National Injury Information Clearinghouse

What We Do

The Clearinghouse provides injury data from electronic data sources and distributes publications including hazard analysis, special studies, and data summaries. The Clearinghouse also disseminates statistics and information relating to the prevention of death and injury associated with consumer products. Each year the Clearinghouse responds to 4,000 requests for information from the American public. Information specialists search agency databases to tailor responses to each customer's needs.

Computerized Data Sources

The Clearinghouse has access to several computerized data sources for their specialists to search. They include:

• The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is comprised of a sample of hospitals that are statistically representative of hospital emergency rooms nationwide. From the data collected, estimates can be made of the numbers of injuries associated with consumer products and treated in hospital emergency departments. Data is collected on a broad range of injury-related issues, covering hundreds of product categories, and provides national estimates of the number and severity of product-related injuries.
  
• Death certificates where consumer products are involved are provided to CPSC through state health departments. The Clearinghouse provides summaries of these, with victim information removed.
  
• In-Depth Investigation Files (INDP) contain summaries of reports of investigations into events surrounding product-related injuries or incidents. Based on victim/witness interviews, the reports provide details about incident sequence,human behavior, and product involvement.
  
• Injury/Potential Injury Incident Files (IPII) contain summaries, indexed by consumer product, of hotline reports, product-related newspaper accounts, reports from medical examiners, and letters to CPSC.

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CPSC's Injury Data Publication

In 1996, CPSC introduced the Consumer Product Safety Review. Included are national injury data from NEISS hospitals; studies of emerging and continuing hazards; technical articles on injury/death topics; and important recall and correction action activities and the MECAP News. Annual subscriptions are available for $18.00 ($25.20 foreign) from the Government Printing Office, phone (202) 512-1800. Copies may also be obtained through CPSC's World Wide Web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/cpsr.html.

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Who uses CPSC's Injury Data? Groups that use the CPSC's data include: Consumer Groups Manufacturers and Industry Associations Media Educators, Researchers, and Attorneys

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National Injury Information Clearinghouse Customer Service Standards

When you request information you can expect:

• To have your request acknowledged in writing within five working days.
• To speak with a courteous Technical Information Specialist between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except holidays.
• To leave a message at night and on weekends and holidays if you want to request injury data or check the status of a request. Calls will be returned the next business day.
• To have your request processed by a knowledgeable Technical Information Specialist.
• To have your requirements met with accurate and complete information.
• To receive selected statistical and injury information from our fax-on-demand system.
• If you manufacture a consumer product, to have relevant incidents and investigations regarding your product sent to you for review under an information-sharing program.

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How To Reach Us

Internet Services

• Internet Services; Internet E-mail Subscription Service
• You can contact CPSC day or night via the Internet to get product recall information.
• Visit our World Wide Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
• You can have copies of product recall and safety information automatically sent to you. To subscribe to this service, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp
• In your E-mail message enter Join CPSCINFO-L.
• You will receive an E-mail acknowledgement of your subscription.
• You may contact Clearinghouse staff to request information or report a product-related injury or incident by E-mail: clearinghouse@cpsc.gov.
  

CPSC's Toll-Free Hotline

• 1-800-638-CPSC (1-800-638-2772)
• TTY (1-800-638-8270)
• The Clearinghouse works closely with the agency's Hotline to assist consumers in reporting product-related incidents. If you have a product complaint or want to report a product-related injury, Hotline staff who speak both English and Spanish are available to assist you.
• Within 48 hours of receiving your complaint, the Clearinghouse will send you a copy of your complaint for verification.
• You may telephone CPSC's Hotline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to:
• Find out whether a product has been recalled, and learn how to return a recalled product or arrange for its repair;
• Find out what to look for when buying a consumer product and how to use the product.

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