This report was written to identify the safety problems confronting older persons and to educate readers about product and home hazards and appropriate preventive measures. It was written for older consumers, their families, policymakers, and manufacturers. Information on the incidence of home accidents and consumer product accidents among the elderly is presented. A section on products and activities that are most hazardous to older persons provides synopses of major hazard areas for older persons, including bathtubs and showers, farm and garden tractors and riding lawn mowers, flammable clothing, hot water, liquified petroleum gas heating systems, ranges, stairs and steps, swimming pools, bicycles, and chemicals and pollutant hazards. For each area, data on injuries and deaths among older persons are presented, possible solutions are discussed, and product areas needing continued research to address the problem are identified. Products which increase safety and prevent accidents are discussed, including smoke detectors, automatic sprinkler systems, and personal emergency response systems. The need for consumer education and research is emphasized. Figures are included which illustrate products and places associated with deaths and injuries to older Americans, activities affecting safety and self-sufficiency that pose problems for older persons, consumer products associated with deaths among persons age 50 and older, product-related deaths among persons age 50 and older, deaths associated with specific products, the effects of hot water, and products that may enhance consumer product safety. A bibliography and list of resources are provided. (NB)