| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 10, 2001 Release # 02-010 |
Firm Hotline: (800) 576-0507 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 Evenflo Contact: Brian Bloom, Liggett-Stashower, (216) 348-8520 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Evenflo Company Inc., of Vandalia, Ohio, is recalling about 20,500 Home Décor Swing™ wooden baby gates. The plastic mounting hardware that attaches to the wall can crack or break, allowing the wooden gate to unlatch. Children can then gain access to restricted areas, such as stairs. Also, the plastic hardware attached to the side of the gate can break, creating small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children.
Evenflo and CPSC have received nine reports of children falling down the stairs after the mounting hardware broke or cracked. Three of these children suffered bumps and bruises to their heads or arms. One child received two loosened teeth after she fell down the stairs. Also, one child placed broken hardware pieces in her mouth, but was not injured.
These Home Décor Swing™ gates have turned wooden spindles and were sold in oak or cherry finishes. Only model numbers "1555/6" with manufacture dates before September 2001 are included in this recall. Model numbers and date codes appear on the label located on the bottom of the gate. No other Evenflo gates are affected by this recall.
Catalogs, department and juvenile specialty stores nationwide sold these baby gates from June 1999 through September 2001 for about $100.
Consumers should stop using these gates immediately, and call Evenflo at (800) 576-0507 anytime to receive free replacement hardware. Consumers also can request replacement hardware online at www.swinggate.com.
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
