Beware of faulty garage/yard sale bargains

The Iowa Department of Public Health issued its annual garage sale warning Wednesday.The warning is about those bargain items you buy at a garage or yard sales that might end up being deadly. Health Department spokesperson Debbi Cooper set up a display of some of the items in the parking lot of the Lucas State Office building. They include things like an old cedar chest without a safety latch on the lid. A child could climb in and be trapped inside. Baby cribs with slats that’re too wide can pose a threat when a child climbs through and gets caught.To test the crib, try to push a pop can through its slats. If the can fits through, Cooper says the space between the slats is too big. Clothing with long drawstrings can also be deadly. The kids can wrap the drawstrings around their necks, or the strings can get caught on playground equipment and strangle the child.Window blinds with long cords pose a similar choking hazard. And, Cooper says baby car seats are another item that often show up at sales, even though they may’ve been recalled from stores. If you have questions about a product, you can find answers on-line.Visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission website at: www.cpsc.gov. Or she says you can call the commission at 800-638-2772.