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Hazardous Recalled Toys
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Hal Stratton today warned holiday season gift buyers to be on the lookout for recently recalled toys and children's products that pose serious safety threats to youngsters.
While considering product safety when shopping for new gift items, Stratton also urged Americans to examine older toys and products in their possession that can pose hazards. He urged operators of daycare centers and thrift stores to be especially vigilant in removing previously recalled items such as older baby cribs, baby walkers, and high chairs from their premises.
The following safety tips will help consumers choose appropriate toys:
- Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills, and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards to younger children.
- For infants, toddlers, and all children who still mouth objects, avoid toys with small parts, which could pose a fatal choking hazard.
- Look for sturdy construction on plush toys, such as tightly secured eyes, noses, and other potential small parts.
- Avoid toys that have sharp edges and points, especially for children under age 8.
- Do not purchase electric toys with heating elements for children under age 8.
- Be a label reader. Look for labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
- Check instructions for clarity. They should be clear to you, and when appropriate, to the child.
- Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become deadly playthings. Plastic wrappings can cause suffocation.
Checklist of Recalled Children's Products
- Woody Dolls (40,000) distributed by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts at the Disney Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Disney's Vero Beach Resort, Magic of Disney and Flight Fantastic shops at the Orlando International Airport, and Disney's Worldport shop at Pointe Orlando. The doll's clothing has buttons that can detach, posing a choking hazard for young children. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts received one report of a child removing a button from the Woody doll, but no injuries were reported. Call Walt Disney Parks and Resorts at (866) 228-3664 or visit www.waltdisneyworld.com to receive a refund.
- Little People Animal Sounds Farm (67,000) distributed by Fisher-Price. Two small metal screws that hold the toy "stall doors" in place can come off, posing an aspiration or choking hazard to young children. Fisher-Price has received 33 reports of the screws coming off the toy, including four reports of a screw that was found in the child's mouth and one report of a child who aspirated a screw into his lung. This case required the child to be hospitalized and undergo emergency surgery to remove the screw from his lung. Call Fisher-Price toll-free at (866) 259-7873 to receive a free repair kit. Log on to www.service.mattel.com to determine if your product is one of the recalled models and to order the free repair kit.
- Drumsticks sold with toy drum sets (300,000) distributed by Battat Incorporated. The end piece of the drumstick handle can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. The screw at the end of the drumstick can loosen and detach, posing a choking hazard. Battat and CPSC have received about 240 reports of drumsticks breaking and children mouthing the small pieces, including 1 report of a child who began to choke. Call Battat toll-free at (800) 247-6144 to get a replacement set of drumsticks.
- Scooters (30,000) and Mini Bikes (55,000) distributed by Fisher -Price. The motor control circuits can malfunction causing the scooters and mini bikes to continue to run after the power or throttle button is released, posing a risk of injury to children. Fisher-Price has received 56 reports of incidents with scooters and 24 reports of mini bike incidents, including a broken arm and one report of a leg laceration. Call Fisher-Price toll free at (800) 528-7153 anytime or log on to www.service.mattel.com to receive information on how to have the toys serviced for free at a certified Power Wheels Service Center.
- Cosco "Arriva" and "Turnabout" Infant Car Seats/Carriers (1,200,000) distributed by Dorel Juvenile Group Inc. When the seat is used as a carrier, the plastic handle locks can unexpectedly break or release from the carrying position, causing the seat to unlatch or flip forward. When this happens, an infant can fall to the ground and suffer injuries. Dorel Juvenile Group has received 416 reports of the handle locks breaking or unlatching, resulting in nine injuries to children. Consumers may continue to use the product as a car seat but should stop using it as a carrier. Call Dorel at (800) 880-9435 to get a free repair kit, or go to www.djgusa.com.
- "Spit Smatter" Spray Foam (1,300,000) distributed by JAKKS Pacific Inc. The aerosol cans can forcefully break apart, posing a risk of serious injury. JAKKS has received four reports of the aerosol cans breaking apart, including one incident that resulted in a laceration injury to a consumer and several incidents involving property damage. Call JAKKS Pacific at (800) 554-5516 or go to www.jakkspacific.com to get instructions on disposal and how to receive a refund.
- Magic Start Crawl 'n Stand (300,000) distributed by Playskool. The toy, which is designed to encourage crawling babies to pull themselves up and stand, can tip over during use and strike falling babies in the head, face or neck, resulting in injuries. Playskool has received 44 reports of the toys tipping over during use. There have been 26 reports of babies suffering injuries, including one minor concussion, and various bumps, bruises, black eyes and cut lips. Call Playskool at (800) 509-9554 anytime to get information on how to return the product to receive a free replacement item of similar value.
- "Pack 'n Play" portable play yards with raised changing tables (538,000) distributed by Graco Children's Products. When children are placed in these portable play yards when the changing table is still in place, they can crawl under and lift the table up. If this occurs, a child's head and neck can become trapped between the changing table and the play yard rail, causing a strangulation hazard. A 13-month-old girl strangled when her neck became trapped between the Pack 'n Play rail and the raised changing table. Consumers should never place a child in these portable play yards when the changing table is still in place. Contact Graco to receive a free warning label to be affixed to the changing table. Call (800) 233-1546 or go to www.gracobaby.com.
- Playpens that can collapse (five brands totaling more than 1,500,000 units) and entrap a child in the V-shape folded top rails. The top rails must be turned to set up the playpen. CPSC is aware of 15 deaths to children when the top rails of playpens collapsed. A new industry standard requires that the top rails of these playpens automatically lock into place when the playpen is fully set up. CPSC obtained voluntary recalls of the following playpens with top rails that people had to turn into place when setting up the playpen: Evenflo "Happy Camper," "Happy Cabana," and "Kiddie Camper;" Century "Fold-N-Go" Models 10-710 and 10-810; Baby Trend "Home and Roam" and "Baby Express;" and Kolcraft "Playskool Travel-Lite Model." CPSC also issued a safety warning about "All Our Kids" Models 742 and 762 playpens imported by a firm that is out of business.
- Multicolored Sidewalk Chalk (26,000 packages) imported by Target Corporation. The multicolored sidewalk chalk contains high levels of lead, posing a risk of poisoning to young children. The sidewalk chalk was sold at Target stores from March 2003 to July 2003 for about $1 per package. Consumers should return the multicolored sidewalk chalk to Target stores for a refund. Call Target Corporation at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday or go to the company's Web site at www.target.com.
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