Being safe, being informed

Due to the recent earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and car recalls, safety is at the front of the line of Big Concerns. This isn't a new thing. It's a constant thing. Just take a look at the prevalence of hand sanitizer (yes, I have several plastic bottles of it myself).

Can we really be safe? I can't answer this with any great confidence in either  "yes" or "no".
However, I believe that we can be informed. While it's impossible to stop a volcano or an earthquake, we can know more about the products we buy. Here are a few places to go to know about recalls and product safety issues.

Consumer Reports
This is probably the first resource that many latch on to when buying a car or investigating a recall. It's a great place to start. However, a lot of the content is for paid subscribers only. Check your local library. You may have access to more of the site if you go through them.This independent,  nonprofit organization has the largest consumer testing facility in the world.They've been testing products and reporting on them since the 1930's.

US Consumer Products Safety Commission
This is the web page for the commission. You'll also find quick links to recalled products, recent news on products, and you can also report an unsafe product.

US Consumer Products Safety Commission-SaferProducts.gov
If you are into consumer product safety policy, then this might be for you. This page discusses the Consumer Product Safety Risk Management System. You find Reports to Congress and recent recalls. You can get on a recall alert email list too.

Consumer Federation of American
This is a non-profit research and advocacy group. They've been investigating products and publishing newsletters since 1968.

When in doubt, go directly to the manufacturer. Get to know the products you buy. Stay informed.