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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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June 19, 1997 |
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Release # 97-143 |
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 is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help 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 40 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 @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800