Kudos To Skokie Safety Activist Lisa Lipin for Her Fight To Get Consumer Product Safety Bill Passed

Our hats off to Skokie resident Lisa Lipin, whose own son Andrews's close call with a dangerous toy motivated her to work hard for a tougher consumer safety bill that became law in August.

Lipin's son was almost suffocated when the cord of a yo-yo water ball wrapped around his neck five years ago. The boy gasped for air until the cord was pulled free. That near-tragedy turned Lipin into an activist who began working with others to tighten existing consumer protection laws. Because of the new law, the type of yo-yo that injured Andrew is not allowed to have a cord longer than 3 inches.

The bill also sets new limits on the levels of lead paint in children's toys, protection for whistle-blowers, and addresses safety standards for all-terrain vehicles and portable gas cans.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 passed both houses of Congress in July and President Bush signed it into law in August. Congressman Bobby Rush of Illinois sponsored the bill in the House. "We have taken a big step towards reestablishing consumer safety and consumer confidence," Rush said on August. 1

About 28,000 deaths occur each year due to unsafe toys and other products in the U.S. The new law also requires commission to create a publicly accessible database where people can learn about injuries related to consumer products reported by consumers, government agencies, health care professionals, and other sources.

During her five years work to tighten consumer laws, Lisa testified before a Congressional committee on her son's accident an created a website to publish the dangers of yo-yo water balls.