On January 25, Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), as well as Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) introduced the Consumer Advocacy and Protection (CAP) Act. The CAP Act aims to make companies more accountable for selling unsafe products. Right now, the CPSC's penalties that companies face for violating safety rules - $120,000 per violation and $17,150,000 for multiple violations - are not high enough to discourage large companies from bad behavior. The CAP Act will remove the maximum civil penalty statutory cap on multiple violations, and increase the individual violation cap to $250,000. One of the CPSC’s more important roles is keeping children safe from dangerous products. Removing the artificial cap on multiple violations will allow the CPSC to structure penalties that deter future violations and sends a strong message that children’s safety should be a top concern of all manufacturers. Read KID's press release for more information.

Alliance4Safety and 31 furniture companies recalled millions of plastic New Age furniture tip-over restraint kits. The plastic zip tie used with the kits can become brittle or break, which can allow a clothing storage unit that is anchored to the wall to detach. The restraint kits were sold with clothing storage units manufactured in Vietnam. The date of manufacture should be listed on a sticker or stamped on the clothing storage unit as November 2019 or later. The packaging of the recalled tip kits is white with black lettering and includes directions on how to anchor furniture. The bottom of the packaging states “Manufactured by New Age Industries.” Check the CSPC recall page if you suspect that your furniture came with these restraint kits.

February 4-10 is National Burn Awareness Week. E-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards have grown in popularity in recent years, but local fire departments and the CPSC have seen a growing threat of destructive and deadly fires from lithium-ion batteries in these products. You can take the following steps to prevent fires with micromobility devices:

Learn more on how to stay safe at the CPSC Micromobility Devices page.

In this new year, KID continues to protect children from emerging hazards. Tiny beads the size of a sprinkle, known as water beads, are made of small super-absorbent polymer crystals that can grow up to 1,500 times their size when placed in liquid. If ingested, the beads absorb bodily fluids and can lead to potentially life-threatening injuries such as intestinal obstruction. KID is working to remove these dangerous toys from the market and we recently had a victory as Amazon, Walmart, Target, Etsy, and others made a commitment to stop selling them to children. Ask your Congressperson to co-sponsor the Ban Water Beads Act (H.R.6468). Click here to look up your U.S. Representative with your address and you'll find their phone number.

KID is also supporting more stringent safety regulations for nursing pillows after at least 162 babies have died in incidents involving nursing pillows since 2007, and infant loungers. Both products are foreseeably misused for infant sleep, leading to suffocation and death. KID’s commitment to product safety and strong advocacy remains strong and we continue to fight against the well-known dangers and emerging hazards. Follow KID on social media @kidsindanger for up-to-date news about KID's work.

Building a Bridge to Safety is the cornerstone of all the work we do here at KID. Whether it's advocating for better safety standards, championing legislation designed to keep kiddos safe or connecting families who have experienced loss with vital resources, our efforts are built on this foundation. This year, KID is proud to honor Trista Hamsmith as KID's Best Friend. Trista lost her 18-month-old daughter Reese after she ingested a button cell battery in 2020. Trista became a fierce advocate, successfully getting Congress to pass Reese's Law in 2022 to strengthen safety standards for coin and button cell batteries.

Save the date and join us on Thursday, April 25, in Chicago as we honor Trista at our Best Friend Award Night. Emceed by award-winning journalist Lisa Parker, the event will feature appetizers, drinks, raffle, auctions, wine toss, and more. Help KID build a bridge to safety and honor Trista by becoming a sponsor of this year's event. Stay tuned for ticket information and view our event site for more information.

The CPSC released warnings about two other dangerous products this month. View our Digest to see these additional products.