The combination of warm weather and an oil-battered economy has sparked an earlier-than-usual start to Calgary’s garage sale season – but not everything you buy second hand is safe.
“Garage sales can be a place to get good deals – but you also have to be aware of the fact that there may be equipment, items there that actually are not safe to use,” said Dr. Judy MacDonald, Alberta Health Services’ medical officer of health for the Calgary zone. “They may have been recalled, they might not be in good working condition.”
According to Health Canada, anyone who sells or gives away consumer products is responsible for making sure the items are safe.
“Really you need to look at that with a very critical eye,” MacDonald warns. “As a parent, you want to make sure that item is safe for your child. Are there sharp edges that may cut a child? Or are there small pieces a child may put in their mouth and swallow inadvertently?”
Several items such as baby walkers, infant self-feeling devices, polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA and lawn darts with elongated tips are actually illegal to sell or give away in Canada – while other items like certain baby gates, car seats, cosmetics and children’s sleepwear must meet specific requirements to be sold.
A complete list of banned items and restricted items is available on Health Canada’s website.
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