The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is challenging middle school students nationwide to create a poster to help teach families about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) in the home. CPSC’s poster contest is open to students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
For each grade level, three finalists will be selected for a total of nine finalists. Each finalist will win $250 in prize money. CPSC judges will choose the best overall poster and the winner will receive an additional $500.
CPSC’s goal for the poster contest is to raise awareness and to help reverse a deadly trend. CO is an odorless, colorless and deadly gas. It is called the “Invisible Killer” because you cannot see it or smell it and it can kill its victims quickly. Each year more than 150 people die from accidental non-fire carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer products in the United States and that number is on the rise. Most of the increase is due to consumers improperly using generators indoors, in attached garages or in other enclosed spaces.
Students’ posters will be evaluated on the clarity of their CO safety message, visual appeal and design originality.
The poster contest runs from September 7 through December 31, 2010 during which time submissions will be accepted online or by mail. Find out more about the contest and the rules at www.challenge.gov/cpsc.
Who: Middle school students in 6, 7 and 8th grades are eligible to participate
What: Carbon Monoxide Poster Contest
When: September 7 through December 31, 2010
Where: Find out more about the contest and the rules and to submit posters at
www.challenge.gov/cpsc. Posters can also be submitted by mail to CPSC Poster
Contest, 4330 East West Hwy, Rm. 519, Bethesda, MD 20814
WOW: Prize Money will be awarded to the top nine finalists!
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from over 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell this or any other recalled product.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772, teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit
www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this press release and recall information at
www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to
www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
