New standards for window guards
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced new safety standards to help ensure that window guards are strong enough to prevent children from falling out of windows and that guards for lower floors of buildings can be opened easily in case of fire:
• Windows on the sixth floor and below should have guards that can open easily in case of fire. Windows on the seventh floor and above should have permanent window guards.
• Guards should be installed in children’s bedrooms, parents’ bedrooms and other rooms where young children spend time.
• Guards should have bars that are no more than 4 inches apart, or install window stops that prevent windows from opening any more than 4 inches.
• Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.
• Whenever possible, open windows from the top, not the bottom.
• Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near windows.
Backpack baby carriers
Hufco-Delaware Co., of Miamisburg, Ohio, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 111,000 Gerry TrailTech backpack baby carriers with plastic frames because small infants can slip through the leg openings.
There are reports of two infants suffering fractured skulls and two infants suffering bumped heads when they slipped through the carrier’s leg openings and fell to the ground.
Department and baby stores nationwide sold the $65 carriers from January 1996 through July 2000.
Call Hufco-Delaware at (800) 881-9176 for a free repair kit and replacement carrier seat.
Teethers
Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 22,000 plastic teether toys because they can pull apart easily, exposing small pieces and posing a choking and aspiration hazard.
There are four reports of teethers pulling apart, but no reports of injuries.
The Whoozit Touch and Teethe has a red nose that squeaks and a mirror. Specialty stores and gift shops sold the teethers from February through May for $12.
Return toys to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange. Call the Manhattan Group at (800) 541-1345 for more information.
Baby jumper seats
Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 882,000 Hop, Skip, Jumpers baby jumper seats because the spring that suspends the seat from a doorway can break, injuring babies.
There are 80 reports of springs breaking, injuring 20 babies.
Only model numbers 9144 and 9146 are recalled. Mass merchandise, juvenile products and discount stores sold the $25 jumpers from January 1987 through January 1994.
Call Fisher-Price at (888) 821-0077 for a free repair kit. For more information, visit Fisher-Price’s Web site at www.fisher-price.com/us/help/default.asp#safety.
Construction toys
Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 267,000 Big Action Construction toys because a strap on the toy can pose a strangulation hazard.
There are 16 reports of children wrapping the strap around their necks, with seven children suffering minor injuries.
The toy, model number 72028, has a brown base with a crane and drawbridge. The crane has a bucket attached to it by a 25-inch strap. Toy, mass merchandise and discount stores sold the toys nationwide from January 1997 through June 2000 for $60.
Consumers should cut the strap off the toy. Fisher-Price will provide a free replacement crane boom and bucket with a 12-inch strap so that children cannot wrap it around their necks. For more information, contact Fisher-Price at (888) 821-0077 or www.fisher-price.com/us/help/default.asp#safety.
Caterpillar toys
Child Guidance, of New York, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 1 million Wiggle Waggle Caterpillar toys because young children can choke on the small balls attached to the toys.
A 5-month-old girl choked to death after one of the small balls lodged in her throat. There are two other reports of children starting to choke on the balls.
The pull toy plays four songs and makes various sounds. Toy and discount department stores nationwide sold the toys from May 1998 to June 2000 for $13.
Send toys to Child Guidance to receive a toy of similar value. Postage will be reimbursed. Contact Child Guidance at (877) 586-1006 or www.jakkspacific.com/recall.html for more information.
Children’s play tables
Shelcore Inc., of Somerset, N.J., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 124,000 Stand-Up ’N Play Tables to replace xylophone mallets because they can become lodged in young children’s throats, posing a choking hazard.
A mallet became lodged in a 13-month-old boy’s throat after he fell while teething on the ball end of the mallet.
Toy stores nationwide sold the play tables from March 1996 to March 1999 for $18 to $20.
Throw away the recalled mallets and call Shelcore at (800) 777-0453 for a free replacement mallet.
Shape sorters, stacking toys
The Gymboree Corp., of Burlingame, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 19,000 plush shape sorter toys and 12,000 plush stacking toys because the stuffing may contain sewing needles and sharp metal pieces.
No injuries have been reported.
Both toys were sold at Gymboree and Play and Music Stores, and the Gymboree Web site nationwide for $20. The sorter was sold from November 1998 through April 2000 while the stacking toy was sold from November 1998 to June 2000.
Return toys to Gymboree for a refund. For more information, call Gymboree at (800) 222-7758.
Bicycle trailers
Burley Design Cooperative, of Eugene, Ore., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 2,200 Burley-Bravo bicycle trailers because a wheel can detach during use, resulting in crashes and injuries to children riding inside.
Burley has received one report of a wheel detaching, causing the bicycle rider to fall and suffer minor injuries.
The recalled bicycle trailers are designed to carry two children and have serial numbers 430-01-1 through 430-29-160. Burley dealers and bicycle shops nationwide sold the $350 trailers from November 1999 through June 2000.
Return trailers to the store where purchased for a free inspection and repair. Call Burley at (800) 311-5294 for more information.
Bicycle helmets
Rand International, of Farmingdale, N.Y., and Cycle Express, of New York, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are recalling 79,000 bicycle helmets because they failed impact testing and labeling required by the CPSC. Riders wearing these helmets could suffer severe head injuries if they fall.
There are no reports of injuries.
Rand International is recalling various models of L.A. cruisin’ bicycle helmets. The youth- and adult-sized helmets are white or black, and the child sizes are blue or pink. Kmart and Rose’s stores sold these helmets from April 1999 through March 2000 for $8.
Return helmets to Rand International for a free replacement. Call (800) 338-7677 for more information.
Cycle Express is recalling girls’ helmets that are pink with silver glitter. The $13 helmets are size small, for ages 2 through 5 years, and were sold with hair accessories and a bike bag at Toys ‘R Us stores from October 1999 through April 2000.
Return helmets to the store where purchased for a $7 refund. For more information, call Cycle Express at (877) 714-6117.
Gun locks
Master Lock Co., of Milwaukee, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 752,000 gun locks because some of the locks can be opened without a key, giving children access to firearms.
There are no reports of locks being disabled.
The recalled locks are keyed, trigger gun locks sold separately or in combination with certain Smith and Wesson, and Walther handguns. Stores, including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Gander Mountain and Sports Authority, sold the locks nationwide between June 1999 and July 2000 for $8 to $12.
Call Master Lock at (800) 944-1380 for a free replacement lock. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.masterlock.com/recall.html.
Elmo Nitelights
The First Years Inc., of Avon, Mass., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 123,000 Elmo Nitelights because the faceplate can be broken off, exposing wiring and posing shock and electrocution hazards.
There are three reports of the faceplates breaking off and shocking two 1-year-old girls and an adult.
Discount, drug, grocery and toy stores sold the nightlights from July 1997 through March 2000 for $5 to $6.
Remove the Elmo Nitelights from their sockets and throw them away. If wires are exposed, turn off the power before removing. Call The First Years at (800) 533-6708 to receive a free replacement nightlight.
Doll feeding sets
Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 700,000 doll feeding sets because snaps on the doll bib can detach and present a choking hazard.
There are no reports of injuries.
The recalled doll feeding set consists of a bib, a plastic baby food jar, a baby bottle, a two-handled pink cup and a small blue container. Dollar Tree Stores nationwide sold the sets in December 1999.
Return the toy to any Dollar Tree Store for a refund. For more information, call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077.
Child safety seats
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is recalling 9,922 Roundabout convertible safety seats because the shells for the seats could allow a child’s head to move farther forward in a crash than federal safety standards allow. Britax manufactured the safety seats between January and March 1999. Call Britax at (888) 427-4829 for a free repair kit.
How to report unsafe products
To report an injury caused by a product, go to the Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov and click on “Report Unsafe Products.” Or call the CPSC toll-free hotline at (800) 638-2772. When prompted, press extension 300 to speak with a hotline representative.