2010's Hall of Shame The Year in Pills. Lasko Heater Recall.

"Drugs with deadly or dangerous side effects often make it to the market because their potential dangers were not anticipated during clinical trials. These drugs are classified as defective drugs and have been identified by the FDA as having dangerous side effects that outweigh whatever benefits they may have. Such an FDA classification often leads to drug recalls, personal injuries and lawsuits against drug companies."

Here are the drugs which make 2010's Hall of Shame.  By MARTHA ROSENBERG

"2010 will go down as the year the diet pill Meridia and pain pill Darvon were withdrawn from the market and the heart-attack associated diabetes drug Avandia was severely restricted.
But it was also the year the Justice Department filed the first criminal, not civil, charges against a drug company executive. Lauren Stevens, a former VP and assistant general counsel at GlaxoSmithKline, hid some 1,000 instances of GSK-paid doctors illegally promoting Wellbutrin to other doctors, say authorities.
It was also the year prominent psychiatrists Charles Nemeroff and Alan Schatzberg were accused of writing an entire book for GSK called Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Psychopharmacology Handbook for Primary Care."
Here are the drugs which make 2010's Hall of Shame:

Yaz and Yasmin
Lyrica, Topamax and Lamictal
Humira, Prolia and TNF Blockers
Chantix
Ambien
Tamoxifen
Lipitor and Crestor
Boniva
Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, SSRIs
Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq, SNRIs
Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera, Adderall and ADHD Drugs
Gardasil and Cervarix Vaccines
Foradil Aerolizer, Serevent Diskus, Advair and Symbicort
Singulair and Accolate, leukotriene receptor antagonists


To read more see: http://www.counterpunch.org/rosenberg12172010.html
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Your Research Before Taking ANY Drug.

"For all the problems modern society has caused, it also brings benefits that were previously unimaginable. One of them is the ease with which you can conduct your own research. And I urge you to thoroughly investigate each drug before taking it.

The truth is that doctors are no longer the sole authority on all matters relating to health. And don't believe for one minute that your physician will have all the answers and all the latest research findings at his or her fingertips. They won't.

Most of their recent knowledge about drug treatments comes directly from the lips of drug reps, and if you believe drug reps will put your health and safety before profits, think again.
So, as a general rule, always make sure to read up on the potential side effects of the drug. Read the package insert, and remember that even if it lists a side effect as rare, it can happen to you.
Then decide whether the potential benefits truly outweigh the potential risks."

More at:  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/11/the-year-in-pills.aspx
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Please check to see if your heater is on this recall, the picture is on their website: http://www.laskoproducts.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 February 8, 2011       Release #11-121
Lasko Recall Hotline: (800) 363-8044    CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772      CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Lasko Recalls Portable Electric Heaters Due To Fire Hazard

LASKO MODEL 5540    (AIR KING MODEL 8540 IS IDENTICAL IN APPEARANCE   BUT HAS THE "AIR KING" NAME AT THE TOP OF THE UNIT)

The Date Code is circled in red. If you have a model 5540 or 8540, turn the heater over and check the date code located as shown on the label located at the bottom of the unit.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Type of Product: Portable electric heater  Units: About 107,500 units.  Manufacturer: Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa.

Hazard: An electrical connection in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Lasko received a total of 36 reports of the electrical connection overheating with no reports of injury. There were 18 reports of minor burn damage to floors or carpets.

Description: The portable, electric, tower heaters are 20.5 inches tall x 8.25 inches wide x 9.25 inches deep. They are dark grey with silver front covers and black vent slats. The brand names Lasko or Air King are on the top, center of the front cover. The Lasko Model 5540 and Air King Model 8540 subject to this recall were manufactured in 2002 and have date codes that begin with a "2." The date code is on the label located on the bottom of the unit. The date code is a four-digit number on the bottom left area of the label, above the voltage number. Heaters with date codes beginning with "3," "4" or "5" are not subject to this recall.

Sold at: The Lasko Model 5540 was sold at Sam's Club and other retailers from September 2002 through early 2004 for $39 to $49. The Air King Model 8540 was sold primarily through the maintenance, repair and operating products supply company, W.W. Grainger Inc. from late 2002 to 2004 for approximately $80.00
Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the heaters immediately and contact Lasko to receive a free replacement heater.

Consumer Contact: For additional information and pictures of affected models, visit Lasko's website at http://www.laskoproducts.com/recall/heater10_prods.asp, or call Lasko anytime, toll-free at (800) 363-8044.
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Today is another cold one, even though the sun is shining. 

Apart from the regular chores, my only other activity was to take my sawzall down to Roni's to cut the lock off her shed, as the combination quit working.  No, I should say 'jobs', as I don't really think of scooping cat boxes as a chore, as it shows that everything is working the way it should!

The foster cats are in the vinyl clad, screened-in porch, in the sun, and out of the chilly breeze, watching the birds at the feeder, for a while.

Paco, the Chihuahua, wants to sit outside in a sunny patch, but I couldn't let him do that, too chilly today.