Underwriters Laboratories Urges Consumers to Commit a Minute to Reduce Child Injuries This Holiday Season

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Every minute, 17 children visit emergency rooms due to unintentional injuries, a startling number that equates to an estimated 9.2 million a year.  In response to these alarming statistics, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leader in product safety testing and certification services for more than 116 years, is spearheading a national campaign this holiday season and partnering with actress Debra Messing to encourage families to Commit a Minute to Safety.  

The Commit A Minute to Safety campaign raises consumer awareness on simple steps to make their homes safer, such as watering trees daily, turning the handles of pots on stoves, always blowing out unattended candles and looking for the UL Mark on lights and decorations.  

"I'm proud to partner with UL to encourage consumers to Commit a Minute to Safety throughout the holidays and year-round," said Debra Messing.  "It's really amazing how just a few simple actions can make a big difference in helping to protect your home and family, especially at such a magical time of year when you want the holidays to be joyful."

Giving consumers easy access to valuable safety information is a central component of the Commit a Minute to Safety campaign, and to ensure safety is available when they want it, UL has revamped their Web site - www.SafetyAtHome.com.  On the site, consumers can commit a minute via an interactive counter and enter a sweepstakes to win Home Depot gift cards, learn about UL from a variety of engaging safety videos and get home safety tips to share with their family and friends.  Visitors can also download a Safety Time holiday learning and activity book for children, take an interactive safety quiz, become a Facebook fan and follow UL on Twitter. The Commit a Minute to Safety campaign will also include national print advertising in parenting and entertainment magazines, premiere sponsorships of holiday tree lightings in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and dedicated content for Nickelodeon's NickJr and Nickelodeon.com.

"During the holidays, UL reminds consumers to look for the UL Mark on decorations, lights and electronics," said John Drengenberg, Director of Consumer Safety at Underwriters Laboratories. "When you see the UL Mark, you can rest assured that the highest safety standards have been met."

To learn more about UL's Commit a Minute to Safety holiday campaign and for valuable safety information for keeping your home safe and bright this holiday season, please visit SafetyAtHome.com.

About Underwriters Laboratories

UL is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems for more than 66,000 manufacturers annually. In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products worldwide each year. UL's global family of companies and network of service providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: www.ul.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories