Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for August 4, 2006.

This week in recall news, Quiksilver Inc. is voluntarily recalling about 9,700 Hide and Seek Hooded Sweatshirts. A drawstring is threaded through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children. CPSC has guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The sweatshirts come in pink, white, brown, navy or green with a beaded heart logo and embroidered flowers on the front above the left pocket. They were sold in girls’ sizes small to extra large. “ROXY GIRL” is printed on the collar label.

They were sold at surf and skate shops, specialty and department stores, including Macy’s Nordstrom, Quiksilver and Roxy retail stores, and outlets nationwide from November 2005 through January 2006 for about $40.

Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard. You can receive a full refund by returning the sweatshirts to the place of purchase or by mailing the sweatshirts to Quiksilver.

For more information and to get Quiksilver’s address, call (877) 246-7257.

Also this week, Robertshaw Controls Co. is voluntarily recalling about 7,800 gas controls installed in commercial cooking appliances for a fire hazard. Robertshaw FS Flame Switches and FM Automatic Safety Valves are designed to prevent gas from flowing when the pilot light is out. The recalled controls can remain on after the pilot light is extinguished. If this happens, gas can continue to flow to the main burner of the appliance, which poses a risk of a gas explosion and fire.

Robertshaw Controls Co. has received one report of a gas ignition incident, which resulted in two minor injuries.

The recalled gas controls are installed on natural and liquid propane gas commercial cooking equipment, such as ranges, pasta cookers, deep fat fryers or griddles.

Contact Robertshaw Controls Co. at (800) 232-9389, or log onto www.robertshaw.com, to determine if the gas control valves on your commercial cooking appliances are included in this recall.

If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company, or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause.

In other recalls news, the Toro Company is voluntarily recalling about 84,000 Toro Snow Commander and CCR Single Stage Snowthrowers.

This recall is an expansion of an earlier recall announced in March 2003.

The plastic fuel tank can crack and leak gasoline, posing a risk of fire and injury. Toro has received 882 additional reports of fuel tanks leaking. No fires or injuries have been reported.

This recall now involves certain 2001 and 2002 Toro Snow Commander and CCR model snowthrowers. They were sold by Toro dealers and Home Depot stores nationwide from September 2000 through March 2006.

Contact your local Toro Authorized Service Dealer to find out if your snowthrower is included in this recall. If necessary, the dealer will schedule a time and install a free replacement fuel tank.

For more information, contact Toro at (800) 689-8671.

Finally this week, visit our Web site at www.cpsc.gov to read the new issue of the Consumer Product Safety Review, a quarterly newsletter published by CPSC.

Highlighted in this issue – the dangers associated with portable generators. Generators exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide which can kill you and your family in minutes.

CPSC advises consumers to NEVER use a portable generator indoors, including in the home, garage, basement, crawl space, shed, or any partially-enclosed area – even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide buildup in the home.

Only use generators in a dry area far away from doors, windows, air conditioning units, and vents that can allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home and test the alarms frequently. Replace dead batteries.

Because the CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death, get to fresh air right away if you start to feel dizzy or weak.

In addition to CPSC’s Web site at cpsc.gov, also bookmark Recalls.gov and visit the site to get information on recalls issued by other government agencies in addition to CPSC.

Until next time, stay safe.

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