Basic Disaster Supplies Kit

• Three-day supply of non-perishable food.
• Three-day supply of water – one gallon of water per person, per day.
• Portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries.
• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Sanitation and hygiene items (moist towelettes and toilet paper).
• Matches and waterproof container.
• Whistle.
• Extra clothing.
• Kitchen accessories and cooking utensils, including a can opener.
• Photocopies of credit and identification cards.
• Cash and coins.
• Special needs items, such as prescription medications, eye glasses, contact lens solutions, and hearing aid batteries.
• Items for infants, such as formula, diapers, bottles, and pacifiers.
• Other items to meet your unique family needs.

• Jacket or coat.
• Long pants.
• Long sleeve shirt.
• Sturdy shoes.
• Hat, mittens, and scarf.
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket (per person).

Maintaining Your Disaster Supplies Kit

• Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is cool.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to extend its shelf life.
• Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented, or corroded.
• Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies.
• Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in the front.
• Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you store it on all containers.
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit as your family needs change.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack, or duffel bag.

Kit Locations

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Along with all of the valuable features on new phones today come some new privacy and security challenges. While small in size, in reality mobile phones are miniature computers and could potentially be affected by the same big problems you face on your desktop computer, such as viruses, mobile malware, spyware, and text message spam. However, unlike your personal computer, cell phones do not generally have anti-virus protections or firewalls to protect you. Therefore, you should take precautions with your phone, including:

• Protect your passwords for websites you visit from your mobile phone, particularly financial institutions.
• Register your phone on the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry.
• Refrain from posting your mobile phone number or email address publicly online.
• Many mobile phones come with an email address that includes your mobile phone number in the address. Contact your service provider to have this email address changed.
• Delete texts or emails from people that you don’t know. Don’t click any links in these messages.
• Be careful about clicking on ads, as they can contain viruses.
• Be careful about unlocking your cell phone from the manufacturer or service provider; this makes the phone more vulnerable to attack from malware.
• Turn off your Bluetooth when not in use. They can be used by hackers to compromise your phone.
• Encrypt passwords and other sensitive data saved on your cell phone.

FCIC

• Remove the subscriber identity module (SIM) card from the phone.
• Delete the contacts in your phone book, text messages, voicemails, saved photos, and web search history.
• Clear out your call and text history (both calls and texts received and made).

• Recycle it. Many wireless service providers will accept your old phone at their retail stores. Similarly, you can send the phone and accessories to the phone manufacturer.
• Donate it to an organization that can use it for charitable purposes.
• Resell it.

FCIC

How does the law define a cosmetic?

How does the law define a drug?

How can a product be both a cosmetic and a drug?

What about “cosmeceuticals”?

How is a product’s intended use established?

• Claims stated on the product labeling, in advertising, on the Internet, or in other promotional materials. Certain claims may cause a product to be considered a drug, even if the product is marketed as if it were a cosmetic. Such claims establish the product as a drug because the intended use is to treat or prevent disease or otherwise affect the structure or functions of the human body. Some examples are claims that products will restore hair growth, reduce cellulite, treat varicose veins, or revitalize cells.
• Consumer perception, which may be established through the product’s reputation. This means asking why the consumer is buying it and what the consumer expects it to do.
• Ingredients that may cause a product to be considered a drug because they have a well known (to the public and industry) therapeutic use. An example is fluoride in toothpaste.

How are the laws and regulations different for cosmetics and drugs?

How approval requirements are different

• Be the subject of an approved New Drug Application (NDA) [FD&C Act, sec. 505(a) and (b)], or
• Comply with the appropriate monograph, or rule, for an OTC drug.

What do these terms mean?

• An NDA is the vehicle through which drug sponsors formally propose that FDA approve a new pharmaceutical for sale and marketing in the U.S. FDA only approves an NDA after determining, for example, that the data are adequate to show the drug’s safety and effectiveness for its proposed use and that its benefits outweigh the risks. The NDA system is also used for new ingredients entering the OTC marketplace for the first time. For example, the newer OTC products (previously available only by prescription) are first approved through the NDA system and their ‘switch’ to OTC status is approved via the NDA system.
• FDA has published monographs, or rules, for a number of OTC drug categories. These monographs, which are published in the Federal Register, state requirements for categories of non-prescription drugs, such as what ingredients may be used and for what intended use. Among the many non-prescription drug categories covered by OTC monographs are -
  • acne medications
  • treatments for dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis
  • sunscreens

How good manufacturing practice requirements are different

How registration requirements are different

How labeling requirements are different

And what if it’s “soap”?

How FDA defines “soap”

• The bulk of the nonvolatile matter in the product consists of an alkali salt of fatty acids and the product’s detergent properties are due to the alkali-fatty acid compounds, and
• The product is labeled, sold, and represented solely as soap [21 CFR 701.20].

If a cleanser does not meet all of these criteria…

• consists of detergents or
• primarily of alkali salts of fatty acids and
• is intended not only for cleansing but also for other cosmetic uses, such as beautifying or moisturizing,

• consists of detergents or
• primarily of alkali salts of fatty acids and
• is intended not only for cleansing but also to cure, treat, or prevent disease or to affect the structure or any function of the human body,

• is intended solely for cleansing the human body and
• has the characteristics consumers generally associate with soap,
• does not consist primarily of alkali salts of fatty acids,

To avoid problems and make better decisions, use this checklist BEFORE you make a purchase.

• Decide in advance exactly what you want and what you can afford.
• Don’t buy on impulse or under pressure. This includes donating to charity. Do your research.
• Ask family, friends and others you trust for advice based on their experience. Gather information about both the seller and the item or service you are purchasing.
• Review product test results and other information from consumer experts.
• Get advice and price quotes from several sellers.
• Make sure that the seller has all appropriate licenses. Doctors, lawyers, home improvement contractors and many other service providers must register with a state or local licensing agency.
• Check out a company’s complaint record with yourlocal consumer affairs office and Better Business Bureau.
• Get a written copy of guarantees and warranties. Compare their features.
• Get the seller’s refund, return and cancellation policies.
• Ask who to contact if you have a question or problem.
• Read and understand any contract or legal document you are asked to sign. Make sure there are no blank spaces. Insist that any extras you are promised be put in writing.
• Consider paying by credit card. If you have a problem, you can dispute a charge made on your credit card.

consumeraction.gov

Harassed? Check out these consumer tips.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) offers the Mail and Telephone Preference Services, which allow you to reduce the amount of direct mail marketing and telemarketing you receive from many national companies for five years. When you register with these services, your name will be put on a “delete” file that is updated four times a year-in January, April, July and October — and made available to direct-mail and telephone marketers. Two to three months after your name is entered into the quarterly file, you should notice a decrease in the number of solicitations you receive. However, your registration will not stop mailings or calls from organizations not registered with the DMA’s Mail and Telephone Preference Services.
To have your name deleted from many direct mail or telemarketing lists, write your own letter or use the sample letter and mail it to the following addresses:
For direct mail marketing: Mail Preference Service; Direct Marketing Association; PO Box 643; Carmel, NY 10512
For telemarketing: Telephone Preference Service; Direct Marketing Association; PO Box 1559; Carmel, NY 10512
You may also go directly to the Direct Marketing Association Consumer Assistancewebsite.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) requires certain disclosures and prohibits misrepresentations. It gives you the power to stop unwanted telemarketing calls and gives state law enforcement officers the authority to prosecute fraudulent telemarketers who operate across state lines. The TSR covers most types of telemarketing calls to consumers, including calls to pitch goods, services, “sweepstakes,” and prize promotion and investment opportunities.

• It’s illegal for a telemarketer to call you if you’ve asked not to be called. If they call back, hang up and report them to your State Attorney General.
• Calling times are restricted to the hours between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Telemarketers must tell you it’s a sales call and who’s doing the selling before they make their pitch. If it’s a prize promotion, they must tell you that no purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. If you’re asked to pay for a prize, hang up. Free is free.
• It’s illegal for telemarketers to misrepresent any information, including facts about their goods or services, earnings potential, profitability, risk or liquidity of an investment, or the nature of a prize in a prize-promotion scheme.
• Telemarketers must tell you the total cost of the products or services offered and any restrictions on getting or using them, or that a sale is final or non-refundable, before you pay. In a prize promotion, they must tell you the odds of winning, that no purchase or payment is necessary to win, and any restrictions or conditions of receiving the prize.
• It’s illegal for a telemarketer to withdraw money from your checking account without your express, verifiable authorization.
• Telemarketers cannot lie to get you to pay, no matter what method of payment you use.
• You do not have to pay for credit repair, recovery room, or advance-fee loan/credit services until these services have been delivered.

The FTC is proposing to amend the TSR. The FTC’s proposal includes creating a national “do not call” registry. Under the FTC’s proposal, it would be illegal for telemarketers to call consumers who place their phone number on the national registry. If the FTC decides to adopt the proposal and implement a national “do not call” registry, it will be months before it takes effect.

New Federal Reserve rules give debit and ATM card users additional options regarding overdrafts. In the coming months, banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions must offer you the ability to make decisions about overdrafts for transactions made with your debit or ATM cards.
Expect your bank to send you an explanation about how it treats overdrafts; here is an example (38 KB PDF). Here are some key things you need to consider when reading the notice:

The basic facts

An overdraft occurs when you make a purchase or ATM transaction but don’t have enough money in your account to pay for it. For a fee, your bank will cover you when you become overdrawn. This fee can apply each time you overdraw your account.
Generally, banks can cover your overdrafts in one of two different ways:

• Standard overdraft practices. Your bank will cover your transaction for a flat fee of about $20-30 each time you overdraw your account. For example, if you make a purchase with your debit card for $150 but only have $100 in your account, your account will be overdrawn by $50 and your bank will charge you a fee. If you then make an ATM withdrawal for $50, your account will be overdrawn by $100 and you will be charged another fee. In this example, if the fee your bank charges for its standard overdraft practices is $30, you will pay a total of $60 in fees.
• Overdraft protection plans. Your bank may offer a line of credit or a link to your savings account to cover transactions when you overdraw your account. Banks typically charge a fee each time you overdraw your account, but these overdraft protection plans may be less expensive than their standard overdraft practices.

The new rules

• You choose. In the past, some banks automatically enrolled you in their standard overdraft practices for all types of transactions when you opened an account. Under the new rules, your bank must first get your permission to apply its standard overdraft practices toeveryday debit card and ATM transactions before you can be charged overdraft fees. To grant this permission, you will need to respond to the notice and opt in (agree).
• Existing accounts. If you do not opt in (agree), beginning August 15, 2010, your bank’s standard overdraft practices won’t apply to your everyday debit card and ATM transactions. These transactions typically will be declined when you don’t have enough money in your account, but you will not be charged overdraft fees.
• New accounts. If you open a new account on or after July 1, 2010, your bank cannot charge you overdraft fees for everyday debit card and ATM transactions unless you opt in. If you open a new account before July 1, 2010, your bank will treat you as an existing account holder: you will receive a notice about your bank’s standard overdraft practices and will have to decide if you want them for everyday debit card and ATM transactions.
• Flexibility. Whatever your decision, the new overdraft rules give you flexibility. If you opt in, you can cancel at any time. If you do not opt in, you can do so later.
• Checks and automatic bill payments. The new rules do not cover checks or automatic bill payments that you may have set up for paying bills such as your mortgage, rent, or utilities. Your bank may still automatically enroll you in their standard overdraft practices for these types of transactions. If you do not want your bank’s standard overdraft practices in these instances, talk to your bank; you may or may not have the option to cancel.

• everyday debit card transactions
  purchases made with your debit card on a day-to-day basis (excludes all checks and automatic bill payments)
• overdraft
  an overdraft occurs when you write a check, make an ATM transaction, use your debit card to make a purchase, or make an automatic bill payment or other electronic payment for an amount greater than the balance in your checking account
• opt in
  giving your bank permission to include you in a particular service
• opt out
  declining a particular service offered by your bank

1. Don’t give your account number and bank routing information to anyone you don’t know.

2. Review your monthly statement.

3. Notify your bank about any problems as soon as possible.

4. If you don’t have enough money in your account, don’t write the check or authorize the debit.

5. Know your rights under consumer protection laws.