FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2010
Release #10-234 |
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 547-0359
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
Children's Deaths Prompt Recall of Toy Dart Gun Sets Sold Exclusively at Family Dollar Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is announcing the voluntary recall of 1.8 million toy dart gun sets, due to an aspiration hazard. CPSC and Family Dollar have received reports of two asphyxiation deaths involving a 9-year-old boy in Chicago, Ill. and a 10-year-old boy in Milwaukee, Wis.
If a child places the soft, pliable plastic toy dart in his/her mouth, the toy can be inhaled into the throat and prevent the child from breathing.
The toy dart guns, imported by Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J., were sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores. Family Dollar is working cooperatively with CPSC to announce this recall because Henry Gordy International has refused to recall the toy dart gun sets.
The "Auto Fire" toy target set is sold with either an orange and yellow toy gun (item #P238) or a blue and yellow toy gun (item #9328), eight orange darts and a small target with numbers from 1 to 20. The gun's item number is located on one side of the handle in raised lettering. The soft plastic darts measure just over one inch in length and have a small suction cup at one end with a diameter of about ½ inch. The target board is black, yellow, red and green, and measures five inches in diameter. "Gordy Toy" for "Ages 8+" is printed on the packaging.
The toy sets were sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores nationwide from September 2005 through January 2009 for about $1.50.
The products were manufactured in China.
Consumers should immediately take the toy target sets from children and discard them. Consumers can also return the guns and darts to a Family Dollar store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.familydollar.com
Spanish Version
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.