New products need to be safe

With rising energy costs forcing consumers to find ways to save energy, we, as consumers, rely on new innovative technology to replace the "old school" products. But at what price?

My wife, being proactive in the race to save energy, researched new light bulbs that are fluorescent and appeared to be ... on paper ... safe, energy efficient and money -saving.

However, nothing in the research or warnings on any packaging informed us that these light bulbs were potentially dangerous! Here's my story of a potential disaster. Three months after installing the new light bulbs in the bathroom vanity is when it happened. I walked into the bathroom to get ready for bed and turned on the light switch. When the light bulbs are first are turned on they are dim and then grow brighter. As I began to wash my face I heard a faint crackling sound coming from one of the bulbs. I didn't think much of it until the one making the sound burned out and went completely dark. A few seconds later a burning smell came from the bulb. And seconds after that, and I mean literally seconds, the bulb burst into a thousand pieces! I was struck by several pieces in the back because I was able to turn around before they hit me in the face.

However, I was extremely glad that my 16-month-old daughter wasn't in the bathroom with me. So I write this to warn everyone that sometimes the "old school" products may be safer then their newer counterparts. Our family will definitely be switching back to the regular "old" light bulbs! I will gladly pay the extra money in energy costs if it means my family is safer!

Eric Carstensen

Wauconda