Health Alerts - May 2000

The Lane Co., of Altavista, Va., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is calling for a renewed search to replace cedar chest locks.

In 1996, Lane recalled 12 million chests with lids that automatically latch shut when closed, following reports of six children suffocating inside the chests. CPSC and Lane have since become aware of another suffocation death and two near fatalities to children who became entrapped in the chests when the lid closed and automatically latched shut.

All “Lane” and “Virginia Maid” brand cedar chests manufactured between 1912 and 1987 need to have their locks replaced. If the lid latches shut without depressing a button on the outside of the chest, the lock needs to be replaced.

Contact Lane toll-free at (888) 856-8758 or access its Web site at www.newlock.net to order the free replacement lock. Consumers should have the chest’s serial and style numbers, which are branded on the outside bottom or back of the chest, when contacting Lane.

Advance Thermo Control (ATC) of Hong Kong, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 152,000 baby wipe warmers distributed by Prince Lionheart Inc. of Santa Maria, Calif., because consumers can receive an electric shock. Cracks in the warmers’ interior tubs can allow water to contact the electrical components.

Prince Lionheart has received four reports of electric shocks when consumers touched the wipes in the warmers with cracked tubs.

The recall involves Prince Lionheart Baby Wipe Warmers with style number 0224 and date codes between 9803 and 9901 with cracked tubs. Toy, department and baby specialty stores, including Toys “R” Us and Burlington Coat Factory, and mail order catalogs, sold the $25 wipe warmers nationwide from February 1998 through December 1999.

Consumers should unplug the warmers, remove the wipes and check to see if the interior tub is cracked. If so, stop using the warmer and call ATC at (888) 843-8718 for information on receiving a free replacement unit. If the tub is not cracked, consumers can continue using the appliance.

Russ Berrie & Co. Inc. of Oakland, N.J., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling 13,400 rattles because the handles can become lodged in babies’ throats, posing a choking hazard.

No injuries involving these rattles have been reported to CPSC or Russ Berrie.

The Precious Keepsakes silver-plated “New Baby” rattle consists of a spinning ball on top of an ornate handle, which includes a small bear and a bow. Specialty stores, drugstores, and flower and gift shops nationwide sold the $14 rattles from November 1998 through December 1999.

Consumers should take these rattles away from babies and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Russ Berrie & Co. at (800) 272-7877 or write to Russ Berrie & Co. Inc., Attn: Customer Service Dept., 111 Bauer Drive, Oakland, NJ 07436.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maxim Enterprise Inc. of Middleboro, Mass., and Zany Brainy Inc. of King of Prussia, Pa., are recalling 4,900 wooden pull toys because the wheels can break off and the bead can detach from the pull string, posing a choking hazard to children.

The firms received a report of a detached bead found in a child’s mouth, but no injuries were reported.

The Wooden Pull Along Bead Coaster has a wooden platform with wooden wheels. On top of the platform are twisting red and blue plastic wires threaded with multicolored beads. The red pull string that attaches to the platform has a bead at the end. The pull toy was part of a toy box set from the “Childhood Classics Wooden Chest & Toy Collection.” The other toys in the set included wood puzzles, a pounding bench and a block set.

Zany Brainy stores nationwide sold the toy set from November 1999 through February 2000 for about $70.

Consumers should take the pull toys away from children and return them to any Zany Brainy store for a $15 refund. For more information, call Maxim Enterprises at (888) 266-2946 or visit the Zany Brainy Web site at www.zanybrainy.com.

InSTEP LLC of Mendota Heights, Minn., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 44,000 jogging strollers because the brakes can fail, causing the stroller to roll away.

InSTEP LLC has received five reports of brakes failing, but no injuries have been reported.

The recall involves InSTEP and HEALTHRIDER single and double jogging strollers manufactured from December 1998 through July 1999 with model numbers: ZS100, ZD200, ZS100WS, ZD200WS, ZS100HR, ZD200HR, PR100 or PR200.

Burlington Coat Factory, J.C. Penney, Healthrider, The Sports Authority and Target stores nationwide, among others, sold single joggers for about $100 and double joggers for $250.

Consumers should stop using the strollers and contact InSTEP LLC at (800) 242-6110 to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. For more information, access the company’s Web site at www.instep.net.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that certain baby mattresses and mattress pads encourage the potentially deadly practice of placing babies to sleep on their stomachs and claim the products reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Despite the claims, CPSC is not aware of any evidence that babies can safely be placed to sleep on their stomachs on these products, or that using the products will reduce the risk of SIDS. The Academy recommends that parents and caregivers never put babies to sleep on their stomachs, whether on these products or any others.

The firms have stopped manufacturing and distributing these four products: Baby Air (Breathable Mattress), Kid Safe, Van Nuys, Calif.; Breathe Easy Vented Infant Sleeping Surface, U.S. Family Products, Willard, Mo.; Sleep Guardian Sleeping Pad, Sleep Guardian, Charleston, S.C.; and Sleep Safe Mattress Cover, Jupiter Industries, Ontario, Canada.

CPSC also has requested that retailers stop selling the products.

The products were sold for $30 to $100 in baby, drug and discount department stores; in catalogs; and on the Internet, including the following Web sites: www.sidsprevent.com, www.kidsafeprod.com and flashmall.com.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Standard Mattress Co. of Hartford, Conn., is recalling 47,000 futons because some may fail cigarette ignition resistance tests, resulting in burns or injuries if they catch fire.

CPSC and The Standard Mattress Co. are not aware of any fires or injuries involving these futons.

Furniture and futon stores nationwide sold the futons for $140 to $250 between May and October 1998. They have model numbers 605, 608, 611 and 613, and the brand names of Gold Bond, IKEA and Verlo. The futons come in varied sizes and are covered in a cotton/polyester fabric in an off-white color.

Consumers should call The Standard Mattress Co. toll-free at (888) 512-6169 to obtain a free replacement futon.