Keep It Safe

Serious problems from cosmetic use are rare, but sometimes problems arise with specific products. For example, FDA warned consumers about the danger of using aerosol hairspray near heat, fire, or while smoking. Until hairspray is fully dry, it can ignite and cause serious burns. Injuries and deaths have occurred from fires related to aerosol hairsprays.

Multilevel marketing plans, also known as "network" or "matrix" marketing, are a way of selling goods or services through distributors. These plans typically promise that if you sign up as a distributor, you will receive commissions -- for both your sales of the plan's goods or services and those of other people you recruit to join the distributors.

Who’s calling now? That number doesn’t ring a bell. Hold the phone, says the Federal Trade Commission. You could be a potential victim of the growing "one-ring” cell phone scam.

Do you own your home? If so, it's likely to be your greatest single asset. Unfortunately, if you agree to a loan that's based on the equity you have in your home, you may be putting your most valuable asset at risk.

If you're looking to get in shape, a membership at a gym, fitness center, health spa, or sports club could be a good option. But joining a gym often means signing a contract, and not all contracts are the same. To avoid a problem down the road, find out more about the business and what you're committing to before you sign up. People have told the FTC about high-pressure sales tactics, misrepresentations about facilities and services, broken cancellation policies, and lost membership fees when gyms go out of business.

Are your household hazards "kid-proofed?"

It might sound silly, but one of the first things pediatrician Colleen Kraft, MD, of the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles tells families to do once their child is around 6 months old is crawl around the floor of their home: "Pretend you're that 6-month-old. What looks interesting and dangerous to you? Because kids will beeline for that."

From the bathroom or kitchen to the garage, many brightly colored cleaning products can cause serious injury or even death if swallowed. The more "sparkly" the household cleaner or label, the more attention it calls out to curious kids.

Simple things like closing the door to utility rooms and putting an affordable doorknob guard on the door could save you a trip to the emergency room. Here's what you can do to reduce the risk of your child tampering with dangerous products at home.

Pay Attention to Labels

If a cleaning product or chemical is harmful or you need to be careful using it, it will likely have one or more of these words on the label:

• Caution
• Danger
• Toxic
• Poison
• Warning

Know the Risks of Common Household Products

"Some products can irritate if you get them in your eyes or on your face. But ingesting even a small amount of certain cleaners can cause either serious breathing or stomach problems, or burn the esophagus," explains Dr. Kraft. "It's a lot riskier than what people even think about."

Products and materials that are dangerous to children include:

• Laundry detergent, especially laundry pods
• Dishwashing detergent or dishwasher pods
• Spray cleaners, like multi-purpose spray or window cleaner
• Vape pens and liquid nicotine
• Alcohol
• Personal hygiene products and makeup
• Medications
• Household plants
• Batteries (especially coin or button batteries)
• Small items like beads, buttons, magnets, and coins

Dr. Kraft recommends parents also secure their trash can, as trash can be another way children come into contact with toxins.

Storing Chemicals at Home

When deciding where to store household chemicals, Dr. Kraft tells families that "high and locked" is best.

Store hazardous products in cabinets or drawers that close tightly and consider using child-proof locks. If you place your products in a linen or storage closet, make sure that they are placed on shelves up high enough that children can't reach them—even better if they're out of sight.

Do's and Don'ts of Keeping Chemicals at Home

DO keep a list of emergency telephone numbers. Many cleaning products and chemicals have instructions on what to do if the product is used incorrectly, resulting in emergency. Create and keep a first-aid kit that includes emergency-wash liquids.

In the first-aid kid, keep a list of telephone numbers for:

• National Poison Control, 800-222-1222
• The nearest hospital
• A local ambulance service
• Your family doctor

DO keep products in their original packaging, and labels intact. Labels contain important safety information. One of the biggest mistakes to make is to remove labels or allow them to get torn or damaged. This separates the label from the cleaner, and anyone can mistake clear or colored liquids as drinkable.

DO clean with windows open for ventilation. This will help ensure your child isn't breathing in hazardous particles that may be in the air while you clean.

DON'T leave a bottle or container of cleaning supplies open and unattended. Always close and put away the cleaning supply if you are interrupted.

DON'T mix products. "You may have seen your grandma combining products when you were younger—but these are not the same chemicals we grew up with," warns Dr. Kraft. Read labels carefully and take guidance seriously.

DON'T tell your child that medicine or toiletries taste/smell like candy. This may cause children to mistake certain items for candy and ingest them when unsupervised.

Talking to Children About Household Chemical Risks

Dr. Kraft recommends communicating the hazards of these chemicals to children around age 6 or 7—but still keeping products secured and out of the way.

"You can tell kids, 'This is where we keep our cleaning stuff. We keep it locked because it's dangerous if you eat it or if it gets into your eyes,'" she says.

Dr. Kraft also stresses the importance of continuing to have these conversations with kids as they grow up, as certain social media trends may encourage them to ingest dangerous products.

Don't be scared—just be prepared

Many household products can be dangerous to children, but with a little preparation, there's no need to fear. The next time you bring household cleaners and chemicals home, familiarize yourself with their labels and be aware of where your products are kept so you can help children stay safe.

The Internet has taken its place beside the telephone and television as an important part of people's lives. Consumers use the Internet to shop, bank and invest online. Most consumers use credit or debit cards to pay for online purchases, but other payment methods, like "e-wallets," are becoming more common.

Generic drugs have the same active ingredients as the brand-name drugs they’re based on. They cost 20 percent to 70 percent less, according to estimates from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). If you want to make sure you’re getting generics when possible, talk to your doctor and pharmacist. You can ask your doctor to write a prescription allowing a generic drug product when it’s appropriate.

Nigerian advance-fee fraud has been around for decades, but now seems to have reached epidemic proportions: Some consumers have told the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) they are receiving dozens of offers a day from supposed Nigerians politely promising big profits in exchange for help moving large sums of money out of their country.

Over the past few years, smart lighting companies have been innovating ways to mitigate these seasonal mood declines and imitate natural light in the home – both to create a comfortable, cozy ambiance and to allow people to experience the health benefits of circadian lighting, even on gloomy winter days or dark mornings.

Sunlight is essential for the body's health, wellbeing and balance – but reduced sunlight in the fall and winter can affect serotonin and melatonin levels and disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythm, leading to the "winter blues."

The Body's Natural Clock

"During the darker months, it's important for people to know what options are available to support their wellbeing and circadian health," said Daryl Friedman, global president and CEO of CEDIA, the association for smart home professionals. "Integrating professionally installed smart lighting technologies that replicate natural daylight can help individuals maintain their body's natural clock and make their homes feel warmer year-round, even when the sun isn't shining."

Professional smart home integrators, certified by CEDIA, can help homeowners curate a custom smart home solution with a variety of smart lighting products:

Smart Lighting

Circadian Lighting: These systems automatically adjust lighting based on time-of-day, providing dynamic lighting that aligns with the body's internal clock. For example, sunrise alarm clocks simulate a natural sunrise by gradually increasing light intensity in the morning, helping users wake up more gently

Smart Shading Solutions: Automated window shades and blinds adjust their position based on time of day, allowing homeowners to curate the amount of natural light entering their home. Smart home professionals can ensure these systems work in tandem with smart lighting to simulate natural light cycles. As a bonus, smart shading systems improve insulation in the colder months, increasing energy efficiency in the home.

Adjustable Color Temperature Bulbs: A more budget-friendly option, these bulbs feature adjustable color temperatures to mimic the natural progression of daylight, shifting from cool, bright light in the morning to warmer, softer light in the evening.

"Embracing smart lighting tech isn't just about convenience and luxury—it's about enhancing quality of life," continued Friedman. "Professional integrators can help homeowners identify the best smart lighting advancements for a home, so they can enjoy practical solutions for mitigating the impacts of reduced daylight."