| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Nychelle White |
| JUNE 19, 1997 |
(301) 504-7063 |
| Release # 97-143 |
| |
CPSC, Klutz Inc. Announce Recall of Chinese Jump Ropes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Klutz Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., is offering to replace the Chinese jump ropes sold with about 66,000 children's activity books by Anne Akers Johnson entitled "Chinese Jump Rope," distributed by Klutz. The ends of the elasticized ropes are joined together by metal crimps that may fail in use. Children using the ropes or standing nearby can be hit by an end of the rope as it snaps back.
Klutz has received 17 reports of the ropes breaking apart and one report in which a child was struck and scratched near the eye, but did not require medical attention.
Klutz is offering to replace all metal crimped ropes with knotted ropes.
"Chinese Jump Rope" is a colorfully illustrated children's book that describes how to play variations of the popular jump rope game, including "Doubles," "American Ropes," "Crazy Rope," and "Toothpicks." Each book comes with two elastic ropes, one short and the other long.
Klutz sold the jump ropes with the activity books directly through its catalog and through major retail book stores as well as many independent gift, toy and book stores nationwide beginning in March 1997 for $10.95.
Consumers should take the recalled jump ropes away from children immediately and call Klutz Inc. collect at 415-857-0888 for the free replacement ropes or write to Klutz Inc., 2121 Staunton Court, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Alternatively, consumers can make their own repair by cutting the ends of the ropes, removing the metal crimps, and tying the ends of the rope together with a square knot.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.