Finance & Business World

Iraq may be a major danger zone, but when it comes to safety habits here at home, Americans regularly go AWOL.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a recent survey said they clean their inner ears with Q-Tips. More than half don’t regularly wear sunscreen.

A Consumer Reports survey, available in the February issue of the magazine, found that Americans engage in lots of risky behavior, the consequences of which can include skin cancer, fatal road accidents and loss of limbs.

Driving habits were a problem area — 53 percent of those polled said they talk on a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving, while half don’t come to a complete halt at stop signs and 69 percent admit to speeding on highways online instant cash advance. Nearly half said they speed on local roads. A quarter admitted they don’t always fasten their seat belts.
Americans also are putting themselves at risk for a tumble, with 61 percent saying they don’t have a rubber mat at the bottom of the tub, while more than a third said they left items on the stairs.

There is some good news, however: Almost 90 percent said they don’t usually have a beer while using a power tool or lawn mower, and 87 percent don’t text and drive.

The random survey polled 1,001 U.S. adults by telephone in October.

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