Health Alerts - February 2001

Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 25,500 strollers because the locks on both sides of the stroller can break and pinch the fingers, arms or hands of young children.

Kolcraft has 39 reports of the lock mechanisms breaking, including one report of a baby’s arm being pinched.

The recalled strollers include the Kolcraft Ranger and Ranger Quattro, with model numbers 46720 and 46721 listed on a sticker on the back leg frame of the stroller. A sticker that reads “Ranger” or “Ranger Quattro” is on the front of the footrest, and “Kolcraft” is sewn into the safety belt harness material in the stroller’s seat. The strollers also have a reversible handle that allows consumers to push the stroller while facing the child or positioned behind the child.

The recalled strollers, manufactured from December 1999 through June 2000, show the manufacture date below the model number on the back leg frame sticker.

Mass merchandise and juvenile products stores nationwide sold these strollers from January through November 2000 for $80.

Consumers should call Kolcraft at (800) 757-4770 to receive a free repair kit.

Ranger and Ranger Quattro strollers manufactured after June 2000 have different side-lock mechanisms and are not recalled.

Pier 1 Imports, of Fort Worth, Texas, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 600 stuffed snowmen and 1,300 stuffed reindeer toys because small parts on the toys can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The snowman, 10 inches high with a black hat, red scarf, two buttons attached to the body and an orange nose, contains a label that reads “Pier 1 Imports” and “SKU#1840236.” The reindeer, which is brown, 8 inches high with a red scarf and a set of fabric-covered wire antlers, has a label that reads “Pier 1 Imports” and “SKU#1840249.”

Pier 1 Imports stores nationwide sold these toys from August through October 2000 for about $6.

Consumers should return the toys to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange. For information, call Pier 1 Imports at (800) 245-4595.

LeapFrog, a division of Knowledge Kids Enterprises Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 500,000 Alphabet Pal electronic pull toys because plastic pieces can detach from the string when the connector is pulled apart, posing a choking hazard to young children.

LeapFrog has nine reports of the connector detaching, but no injuries have been reported.

The Alphabet Pal, a green caterpillar pull toy, about 12 inches long, with four wheels, has 26 plastic legs, one for each letter of the alphabet. When its yellow pull cord is tugged, the toy plays the ABC song. Other functions include color and letter name identification, and letter sounds. The antennae on the caterpillar’s head lights up. The toy label reads, “Leap Frog” and “made in China.”

The toy has a two-part, red plastic connector on the pull string designed to separate under tension. Consumers should cut the plastic connector off of the toy, or return the item to the firm to receive a free replacement toy without a plastic connector.

Toy, department and specialty stores nationwide sold these toys from June 1999 through November 2000 for about $20.

For more information, call the company at (877) 477-6641, write to: LeapFrog, 1400 65th Street, Suite 200, Emeryville, CA 94608-1071; or visit the firm’s Web site at www.leapfrog.com.

Toys without plastic connectors on the pull-string are not recalled.

DiaTech USA, of Kenmore, Wash., and Derby USA, of Kent, Wash., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, are recalling 5,000 bicycles. The disc brakes on these bicycles can stick and prevent the brake pads from returning to the proper position when the brake lever is released, which can cause the rider to lose control and crash.

One consumer who lost control of his bicycle suffered broken ribs. DiaTech USA, the brake manufacturer, and Derby USA, the importer and distributor, have received no other reports of injuries.

The 200 model bicycles recalled are Raleigh models M600, M800 and M8000, Diamondback models Zetec Comp and X-2, and Univega models DS950 and Alpina 700. The bicycles have ballistic spiral stop disc brakes and the name “Diatech” on the brakes.

Dealers nationwide sold the bicycles from November 1999 through June 2000 for $800 to $1,200.

Bicycles can be returned to the dealer for a free replacement of the front and rear brake calipers. For information, contact Derby USA at (800) 222-5527.

Playskool, of Pawtucket, R.I., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is recalling an additional 170,000 Sesame Street Busy Poppin’ Pals toys because small springs inside the toy can break loose, posing a choking and laceration hazard to young children.

One child has put a broken spring in his mouth. There have been eight reports of loose springs but no injuries.

In August 2000, the companies recalled 420,000 of these toys (model 5415) for the same problem after receiving 16 reports of springs breaking. Of five children who put the broken springs in their mouths, two suffered lacerations.

The most recent recall of the Sesame Street Busy Poppin’ Pals toy is model 5446, a 13-inch-long white plastic toy with blue, yellow and green buttons. When the toy’s levers and knobs are activated, Sesame Street characters pop up from under the toy’s base.

Mass merchandise and toy stores sold Busy Poppin’ Pals toys nationwide from November 1994 through 1996 for $10.

For information, contact Playskool at (877) 518-9743 or visit the company’s Web site at www.hasbro.com.

Excite Ltd., of Hong Kong, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 80,000 scooters because fingers can be severely pinched in the folding mechanism.

Excite has nine reports of pinch-point injuries to children, including one partially amputated fingertip and eight lacerations, one of which required eight stitches.

The products recalled are the Excite Super Speeder II and Viper scooters that feature lightweight aluminum frames and black, foam handle grips. “Super Speeder II” or “Viper” is on the standing platform and on the steering column. The steering column also has “Excite” at the top. The scooter has 4-inch translucent in-line style wheels.

Rite Aid stores nationwide sold the Super Speeder II and Viper scooters from August to December 2000 for $49.

Consumers should contact Excite Ltd. for a free cap that will cover the front of the folding mechanism. For information, call Excite Ltd. toll-free at (888) 571-3731. Only the Excite Super Speeder II and Excite Viper scooters sold at Rite Aid are recalled (not the original Super Speeder or other Viper brand scooters).

Sassy Inc., of Kentwood, Mich., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is replacing 370,000 squirting fish in the Scoop Pour ’N Squirt and Bath Time Pals bath toys because the size, texture, shape and easy compressibility of the fish make it possible for an infant to compress the toy and place it in his or her mouth. If the toy reaches the back of the mouth and expands, it can block a child’s airway.

CPSC and Sassy have two reports of infants who put the toy fish in their mouths and started to choke; in a third report, an infant gagged and vomited.

The Scoop Pour ’N Squirt bath toy set, which has a large, colorful plastic fish-shaped scoop with a green textured handle and a spout for pouring water, comes with two small, plastic, squirting fish. The Bath Time Pals bath toy set comes with one squirting frog, two squirting pearls and two squirting fish. The toys comply with toy safety regulations, according to CPSC.

Mass merchandise stores and toy stores sold these toys nationwide from February 1999 to December 2000 for about $5.

Consumers should discard the squirting fish. For additional information or to receive replacement squirt toys, contact Sassy at (800) 764-8323 or visit its Web site at: www.sassybaby.com/safetynotice.html.

BBC International Ltd., of Boca Raton, Fla., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, is recalling 38,000 pairs of Crayola toddler boots because the toggle, a small ball attached to the laces, can choke young children.

There are no reports of injuries.

The recalled boots, in both boys’ and girls’ styles, were sold in sizes 6 through 10. A tag on the side reads, “Crayola.” The boys’ boots are blue and black featuring a space scene with a crayon rocket. The girls’ boots are white with pink and lavender trim and feature a patch on the side with a snow scene of two kittens.

Discount department stores, including Ames, Bradlees, Anne & Hope and Forman Mills, sold these boots from September through December 1999 for about $20.

Consumers should discard the toggles, and return the boots to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call BBC International at (800) 632-4450.