FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Phone: 212-459-8888
Fax: 212-459-8855
Agency Twitter: @NYSConsumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: June 30, 2010

SUMMER SAFETY AND TRAVEL ADVICE FROM THE NYS CONSUMER PROTECTION BOARD
AS THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY APPROACHES

Whether you?re traveling this summer or taking a stay-cation, the New York
State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) has resources that can help you
enjoy a safe, relaxing time.

?As we approach the Fourth of July, the CPB is reminding consumers to take
advantage of the many travel and vacation tools we offer, and to take note
of our summer safety tips? said Mindy A. Bockstein, the CPB?s Chairperson
and Executive Director. ?Using the CPB?s resources can help you have a
great and economical summer.?

Travel Resources

Traveler?s Checklist - The Traveler?s Checklist contains lists of things
to do before leaving home, miscellaneous suggestions for planning a
get-away, important travel documents to take, health precaution tips to
follow and offers consumers advice while traveling. A true checklist in
format, it can be downloaded and used for each trip.

Separating Fact from Fiction ? A Consumer Guide to Travel - Separating
fact from fiction is even harder now, given the constant bombardment of
unsolicited advertising available in print and on the Internet. This guide
provides prospective travelers with important information to help them
figure out what is true and what is untrue or a myth - - before traveling.

Avoiding Travel Scams - Ever received one of those ?too good to be true
offers? in the mail or via e-mail? Chances are, if they sound too good to
be true, they ARE too good to be true. Consumers should refer to this tip
sheet to get a leg up on scammers by learning how to protect themselves.

Airlines and Air Travel - Know your rights before you fly. Check out the
section of the CPB?s Consumer Law Help Manual dealing with airlines and
air travel.

Gas Saving Tips - The CPB?s Gas Saving Tips can help consumers maximize
their money and save at the gas pump.

Money Saving Tips for Summer - The CPB?s Stretch Your Dollar Effort
(SYDE) has money savings tips for travel and other summer activities.

Summer Safety Resources

Grilling and Barbeque Safety Tips ? According to the U.S. Fire
Administration, approximately 6,500 fires
occur each year as a result of grilling, and of these, more than 70%
occur in residential settings. Keep your summer grilling safe by following
these tips.

Safety in the Water ? Each year, nearly 300 children under the age of 5
drown in pools and spas (and these tragic incidents mostly involve 1-2
year olds). Our Safety in the Water tips can help consumers avoid tragedy.

Yard Work Safety Tips ? Planning on doing gardening? The U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that more than one-hundred
thousand people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries
associated with power lawn and garden tools, including lawnmowers each
year. Check out the CPB?s safety guide.

Public Playground Safety - The CPSC estimates that there are more than
156,000 injuries annually on public playgrounds across the country
requiring emergency room treatment. By following these recommended
guidelines, consumers can reduce the potential for injury and create a
safer playground environment for all children.

Home Playground Safety ? The CPB?s Home Playground Safety Checklist can
help parents and caregivers provide a safe and fun playground for their
children.

Additional information and multi-lingual resources may be accessed through
the CPB?s homepage at www.nysconsumer.gov.

The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is marking
its 40th anniversary as the State?s top consumer watchdog and think tank.
The CPB?s core mission is to protect New Yorkers by publicizing
unscrupulous and questionable business practices and product recalls;
conducting investigations and hearings; enforcing the ?Do Not Call? law;
researching issues; developing legislation; creating consumer education
programs and materials; responding to individual marketplace complaints by
securing voluntary agreements; and, representing the interests of
consumers before the Public Service Commission and other State and federal
agencies.

- 30 -

To file a consumer complaint with the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB),
call our toll-free hotline at 800-697-1220 or visit the CPB?s website at
www.nysconsumer.gov. In addition to the online complaint form, the website
is home to important consumer safety information.

Jorge

Jorge I. Montalvo
Director, Strategic Initiatives
NYS Consumer Protection Board
Ph: +1 (518) 486-3703
www.nysconsumer.gov
Twitter: @NYSConsumer

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail communication and any attachments may
contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the
designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient,
you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error
and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution or copying of
it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication
in error, please notify me immediately by replying to this message and
deleting it from your computer. Thank you.