| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Nychell White |
| Originally issued June 26, 1996, Revised October 22, 2004 |
(301) 504-7063 |
| Release # 96-151 |
| |
Note: Firm out of business.
CPSC, Hedstrom Issue Safety Warning for My Pet Bear Ride-On Toy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hedstrom Corporation of Bedford, Pa., warned owners of approximately 9,400 Hedstrom My Pet Bear ride-on toys to remove the foam covering from the two horizontal, metal support tubes in order to eliminate any risk of children choking on the foam.
Hedstrom has received four reports of children biting off pieces of the protective foam. No injuries have been reported.
My Pet Bear, model number 2-551, is a bouncing/rocking toy recommended for children ages nine months to 36 months. The ride, measuring 21 inches high, 36 inches long, and 22 inches wide, resembles a bear with a seat attached to its back. Four heavy springs attach the bear to a metal frame with two horizontal bars covered with light tan foam padding.
Retail stores sold the My Pet Bear ride-on toy nationwide from January 1995 through May 1996 for about $45.
The firm is out of business and can no longer be contacted.
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.