Health Alerts - November 2000

Kawasaki Motors, of Irvine, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 47,000 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) because the drive belts can break, causing the ATVs to stop suddenly, resulting in injury or death.

Kawasaki received 12 reports of injuries where the operator either lost control of the ATV or was ejected from the vehicle.

The recall includes 1997 to 1999 Prairie models KVF 300-A1, KVF 400-A1, KVF 400-A2/L and KVF 400-C1. “Kawasaki Prairie” is on both sides of the ATVs, and “4X4” is on the rear of the seat. Though equipped with the new generation belt, the 2000-’01 model Prairie ATVs also are being recalled to provide owners with an addendum to the owner’s manual and a warning label. These model numbers are KVF 300-A2, KVF 300-A3, KVF 400-C2 and KVF 400-C3.

Kawasaki dealers sold the ATVs from September 1996 through August 2000 for $5,300 to $6,200.

Kawasaki dealers are contacting registered owners about the recall and offering free belt inspection and replacement. For more information, call Kawasaki at (866) 802-9381.

• Vaid Enterprises, of Jersey City, N.J., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling 294,000 disposable cigarette lighters because they lack the legally required child-resistant mechanisms.

There are no reports of injuries.

The recalled lighters are oval tube-shaped “BIC” and mini-“BIC” brand lighters. The recall involves only the BIC lighters that Vaid Enterprises illegally imported into the United States and does not involve lighters sold in the United States by BIC.

The lighters have a green, red, blue, black or yellow body and a metal top with a “BIC” and “made in France” imprint. The UPC numbers for the standard- and mini-size lighters are 3 086120 600020 and 3 086120 600051, respectively. Lighters were sold on the East Coast at convenience, gas, grocery and thrift stores from January through April 2000 for $1.

Consumers can return the lighters to the store where purchased for a refund. Call CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or visit www.bicworldusa.com for more information.

• Halpern Import Co. Inc., of Atlanta, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling 350,000 disposable cigarette lighters whose flames may not extinguish.

One woman suffered second-degree burns on her chest when a lighter failed to extinguish and ignited her clothing.

The disposable lighters, oval tube-shaped with “TURBO 2000” on the body, have a green, red, blue, black or yellow body with a metal top. The UPC number, printed on the back of the lighters, is 0 80692 05010 1.

Lighters were sold nationwide in tobacco and thrift stores from June 1999 through May 2000 for $1.

Consumers should return these lighters to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Halpern at (800) 624-5280.

Playskool, of Pawtucket, R.I., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 550,000 Klackeroo toys because detachable knobs can allow small pieces to loosen, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.

Playskool received 10 reports of detached knobs, including four reports of pieces found in the mouths of infants and young children. No injuries have been reported.

Klackeroo is a brightly colored toy with plastic orange rods and geometric shapes that move through a center, purple ball. Solid-colored knobs with imprinted shapes are attached to both ends of each orange rod. When shaken, the rods move through the center ball, producing a “clacking” sound.

Playskool’s Klackeroo was sold at toy and mass merchandise stores, including Toys “R” Us and Wal-Mart, from October 1997 through September 2000 for $8.

The Klackeroo will be redesigned to have a center, red ball and no sliding shapes. Call Playskool at (888) 671-9764 to receive a free, redesigned toy.

The Maya Group Inc., of Garden Grove, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 20,000 toy bars that attach to car seats and strollers because a broken toy may pose a choking hazard to children.

The Maya Group Inc. is aware of six broken toy cars on the bars. There are no reports of injuries.

The recall is for the Tiny Love Super Car-Bar made of multicolored fabric. A “TINYLOVE” label is on three toy cars and the Velcro fasteners that attach them to the bar. The car that can break slides on a yellow track.

The toy bar was sold between August 1999 and January 2000. The manufacturing date follows a two-letter code and is on a white tag attached to a Velcro fastener. Catalogs and specialty stores nationwide sold the toy bars from August 1999 to August 2000 for $30.

For a free replacement toy, write to Customer Affairs, The Maya Group Inc./Tiny Love, 12622 Monarch St., Garden Grove, CA 92841, or call (888) 521-2202. Visit Maya Group’s Web site at www.tinylove.com for more information.

Dynacraft Industries Inc., of San Rafael, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 24,800 mountain bikes because improper welding may cause the front suspension forks to break.

Among the 23 reports of injury are a concussion, fractures, cuts, bruises, back strain, as well as chipped and lost teeth.

The recall involves 26-inch Vertical XL2, and 24- and 26-inch Magna Electroshock mountain bikes. There are two labels on the bike. One label reads: “Dynacraft Industries” and “Made in China.” Another label affixed to the frame near the crank identifies the model number and the manufacture date. The recalled Vertical XL2 mountain bikes, manufactured in July 1999, have model number 8526-26. The Magna Electroshock mountain bikes, manufactured July 1999 through October 1999, have model numbers 8504-90, 8504-96, 8548-78 or 8548-94.

Target Stores nationwide sold the Vertical XL2 mountain bikes from August 1999 through February 2000 and the Magna Electroshock from August 1999 through August 2000. The bikes sold for $100 to $140.

Earlier this year, Dynacraft recalled 19,000 26-inch Vertical XL2 mountain bikes.

Consumers should stop riding these bikes immediately and take them to the Target Store where purchased for a choice of a free replacement fork or free replacement bicycle of equal value. For more information, or to receive a free replacement fork by mail, call Dynacraft Industries Inc. at (800) 551-0032.

Rainbow Play Systems Inc., of Brookings, S.D., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 7,000 play sets because chains on the swings may break.

Seven broken chains and four defective chains have been reported. A 3-year-old boy suffered bruises and a scraped head after falling.

All Rainbow Play Systems swings, including more than 50 different models and custom-designed sets, use the defective chains. The sets are made with redwood, and the seats are covered in yellow or green vinyl.

Rainbow Play System stores sold the sets nationwide from March through June 2000 for $1,200 to $6,000.

Consumers should contact Rainbow Play Systems at (800) 724-6269 to determine if their chains are defective. If so, return the chains to the store where purchased for free replacements.

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.rainbowplay.com/safetyrecall.html.

Trek Bicycle Corp., of Waterloo, Wis., in cooperation with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 13,600 road bikes and 4,700 road bike handlebar stems that were sold separately because the bolts on the handlebar stems can break.

Two riders have suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone due to the defect. There have been three reports of broken handlebar stems.

Icon, Havana and Bordeaux stems were installed on various 1999 Trek and Klein bikes.

Trek and Klein dealers sold the handlebar stems and the road bikes from June 1998 through May 1999. Stems sold separately for approximately $70, and road bikes with the defected stems sold for $1,000 to $4,000.

Consumers should take their Trek or Klein bikes to a dealer for a free inspection and free replacement stem. For more information, call Trek at (800) 313-8735 or visit its Web site at www.trekbikes.com.

Playworld Systems, of Lewisburg, Pa., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 370 playground sets because the swing connectors, which attach the top bar to the end supports, can crack. Children playing on the swings can be injured if the top bar falls.

There have been two reports of injuries, including a fractured toe and bruises.

Playworld swing sets are made of aluminum tubing and are available in various colors. The recalled swings are Aluminum 2-Seat Arch Swing, model number 0288, and the Add-A-Bay Arch Swing, model number 0375. The swings were sold from February 1998 through May 2000 for $640 to $975.

Consumers should call Playworld Systems at (800) 233-8404 for a free repair kit.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports emergency room-treated trampoline injuries have almost tripled in the past decade, from an estimated 37,500 in 1991 to about 100,000 in 1999.

Nearly two-thirds of the victims were 6 to 14 years old. Approximately 15% of injuries involved children younger than age 6. Since 1990, CPSC has received reports of 11 trampoline-related deaths.

Emergency room visits often result from jumpers colliding, falling on trampoline springs or frames, falling off trampolines or attempting stunts.

These findings reinforce the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation that trampolines should never be used in home environments, routine physical education classes or outdoor playgrounds.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there are no asbestos or transitional fibers in children’s chalk.

The CPSC tested blackboard and jumbo-sized chalk from Crayola, Prang, Pentech, Curiosity Kits and Sketch & Scribble, five manufacturers that represent the majority of the industry. No asbestos or transitional fibers, which may be confused for asbestos, were found.

Testing of pastels yielded the same result.

Testing was done following reports that chalk and children’s crayons may contain asbestos. In June, the CPSC found trace amounts of asbestos and large amounts of transitional fibers in Crayola and Prang crayons. Though the risk of exposure was minimal, manufacturers agreed to CPSC’s request to reformulate their crayons in a year.