NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Note: Telephone number change, responding company change, web site deletion.

Holiday Toy Recall Checklist

CPSC Makes List & Says Check It Twice for Recalled Toys & Kids Products

Washington, D.C. - Consumers are often advised to shop early for the holidays, even months ahead, to save time and money. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is alerting consumers that they may have bought children's items that have since been recalled. Hal Stratton, in his first news conference as CPSC Chairman, announced a list of some of the Commission's largest recalls of children's products over the past year.

"We've made our list and want consumers to check it twice," said Stratton. "Preventing needless tragedies and providing a safe environment are the best holiday gifts parents can provide their children."

Stratton also discussed hazardous products that consumers may have in their homes that could endanger children, as families gather for the holidays. Consumers should check whether products have been recalled and dispose of them or place them out of the reach of children until they can be replaced or repaired. Manufacturers will usually offer a free repair kit or replacement product.

The CPSC is also providing safety tips (see box) to help consumers choose appropriate toys this holiday season and year round.

Consumers can get the list of recalled products by going to the CPSC website, www.cpsc.gov, or calling toll free, 1-800-638-2772. This list identifies recalled children's products that are off store shelves but may still be lurking in garages, attics, basements, toy boxes or closets.

• Gearbox Pedal Cars (75,000) distributed by Alpha International Inc. The paint on some of these pedal cars contains high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest the lead from the car's paint coating, presenting a lead poisoning hazard. Call Alpha International at (800) 368-6367 to receive a replacement car or return the product to the place where purchased to receive a full refund.
  
  
• Air Powered Rockets (140,000) distributed by Estes Industries. The rockets' foam tips can break off exposing sharp edges that can cause face lacerations or eye injuries. The rocket system also has a weak pump handle that can break during use, posing a risk of hand lacerations. Estes and CPSC have received 16 reports of rocket tips breaking off. Six children were struck in the face by the rockets, including two who suffered detached retinas and four who suffered cuts requiring stitches. There were 68 reports of broken pump handles, including 6 hand lacerations. Call Estes Industries toll-free at (800) 576-5811 to get a replacement rocket.
  
  
• Firestormer and Skyblazer toy air-powered planes (137,000) distributed by Spin Master Toys. The plastic air intake chamber of the air-powered toy planes can burst, throwing plastic pieces, posing a laceration, bruise and abrasion hazard to consumers. Spin Master Toys received seven reports of Firestormer planes bursting, including four reports of injuries (chest abrasion, cut leg, bruised shoulder, and ringing in the ears) to children. There have been no reports involving the Skyblazer planes. Call Spin Master Toys at (800) 622-8339 to get a free replacement plane or visit www.spinmaster.com.
  
  
• Animal Toy Sponges (280,000) distributed by Dollar Tree Stores. The eyes on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. CPSC and Dollar Tree Stores received one report of an eye coming off. Return the toy sponge animals to the store where purchased for a full refund. Call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 or visit www.dollartree.com
  
  
• Stuffed Polyester Pool Animals (310,000) distributed by Dollar Tree Stores. The seams can separate exposing the polyester stuffing and foam beads. The foam beads pose a choking hazard to young children. CPSC and Dollar Tree Stores have received one report of the seam ripping, exposing the polyester stuffing and a plastic bag containing foam beads. Return the stuffed animals to the store where purchased for a full refund. Call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 or visit www.dollartree.com
  
  
• Cotton Candy Machine (188,000) distributed by Rose Art Industries. The electric motor on the cotton candy machine can jam and overheat, posing a fire hazard. The heating unit can be activated without the spinner in place, presenting a risk of burn to consumers. CPSC and Rose Art have received 225 reports of the machines overheating. There have been three reports of fire, one resulting in an estimated $2,000 in property damage. CPSC received a report of two unconfirmed minor injuries. Call Rose Art at (888) 262-4474 for a free replacement motor unit. Visit www.roseart.com
  
  
• Baby Walkers that can fall down stairs (2 brands totaling 53,500 units). Oriental International Trading Company distributed 3500 such walkers, and Bikepro distributed 50,000. The walkers will fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step. Babies using these walkers can be seriously injured or killed if they fall down stairs. Return the baby walkers to the store where purchased for a full refund. Call Oriental International Trading Company at (866) 666-9868. For Bikepro walkers call Bikepro at (800) 261-2559.
  
  
• Toy Tracks on Activity Center (152,000) distributed by Graco Children's Products. The toy track can break, presenting a cut or pinch hazard and exposed small parts pose a choking hazard to young children. Graco received 11 reports of the toy tracks breaking. Four children received minor scratches and one child's finger was pinched. Call Graco to receive a free replacement track at (800) 673-0392 or visit www.gracobaby.com

• Playpens that can collapse (5 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.
  
  
• Lane Cedar Chests (12 million) distributed by Lane Co. The cedar chest lids automatically latch shut when closed, posing a suffocation hazard to children. Twelve children suffocated inside the chests. New locks, used since 1987, will prevent entrapments because they do not automatically latch shut. No Lane cedar chests manufactured since 1987 pose this safety hazard. Contact Lane to get new free locks (easy to install at home) to prevent entrapments, (888) 856-8758 or http://www.lanefurniture.com/customer_care/newlockrequest.asp?LHF=
  
  
• Old Chest Freezers (made between 1945 and 1970) have heavy lids that latch. Children can suffocate in old chest freezers (and in other products with heavy lids that latch). CPSC knows of 27 deaths between 1980 and 1999 in old chest freezers. Destroy the old freezer, take the door off, or remove the latch. Call (202) 872-5955 or http://aham.org/freezer_safety/freezer_safety.cfm