CONSUMERS : A Spot of Protection From Deadly Fumes
Heads Up! is a small plastic patch--2 inches square--that can detect deadly carbon monoxide fumes anywhere they could occur--in your home, automobile, truck or RV, boat or plane.
At the top of the patch is a small orange spot, containing a chemical reagent, which will turn gray or black in 15 minutes or less depending on the carbon monoxide concentration in the air, according to the distributor. It’s reusable because the spot will return to its original color when the air freshens.
“They can last several months,” said John Sims, the Heads Up! distributor based in St. Louis. “This was an industrial product for years, and we decided to offer it to the public because so many people die every year in carbon monoxide accidents.” If the spot darkens after several months, replace the patch, he advised.
Manufactured in Denmark, the patch is adhesive backed so it can be mounted easily. When it is opened from its sealed packaging, there’s a space to mark the date so you’ll know how long it has been in use. An unopened package has a shelf life of three years.
Heads Up! costs $3.95, including postage and handling, and can be ordered from Sims Marketing, 23 N. Gore Ave., Suite 002, St. Louis, Mo. 63119; (314) 961-0896.
Help for Those Under the Thumb of Videos
Too many home video games got your thumb feeling numb? Maybe Thumb Master can help.
A new video game accessory, Thumb Master is a simple cover for your thumb. Made from Neoprene, the flexible material used for wet suits, it slips over the thumb and cushions it, helping to protect it from the soreness that can develop from pushing the buttons and the hand-held control pads of home video game systems. It doesn’t slide off easily and is washable.
Developed by Bachiero Creations in Torrance, Thumb Master comes in small, medium and large sizes and in dark or fluorescent pink, blue, aqua, purple, green and black. It costs $5, plus $1.50 for shipping and handling. To order, contact Bachiero Creations, P.O. Box 10258, Torrance, Calif. 90505; (213) 375-2101.
One Last Detail About Keeping Cars Clean
If you want to keep your car clean and shiny without washing it so often--conserving water, as well--consider a California company’s new 5 Minute Detailer, which can be used on paint, chrome, rubber and glass.
Recently introduced by Irvine-based Eagle One, manufacturer of several other kinds of car cleaning products, the protective coating will keep your car relatively free of dust, according to a company spokesman. Start out with a clean car and spray on 5 Minute Detailer, then wipe it off with a soft cloth. Company representatives say if you use the detailer “every two or three days, you won’t have to wash your car for three weeks or so.”
The detailer doesn’t scratch or streak the paint and leaves a protective finish on the car. A 12-ounce spray bottle can clean a regular-sized automobile 10 to 12 times. It’s available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $4.25 at Chief Auto Parts, Pep Boys, Western Auto and other automotive stores. If you can’t find it in your area, contact Eagle One, 15 Chrysler, Irvine, Calif. 92718; (714) 380-0370 inside California, (800) 334-1111 outside California.
