Swab your ears? Survey says you’re not alone

YONKERS, N.Y. — The people at Consumer Reports magazine are at it again, telling us we're doing what we shouldn't.

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For example, nearly 3 of every 4 Americans put cotton swabs inside their ears, risking a perforated eardrum, according to the magazine's telephone survey of 1,000 adults. Nearly 4 in 10 often eat raw cookie dough, which could carry salmonella.

Only half the respondents have a carbon monoxide detector at home and 61 percent don't have a rubber mat in the shower. The Yonkers, N.Y.-based magazine said Monday that 13 percent admitted sometimes drinking beer while using power tools.

The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

An earlier report on the survey found that 58 percent never wear a helmet while bicycling and 27 percent never use sunscreen.