CPSC Announces Recall Round-up to Get Hazardous Products Out of Consumers' Homes

For the second year in a row, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is conducting a recall round-up to get hazardous products out of people's homes. Despite recall notices and public warnings, CPSC has found that many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers.

CPSC has enlisted the help of state and local officials, as well as national and state health and safety organizations. Governors, state health officials, and grassroots groups will help publicize the safety campaign and distribute information on the hazardous products. In some states, recalled products will be rounded up and brought to central locations for disposal.

"People should do some spring cleaning and check their attics and other storage areas for old products that could be hazardous," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "We can get dangerous products off store shelves, but the real challenge is to get them out of families' homes."

Today, CPSC will launch the recall round-up by broadcasting a video to television stations across the country. This video will include examples of hazardous products that might be in consumers' homes, such as the following:

-- Playpens that can collapse and entrap a child in the folded top rails because they have a hinge in the center of the top rails that must be turned to set up the playpen. CPSC is aware of 11 deaths to children when the top rails of playpens collapsed. A new voluntary standard requires that the top rails of these playpens automatically lock into place when the playpen is fully set up. CPSC obtained voluntary recalls of the following playpens with top rails that people had to turn into place when setting up the playpen: Evenflo "Happy Camper, Happy Cabana, and Kiddie Camper;" Century Models 10-710 and 10-810; Baby Trend "Home and Roam, Baby Express;" and Kolcraft "Playskool Travel-Lite Model." CPSC also issued a safety warning about All Our Kids Models 742 and 762 playpens imported by a firm that is out of business.

-- Bunk beds that can strangle young children. Since 1990, CPSC has received reports of 54 children who died after becoming entrapped in bunk beds. Since 1994, CPSC has obtained the recall of more than half a million hazardous bunk beds. In January 1998, CPSC voted to begin the process of developing a mandatory standard to address the hazard of children's entrapment in bunk beds.

-- Approximately 40 million halogen torchiere floor lamps made before February 1997 need to be repaired to help prevent fires. CPSC knows of at least 260 fires and 12 deaths involving halogen torchiere floor lamps. The industry is giving free wire guards to people to install on top of lamps at home. People also should use a halogen bulb of 300 watts or less. The free wire guard is available at most major retail stores or by calling 800-523-5702, extension 592.

-- Hand-held hair dryers can cause electrocution when they fall in water if they do not have a built-in shock protection device (a ground-fault-circuit-interrupter, GFCI) in the plug. Before the current voluntary standard took effect in 1991 requiring GFCIs in hair dryers, CPSC had reports of about 20 electrocution deaths each year when hair dryers fell into water. Since the standard took effect, the toll has fallen to approximately 2 deaths each year. CPSC has recalled several hand-held hair dryers because they do not have GFCIs.

-- Lawn darts were banned by CPSC in 1988. These large pointed metal darts, intended for use in outdoor games, have been responsible for the deaths of three children. A recent injury occurred when a 7-year-old boy in Elkhart, Ind., suffered a brain injury after a lawn dart pierced his skull. Parents should destroy these banned lawn darts immediately.

"CPSC sometimes learns of deaths or serious injuries caused by previously recalled products. We want to prevent these needless tragedies," said Brown. "We urge people to get CPSC's list of recalls and check for old products that could be hazardous."

CPSC's toll-free telephone hotline and web site provide information about recalled products and information on what to look for when buying products. Consumers can reach the hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit the web site at https://www.cpsc.gov.

Consumers can get a list of major recalls here, or can have a copy mailed to them by sending a postcard to "Recall List," CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.

This news release is available on the web site in Spanish or by calling Jesús Chaírez at (214) 827-6239.