January 2000
In Wake of Second Death, CPSC and Burger King Again Urge Consumers
to Destroy and Discard Pokemon Balls
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Burger King
Corp. are again urging consumers to immediately destroy and discard Pokemon balls
distributed with Burger King kids meals in November and December 1999. On January 25,
2000, a 4-month-old boy in Indianapolis, Ind., reportedly suffocated when one-half of a
Pokemon ball that was in his crib became stuck on his face.
CPSC, K2 Corp. Announce Recall of In-Line Skates
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), K2 Corp., of Vashon, Wash., is recalling about 12,000 "FLIGHT ALX" brand
in-line skates. The skate's plastic brake mount could crack and fail, causing the skater
to fall and suffer serious injury.
Baby's Dream Furniture Pays $200,000 for Delay in Reporting Crib
Defect to CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today
that Baby's Dream Furniture Inc., of Buena Vista, Ga., agreed to pay a $200,000 civil
penalty. The penalty resolves charges that the company violated the Consumer Product
Safety Act by failing to timely report defects with its "Generation" oak model
cribs.
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Skateboard Keychains Sold With Teddy Bears Recalled by Vermont Teddy
Bear
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), The Vermont Teddy Bear Co.,(r) of Shelburne, Vt., and Zany Brainy,(r) Inc., of
King of Prussia, Pa., are recalling about 15,500 miniature skateboard keychains attached
to Z.Z. Jamboarder teddy bears. The skateboards' wheels can come off, posing a choking
hazard to young children.
CPSC, L.L. Bean Inc. Announce Recall of Children's Overalls
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), L.L. Bean Inc., of Freeport, Maine, is recalling about 7,700 children's overalls.
Snaps on these overalls can detach from the garments, posing a choking hazard to young
children.
High Star Toys Inc. Fined $100,000 for Importing Hazardous
Children's Products
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today
that High Star Toys Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., will pay a civil penalty of $100,000 for
importing children's toys and art materials that violated federal safety standards for
labeling and small parts. The company also has signed a court order prohibiting it from
introducing or delivering for introduction into interstate commerce any toy or other
article intended for use by children that is a mislabeled hazardous substance.
CPSC, Nordstrom Inc. Announce Recall of Infant and Girls'
Sweatshirts
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Nordstrom Inc., of Seattle, Wash., is recalling about 5,300 infant and girls'
sweatshirts. Zipper pulls on these sweatshirts can detach from the garments, posing a
choking hazard to young children.
December 1999
CPSC Urges Skiers, Snowboarders to Wear Helmets to Prevent Head
Injuries
As millions of enthusiasts hit the slopes this season, the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging skiers and snowboarders to wear
helmets to help prevent head injuries from falls and collisions. A CPSC study released
last year as part of the agency's ongoing work to reduce head injuries, concluded that
helmet use could prevent or reduce the severity of head injuries to both children and
adults.
Magnet Games Recalled by Safari
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Safari Ltd., of Miami, Fla., is recalling about 21,000 magnet games. Paint on the
magnets metal figures contains amounts of lead that exceed federal standards for
children's products. Prolonged exposure to high levels of lead presents a lead poisoning
hazard to young children.
CPSC, Kelty Announce Recall to Repair Backpack Child Carriers
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Kelty, of Boulder, Colo., is recalling for repair approximately 26,000 Kelty
K.I.D.S. backpack child carriers. The seat height adjustment strap on these carriers can
slip out of the buckle. A child can slide downward in the seat unexpectedly and could fall
out of the carrier.
CPSC, Jingle Bell Enterprises Inc. Announce Recall of Christmas
Lights
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Jingle Bell Enterprises Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa., is recalling approximately
100,000 sets of miniature Christmas lights and icicle-style lights. These lights have
undersized wires that can easily pull out of the plugs and individual light sockets,
posing fire and shock hazards.
CPSC, NHTSA and Kolcraft Announce Recall of Infant Car
Seats/Carriers
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Kolcraft
Enterprises of Chicago, Ill., is recalling about 754,000 infant car seat/carriers for
repair. When used as an infant carrier, the handle can unexpectedly move from the intended
carrying position, causing the seat to suddenly rotate. When this happens, the infant can
fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries.
CPSC, Käthe Kruse Doll Co. Announce Recall of "Selecta"
Wooden Toys
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Käthe Kruse Doll Co., of Troy, N.Y., is recalling about 2,400 Selecta wooden
toys. The balls included with these toys are banned because they present a serious risk of
choking deaths to young children.
CPSC, Gap Inc. Announce Recall of Children's Pajamas
In cooperation with the CPSC, Gap Inc., of San Francisco, Calif., is
voluntarily recalling about 231,000 children's pajamas sold at Gap and Old Navy stores.
The pajama sets fail to meet federal children's sleepwear flammability standards. The
standards require sleepwear to be flame-resistant, and if the fabric ignites, the flame
must self-extinguish. Failure to meet the flammability standards presents a risk of
serious burns to children.
CPSC, Royce Union Bicycles Co. Inc. Announce Recall of Men's
Mountain Bicycles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Royce Union Bicycles Co. Inc., of Hauppauge, N.Y., is recalling about 3,700 men's
mountain bicycles. The frames of these bikes can break apart, causing falls and serious
injuries to riders.
CPSC, Huffy Bicycle Co. Announce Recall of Men's Mountain Bicycles
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Huffy Bicycle Co., of Miamisburg, Ohio, is recalling about 18,600 men's mountain
bicycles. The frames of these bicycles can break apart, causing falls and serious injuries
to riders.
CPSC Issues Federal Safety Standard for Multi-Purpose Lighters
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today voted
unanimously (3 to 0) to issue a federal safety standard for multi-purpose lighters. The
new standard will require multi-purpose lighters to be child-resistant. The new standard
is intended to reduce the risk of injury and death associated with fires started by
children under age 5 playing with multi-purpose lighters.
CPSC, Southern Exchange Co. Inc. Announce Recall of Camp Mess Kits
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Southern Exchange Co. Inc. (Texsport), of Houston, Texas, is recalling 146,000
mess kits, used for cooking over an open fire when camping. The mess kit's sauce pan
handle does not lock into place and the mess kit's fry pan handle can bend during use,
spilling hot foods or liquids onto consumers and causing serious burns.
CPSC, Northern Bedroom's Inc. Announce Recall of Bunk Beds
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Northern Bedroom's Inc., of Oxford, Maine, is recalling about 2,800 wooden bunk
beds. The top bunk does not have guardrails on both sides. A child could fall or become
entrapped between the wall and the mattress if there are not guardrails on the top bunk.
CPSC, Firms Announce Recalls of Trampoline Safety Net Enclosures and
Sewing Machines
JumpSport Inc., of Saratoga, Calif., is recalling about 2,300
trampoline safety net enclosures. The straps on the bottom of the net can break. Children
can fall out under the net and off the trampoline and be injured. Viking Sewing Machines
Inc., of Cleveland, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 1,100 Husqvarna Viking sewing
machines. When removing the sewing machines power cord from the power transformer on the
sewing machine, loose pins from the power transformer could remain in the cord, posing a
risk of electric shock.
CPSC Issues Federal Safety Standard for Bunk Beds
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted today (2-1)
(with Chairman Ann Brown and Commissioner Thomas Moore in the majority and Commissioner
Mary Sheila Gall dissenting) to issue a federal safety standard for bunk beds. The new
standard will address entrapment of children in both adult and child bunk beds that result
in an estimated 10 child fatalities each year.
CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Recall to Replace Toy and Youth
Basketball Nets
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC), Franklin Sports, Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products are announcing a voluntary
recall to replace the nets on 900,000 toy and youth basketball sets. Children could
strangle on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that
slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the net can get tangled around
their necks.
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HOLIDAY TOY SAFETY ROUND-UP
CPSC
News
Release |
Product and
Firm |
Problem |
Remedy |
12/22/98
12/1/99 |
Toy Basketball Nets with nets that
come unhooked or with knots that slide.
Brands:
Ohio Art
Little Tikes
Today's Kids
Fisher-Price
Franklin Sports
Huffy Sports
Lifetime Products
|
Children can strangle on loops or openings in
the nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide.
11 million units
21 incidents; 1 death |
Throw away old nets and get new nets. Call:
Ohio Art: (800) 641-6226
Little Tikes: (800) 321-0183
Today's Kids: (800) 916-8697
Fisher-Price: (888) 229-4555
Franklin Sports: (877) 730-1962
Huffy Sports: (800) 558-5234
Lifetime Products: (800) 242-3865
|
| 06/24/99 |
Swimming Pool Dive Sticks made of hard
plastic that can cause rectal or vaginal impalement
Several brands |
Children can fall or land on a dive stick and
suffer rectal or vaginal impalement.
19 million units
9 impalements
3 other injuries |
Throw out hard plastic dive sticks or return
to retailer for refund or repair. |
1/21/99
9/2/99 |
Flammable Spray String
Brands:
Party Time "Happy String"
KMC USA Inc.
"Crazy Ribbon" and "Crazy String" imported by Stelex Enterprises,
Major Import, and LeSa Yang Family Ltd. |
The propellant is extremely flammable,
creating a serious risk of burn injuries when sprayed near an open flame.
More than 1 million units; 3 burn injuries |
Return to retailer for refund |
| |
| 6/24/99 |
Star Wars Lightsaber without battery
protector (sold before July 1999)
Brand:
Hasbro, Inc.
Pawtucket, RI
Lightsabers currently being sold with the sticker "Now with battery protector"
are not part of this recall. |
Spring in battery compartment can dislodge,
causing batteries to overheat or rupture, causing burns to consumers.
618,000 units; 38 overheating incidents, 6 ruptured batteries, 3 minor burns, 1 eye
irritation |
Repair
Call firm
(888) 690-6141 |
| 3/25/99 |
Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks with
sharply bent coil ends that can break off
Colorbok of Dexter, MI
Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks currently being sold and marked "Version 2" on the
back cover or lower edge of the packaging are not part of this recall. |
The ends of the notebooks' coils can break
off, presenting a small parts choking hazard to children.
3.8 million units
4 incidents, no injuries
|
Replacement coil
Call firm:
(877) 677-4725 |
| 9/2/99 |
Precious Moments Tender Tails Stuffed toys
with pompoms
Enesco Corp. of Itasca, IL
|
The pompoms on these toys can detach, posing
a choking hazard to young children.
472,000 units
3 detached pompoms; no injuries |
Cut off pompoms and send to firm for
replacement toy:
Enesco
PO Box 499
Itasca, IL 60143-0499
(800) 632-7968
|
| 10/15/98 |
Xylophone Mallets with small rounded
ends sold with individual xylophones and in Little Ones infant musical gift sets.
Playwell Toy Inc. of Lake Forest, CA
|
The rounded ends of the xylophone mallets can
get stuck in the throat of a young child.
350,000 units
1 serious injury |
Replacement mallet
Call firm:
(877) PLAY-WELL
|
8/5/99
|
Pooh Poppin' Piano toy piano with
serial numbers starting with "WT" or "CO15D" (sold before September
1999)
Tiger Electronics Ltd.
Vernon Hills, IL |
Green "leafy" top of carrot-shaped
microphone can break off, posing a choking hazard
202,000 units
3 broken parts; no injuries |
Replacement
Call firm:
(888) 748-2860 |
08/19/99
|
Bug's Life Flashlights distributed as
a premium with cereal
General Mills
Minneapolis, MN |
The flashlight can short circuit and become
very hot when turned on, posing a risk of burns.
139,000 units
3 reports of overheating |
Remove and discard batteries, and mail
flashlight to get free boxes of cereal and reimbursement for postage:
General Mills
PO Box 2141
Milaca, MN 56353-2141 |
| 8/27/99 |
Activity Trays and Bath Sets with
suction cups
Brands: Graco and Children On The Go
Graco Children's Products Inc.
Elverson, PA |
Suction cups can detach, presenting a choking
hazard to young children.
100,000 units
4 reports of children starting to choke |
Free repair kit
Call firm
(800) 446-1366 |
| 10/8/98 |
Inflatable Baby Floats for swimming
pools
Brand: "Splash Club"
Kmart Corporation
Troy, MI |
The seat of the pool toy can tear at the seam
causing children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown.
114,000 units
1 report of a child falling into water; no injuries |
Return to Kmart store for refund. |
| 12/03/98 |
Plastic Toy Storage Chest without
lid-support device
Iris U.S.A. Inc.
Pleasant Prairie, WI |
These chests lack a lid-support device, do
not have adequate ventilation when the lid is closed, and have latches that secure the
lids. Children could be entrapped and suffocate.
100,000 units; no injuries |
Return to store where purchased for a refund.
|
| 3/8/99 |
VeggieTales' Dave and the Giant Pickle
Playset
Chariot Victor Publishing
Colorado Springs, CO |
Six of the figurines have plastic plugs in
their base that can come out, presenting a small parts choking hazard. The "French
Peas" figurine also poses a choking hazard because of its size and shape
44,000 units
1 report of a child who put a plug from the playset in his mouth |
Return figurines to firm for free replacement
figurines:
Chariot Victor Publishing
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 |
NOTE: Products listed above may have already
been repaired or there may be similar products that do not have the identified
problems. For assistance in identifying recalled products, call the manufacturer listed. |
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