Tampa Bay Parent

I first heard about this while watching Fox Tampa Bay. It featured a mom whose son had become addicted to Oxycontin. Her son has just finished months of rehab and is now clean. She and many others would like to see Oxycontin banned and alternative drugs used instead. Some of those supporters will be attending a “BanOxycontin” rally in Tampa tomorrow.

People from outside of Tampa Bay area attending the rally to ban Oxycontin. A mom from Port Orange, Florida, who is also planning on attending the rally ,was featured on the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Unfortunately, her son died from an overdose of Oxycontin and other drugs earlier this year. She now wants to prevent others from suffering the same tragedy by fighting for a ban on Oxycontin.

You can hear more about the rally from the Prescription Addiction Radio web site.

Have you ever gotten off a customer service call and wished that you had it recorded. When a company knows that you are relying on them for service they can be very obnoxious and rude. Well, not the company, but the customer service reps. I know that there can be some customers that call in and are absolutely rude, but there are times when consumers get the run-around. Those are the times when I wish that there was a recording of all that information.

Today I spoke to the Lowes Service Advantage Department about my washing machine that had not been working for weeks. A repair tech came to my home yesterday and was not able to get the washing machine fixed. I called Lowes to see what was going on and they said that in their system they have that the machine was fixed. I told them it was not fixed. They told me they would be sending someone out to see if it was fixed and to diagnose the problem. So, I am back to step one.

Part of my problem was relaying to them that there must be an error in what the tech told them, because the machine was definitely not fixed. I spent a few minutes explaining that the machine would not start. They became a little frustrated by the fact that I would not believe their reality of the machine being fixed; while I lived in the reality of having a machine that will not start. Maybe this is our little version of Lost and I am on the Island with the broken washing machine and they are in the Flash side-ways with the fixed washing machine. Hopefully our two realities will meet.

Anyway, the whole thing made me wish that someone could actually hear the conversation I was having. It all did not seem real. Maybe someday it will be a simple task for consumers in Florida to record their customer service calls.

Infantino t “SlingRider” and “Wendy Bellissimo” infant slings. are being recalled after 3 infants suffocated while in the slings.

CPSC is aware of three reports of deaths that occurred in these slings in 2009; a 7-week-old infant in Philadelphia, Pa.; a 6-day-old infant in Salem, Ore.; and a 3-month-old infant in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Infantino “SlingRider,” is a soft fabric baby carrier with a padded shoulder strap that is worn by parents and caregivers to carry an infant weighing up to 20 lbs. “Infantino” is printed on the plastic slider located on the strap. “Infantino,” “SlingRider” and the item number are printed on the instruction/warning label inside the baby sling carrier. “Wendy Bellissimo” branded sling carriers were sold exclusively at Babies “R” Us and have a sewn-in label on the inside of the sling strap that says in part “Wendy Bellissimo Media, Inc.” and lists Item numbers 3937500H7 and 3937501H7.

Consumers should stop using the recalled slings immediately and contact Infantino to receive a free replacement product, with a choice of a Wrap & Tie infant carrier, or a 2 in 1 Shopping Cart Cover, or a 3 in 1 Grow & Play Activity Gym. A Jittery Pals Rattle will also be provided. Contact Infantino toll-free at (866) 860-1361 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.infantino.com

More information from the CPSC web site

The CPSC cautions parents using any infant slings with any child younger than 4 months-old.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is taking a look at the safety of infant swings. Over the past 20 years, there has been 14 infant death linked to infant slings. 12 of those deaths were involved babies younger than 4 months. The infant slings pose a suffocation hazard to the babies.

Many of the babies who died in slings were either a low birth weight twin, were born prematurely, or had breathing issues such as a cold. Therefore, CPSC urges parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings.

More information from the CPSC

A fire broke out in a bathroom at Blake High School in Tampa. Fire firefighters were called out and were able to extinguish the fire. One person, a 17 year-old student, was taken to the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.

Source: WSTP.com

Saks 5^th Avenue stores are asking for nomination of great dads. The dads chosen to receive The Father’s Day Honors will represent both ideal fathers and the retailer’s Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection. In addition to receiving a complete look from the line and recognition in local store windows, honorees will be celebrated at a June ceremony and shopping event at their local Saks store. 10% of Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Collection sales that evening and throughout the weekend will benefit a number of local charities that focus on children and families.

Those who wish to nominate someone they know will be asked the question, "Why does the father I am nominating deserve to receive the Father’s Day Honors?" and are encouraged to share stories and anecdotes about their nominee. Nominations will be accepted through March 21, 2010.

The Saks 5^th Avenue stores in Florida that are participating include:

· Bal Harbour, Florida Saks Fifth Avenue in the Miami area

· Naples, Florida Saks Fifth Avenue

· Sarasota, Florida Saks Fifth Avenue in the Southgate Mall

· Tampa, Florida Saks Fifth Avenue in the WestShore Plaza

You can enter online at http://www.saks.com/fathersday.