end result.
Why are we such creates of habit? Why is change so hard for many people?
I think part of the problem is we don't hold ourselves accountable. We don't sit down and write out our goals and how we plan to achieve our goals. We are afraid of failing. What if we don't reach a goal we've set for ourselves? Ok... so what happens if we don't?? Life will still go on, right? Learn from it. It's not a failure... it's a learning experience!
THE YALE UNIVERSITY STUDY ON GOAL SETTING ACTIVITY
We're always making New Year's resolutions... making goals for ourselves. "This year will be different". We've all done it. Those goals stick with us for a few weeks, maybe even a few months... but then what happens? We move on. We forget. Maybe we don't forget, we think about those goals on occasion.... but we're really too busy to spend much time on them.
Reality is simply that if we seriously want to accomplish a goal, we must do something to make it happen.
It's real easy to sit back and wish our life will change... to be better... but what are we doing??
I love the quote, "Continue to do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." In other words, if we keep doing the same things over and over and over, we will always have the same end result.
Why are we such creates of habit? Why is change so hard for many people?
I think part of the problem is we don't hold ourselves accountable. We don't sit down and write out our goals and how we plan to achieve our goals. We are afraid of failing. What if we don't reach a goal we've set for ourselves? Ok... so what happens if we don't?? Life will still go on, right? Learn from it. It's not a failure... it's a learning experience!
In 1953, researchers studying goal setting surveyed the graduating seniors from Yale University on their goals and aspirations for the future. They discovered only 3% of the graduating class had specific, written goals and objectives.20 years later, when they tracked down the same graduates, the researchers were astounded by the results. They discovered that the same 3% who engaged in goal setting activity and had clearly written goals when they graduated in 1953 were more successful, and worth more in terms of wealth than the other 97% put together. The same 3% also tend to have better health and relationships than the other 97%.
We all have the power to live a GREAT life!
So, what does that tell us? We owe it to ourselves to take the time to set goals.
Think about the time we all invest in planning a family vacation. We have to take the time to plan all the details. Where we will go...when we will go... how we will get there... where we will stay... what activities we'll do... what we'll eat... what to pack, etc..... But how much time do we spend planning our actual lives? In the moment we might say... I need money... I need a new car... I need a new job...etc... But few people actually follow through to make a change in order to change their lives.
We all have the power to live a GREAT life!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Working from my car... Mobile Internet Stick... oh ya!
Our kids keep us busy, right? I have 2 boys... oldest will be 14 in August and the little one is 8. My oldest has a serious passion for theatre. Every since he was a little guy he always liked to act things out. He would watch a tv show, or a movie, then he would dissappear into his bedroom. When he reappeared, he would be dressed as one of the characters from the movie or show. It always amazed us that he would remember many of the lines from a movie after watching it just one time.
Two years ago we took him to his first audition for a theatre role. He'd never been on stage before, but he got the part. Our lives changed for 9 weeks. Because it was professional theatre, he rehearsed during the day... 6 days per week for 2 weeks then the show began. 8 shows per week for 4 weeks, then we moved with the show 2 hours away for another run of 8 shows per week for 3 weeks. Then life got back to normal.
Since then he's done some work with local theatre, but has wanted to come back to professional theater.
Well, we are back. He auditioned for On Golden Pond and got the role of Billy Ray.... the mouthy 13 year old. What a fantastic show and what an amazing opportunity for this kid!
Scheduling has been insane. My younger son is in baseball... so between practices and travelling to games and the older guy's theatre schedule... wow!
Again after 2 weeks of rehearsal, the show opened last week. 2 more weeks at this location, then again we move the family 2 hours away for another 3 week run.
As I sit in my car right now while my son is on stage, I am so thankful that I have the life I do. I have been working from home with My Family Dream Team for 10 years. I am so blessed to be able to work from home... or in this case... from my car and still bring in an income.
I am often asked how we can make this happen. How can I basically put my life on hold for 8 weeks to accomodate my son. It's simple... any parent would do this for their kid. I am just fortunate enough to work from home! I can work anywhere!! Aren't mobile internet sticks fantastic! I sit in my car and can be on the internet ANYWHERE! Phone? No problem... cell phone. So, in essense... I really CAN work ANYWHERE!
Sure, it is interesting... I have pretty much moved my entire office into my car... quite the sight! But, my son is pursuing his dream.
There just isn't anything better than that!
Two years ago we took him to his first audition for a theatre role. He'd never been on stage before, but he got the part. Our lives changed for 9 weeks. Because it was professional theatre, he rehearsed during the day... 6 days per week for 2 weeks then the show began. 8 shows per week for 4 weeks, then we moved with the show 2 hours away for another run of 8 shows per week for 3 weeks. Then life got back to normal.
Since then he's done some work with local theatre, but has wanted to come back to professional theater.
Well, we are back. He auditioned for On Golden Pond and got the role of Billy Ray.... the mouthy 13 year old. What a fantastic show and what an amazing opportunity for this kid!
Scheduling has been insane. My younger son is in baseball... so between practices and travelling to games and the older guy's theatre schedule... wow!
Again after 2 weeks of rehearsal, the show opened last week. 2 more weeks at this location, then again we move the family 2 hours away for another 3 week run.
As I sit in my car right now while my son is on stage, I am so thankful that I have the life I do. I have been working from home with My Family Dream Team for 10 years. I am so blessed to be able to work from home... or in this case... from my car and still bring in an income.
I am often asked how we can make this happen. How can I basically put my life on hold for 8 weeks to accomodate my son. It's simple... any parent would do this for their kid. I am just fortunate enough to work from home! I can work anywhere!! Aren't mobile internet sticks fantastic! I sit in my car and can be on the internet ANYWHERE! Phone? No problem... cell phone. So, in essense... I really CAN work ANYWHERE!
Sure, it is interesting... I have pretty much moved my entire office into my car... quite the sight! But, my son is pursuing his dream.
There just isn't anything better than that!
Wal-Mart and Johnson & Johnson being sued....
Toxic Children’s Shampoo and Baby Wash
Keller Rohrback currently represents Plaintiffs in multiple class action litigations against Defendants Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for selling children’s shampoo and baby wash that contains methylene chloride, a banned ingredient in cosmetics that is linked to increased cancer risk. The following cases are currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey: Vercellono v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 09-02350 (D.N.J.); Levinson v. Johnson and Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03317 (D.N.J.); Crouch v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-02905 (D.N.J.); and Boyd v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03135 (D.N.J.).
Recently, the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh ruled that Plaintiffs in Vercellono and Levinson may proceed with their class action claims. Judge Cavanaugh held that Plaintiffs in those two putative class actions stated viable claims under Missouri and Nevada law against Defendants for violations of state consumer protection acts and breaches of implied warranties.
In the complaints that are pending Plaintiffs allege that, despite Defendants’ representations that Johnson’s® Baby Shampoo and Wal-Mart’s Equate Tearless Baby Wash are “as gentle to the eyes as pure water” and “extra mild” for babies, these products are actually contaminated with methylene chloride. Methylene chloride is one of only 11 chemicals that the Food and Drug Administration has banned as an ingredient in cosmetics, out of more than 12,500 ingredients currently used. See 21 C.F.R. § 700.19 (1989). Plaintiffs further allege that methylene chloride can be removed through a simple and cost-effective process of vacuum-stripping.
Keller Rohrback is continuing its investigation regarding certain children’s personal care products that may contain methylene chloride including:
Johnson’s® Baby Shampoo;
Equate Tearless Baby Wash; and
Target Night-time Bath and Body Wash.
Independent testing revealed that these products may be contaminated with methylene chloride. According to Keller Rohrback Attorney Lynn Sarko, “The last place this dangerous chemical should be is in products intended for babies.”
If you purchased one of these products and you wish to learn more about our investigation or the pending litigations, please contact paralegal Natalie Stephenson or attorneys Gretchen Cappio, Laura Gerber, or Lynn Sarko at 800.776.6044 or 206.623.1900 or via email at consumer@kellerrohrback.co
Case Documents
Keller Rohrback currently represents Plaintiffs in multiple class action litigations against Defendants Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for selling children’s shampoo and baby wash that contains methylene chloride, a banned ingredient in cosmetics that is linked to increased cancer risk. The following cases are currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey: Vercellono v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 09-02350 (D.N.J.); Levinson v. Johnson and Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03317 (D.N.J.); Crouch v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-02905 (D.N.J.); and Boyd v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03135 (D.N.J.).
Recently, the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh ruled that Plaintiffs in Vercellono and Levinson may proceed with their class action claims. Judge Cavanaugh held that Plaintiffs in those two putative class actions stated viable claims under Missouri and Nevada law against Defendants for violations of state consumer protection acts and breaches of implied warranties.
In the complaints that are pending Plaintiffs allege that, despite Defendants’ representations that Johnson’s® Baby Shampoo and Wal-Mart’s Equate Tearless Baby Wash are “as gentle to the eyes as pure water” and “extra mild” for babies, these products are actually contaminated with methylene chloride. Methylene chloride is one of only 11 chemicals that the Food and Drug Administration has banned as an ingredient in cosmetics, out of more than 12,500 ingredients currently used. See 21 C.F.R. § 700.19 (1989). Plaintiffs further allege that methylene chloride can be removed through a simple and cost-effective process of vacuum-stripping.
Keller Rohrback is continuing its investigation regarding certain children’s personal care products that may contain methylene chloride including:
Johnson’s® Baby Shampoo;
Equate Tearless Baby Wash; and
Target Night-time Bath and Body Wash.
Independent testing revealed that these products may be contaminated with methylene chloride. According to Keller Rohrback Attorney Lynn Sarko, “The last place this dangerous chemical should be is in products intended for babies.”
If you purchased one of these products and you wish to learn more about our investigation or the pending litigations, please contact paralegal Natalie Stephenson or attorneys Gretchen Cappio, Laura Gerber, or Lynn Sarko at 800.776.6044 or 206.623.1900 or via email at consumer@kellerrohrback.co
Case Documents
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Wash your baby in chemicals lately?
I find it amazing as I walk through the grocery store isles. All the different cleaners available today. We have become a society obsessed with making sure everything is clean and disinfected. But, have you ever taken a big, deep breath while standing in that cleaning isle? It is overwhelming, to say the least.
We wonder why asthma has increased... and allergies... and ADD... and auto-immune disorders... yet look around.
How many people actually READ labels?? Are we so concerned about being clean that we don't care what's in the products we're bringing into our homes?
It's not only cleaners... what about laundry products and all those products we use in our bathrooms? They are filled with chemicals. Chemicals that have not been properly tested for long term effects on our health.
When parents are expecting a baby, they want the safest car seat, stroller, crib, etc... Then they bring home baby shampoo, body wash, body lotions, diaper creams, etc.... But do we really know what's in this stuff? Sure, we've all seen the commercials where they are promoting their "safe" products. The question is... how safe are they really? Shouldn't we, as consumers, have a right to know what we are buying?
We are so naive with the assumption if it's sold on a store shelf, it's safe.
Ten years ago I started my research. I was on a mission to rid the chemicals from my home. There ARE safer alternatives out there! And, they actually work MUCH better to clean and disinfect! I don't sell products.... I educate.... http://www.MyFamilyDreamTeam.com
We wonder why asthma has increased... and allergies... and ADD... and auto-immune disorders... yet look around.
How many people actually READ labels?? Are we so concerned about being clean that we don't care what's in the products we're bringing into our homes?
It's not only cleaners... what about laundry products and all those products we use in our bathrooms? They are filled with chemicals. Chemicals that have not been properly tested for long term effects on our health.
When parents are expecting a baby, they want the safest car seat, stroller, crib, etc... Then they bring home baby shampoo, body wash, body lotions, diaper creams, etc.... But do we really know what's in this stuff? Sure, we've all seen the commercials where they are promoting their "safe" products. The question is... how safe are they really? Shouldn't we, as consumers, have a right to know what we are buying?
We are so naive with the assumption if it's sold on a store shelf, it's safe.
Ten years ago I started my research. I was on a mission to rid the chemicals from my home. There ARE safer alternatives out there! And, they actually work MUCH better to clean and disinfect! I don't sell products.... I educate.... http://www.MyFamilyDreamTeam.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)