Light tone has impact amid sea of information

Commission strikes unique tone in reaching consumers

Getting people’s attention on social media can be challenging. It’s a constant, ever-changing flow of information, and getting a specific message to rise to the top is no easy task.

Then there is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

According to their website, “CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard.”

The agency’s work is critical, focusing on safety and keeping dangerous products off the shelves. Think car seat recalls or recalls for overheating batteries. The agency serves an important consumer function, but reading that description, one might simply think, “yawn.”

It’s in stark contrast to the agency’s Twitter page, @USCPSC, which is one worth following. The person who is managing clearly has a sense of humor, and he’s not afraid to share it with followers.

One post that could have been written for Yuma specifically has a graphic that features playground equipment, a sign that reads “Welcome to Arizona,” and a family running away in the foreground. The background is an erupting volcano, and the message simply reads, “It’s not always a great day for the playground. Check for hot playground equipment.”

It’s a light-hearted look at a serious issue, and it definitely catches one’s attention.

Another post features a graphic with a guy riding on a lawnmower, covered in cartoon animals. The message? “Woodland creatures may be your friends, but they should never be your passengers. Keep kids and dancing critters off your mower.”

These types of posts encourage safety in serious areas, but the message isn’t heavy-handed. However, because the message is so lighthearted, consumers are likely to remember it — and that it turn is likely to make a difference in someone’s life.