Health Alerts - July 2001

Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., is recalling 55,000 Grow-to-Pro basketball sets because some of the nets have enlarged openings that young children can get tangled around their necks, posing a risk of strangulation.

No injuries have been reported.

The recalled set, model number 72408, has a black pole that adjusts from 3 to 6 feet. A nylon net with an orange plastic hoop is attached to the pole, along with a gray backboard. Toy, mass merchandise and discount stores sold these toys nationwide from January through May 2001 for about $30.

Call Fisher-Price at (800) 247-9395, or visit www.fisher-price.com to order a free replacement net.

Unilever Home and Personal Care USA, of Greenwich, Conn., is recalling 150,000 Snuggle Teeny Bean Bears with a nightcap and yellow pompom because the pompom can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

One report has been received of an infant who put a pompom in his mouth, gagged and began to choke before his mother removed it.

The bear was included in Snuggle, Cuddle Up, Fresh Rain and Sweet Slumber fabric softener products sold in twin packs. Each twin pack contains a bottle of liquid fabric softener and a box of softener sheets along with the bear. The bean bear is 5 inches tall and wears a blue nightcap with a yellow moon and star design. No other Snuggle bears are included in this recall.

Wal-Mart stores nationwide sold the twin packs from March through April 2001 for $7 to $8.

Remove the bear’s pompom to eliminate the choking hazard. For additional information, contact Snuggle at (800) 598-5005 or visit www.snuggletime.com.

Child Craft Industries, of Salem, Ind., is recalling 4,300 changing tables because some of the table joints were not properly glued and can separate.

Child Craft has received six reports of changing tables falling apart, including one report of a baby starting to fall from a collapsing table when she was caught by her mother. No injuries have been reported.

The changing tables are made of beechwood and come in white, honey oak, natural and cherry finishes.

Department and specialty stores nationwide, including Sears and Burlington Coat Factory, sold the $150 changing tables from August 1998 through April 2001.

For more information, call Child Craft at (866) 423-3114, or visit www.childcraftind.com.

Combi International Corp., of Carol Stream, Ill., is recalling 4,100 activity rockers to replace their toy bars. One of the toys, a clear plastic ball, can crack and break during use, exposing small beads inside and posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The toy bar is an attachment to the Combi activity rocker. The bar has three toys, including the clear ball, a blue plastic bear and a yellow plastic mirror. The recalled toy bars are on activity rockers with model numbers 9710-0 and 9710-1 and lot numbers 7000-10102 and 5000-6034, located on the frame of the rocker.

Juvenile specialty stores, including The Right Start, Buy Buy Baby and Burlington Coat Factory, sold the $70 rockers from November 2000 through February 2001.

Detach the toy bar from the activity rocker, discard it and call Combi to receive a free replacement bar. For more information, contact Combi at (800) 992-6624, or visit www.combi-intl.com.

Spin Master Toys, of Ontario, Canada, is recalling 108,000 Splash Blast Water Rockets because they can fly rapidly in unpredictable directions and injure children.

Spin Master Toys has received five reports of rockets striking children, including one child being hit in the head by a rocket.

The rockets have a transparent blue plastic body with a red foam nose and blue or yellow rocket fins. Each rocket comes with a color-coordinated launcher that attaches to a garden hose and is powered by water and air. The recall includes rockets with the date code 03172001AC imprinted on the base of the rocket launcher.

Major department stores, wholesale clubs and specialty stores, including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and CostCo sold the $20 rockets from January through March 2001.

Call Spin Master Toys at (800) 622-8339 to receive a replacement rocket, or visit www.spinmaster.com.

Raymond Geddes & Co. Inc., of Baltimore, is recalling 6,500 Tropical Fish and Rockin’ Reptile Push’n Pop toys because the balloon tongues and cylinders holding the tongues on these toys can detach, posing choking and aspiration hazards to young children.

The vinyl toys, also known as Zapper toys, are 2 to 3 inches long, and come as either a fish or lizard. When the toy is squeezed, the balloon tongue attached to its mouth inflates and rolls out.

Toy stores, doctor and dentist offices, and carnivals and circuses sold and distributed these $1 toys from August 1998 through March 2001.

Take these toys back to where they were purchased for a refund, or throw them away. For more information, call (800) 533-6273, visit www.raymondgeddes.com. or e-mail [email protected].

The Promotional Resources Group of Companies Inc., of Topeka, Kan., recalled about 105,000 Bug Zapper toys on June 6, 2000, and eight firms recalled about 835,000 Zapper toys on March 19, 2001. For more information, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at (800) 638-2772.

Giant Bicycle Inc., of Newbury Park, Calif., is recalling 2,400 Giant-brand bicycle front forks because they can break during use, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle and suffer serious injuries.

The firm has received two reports of forks breaking, resulting in one minor injury.

These carbon fiber forks were sold on 2001-model Giant TCR Team, TCR 0, TCR 1, TCR 2 and OCR 1 bicycles and frame sets. The recalled forks have a date code on the steerer tubes.

Giant authorized dealers sold the forks on frame sets and bicycles from September 2000 through April 2001. The frame sets sold for $500 to $1,000, and the bicycles sold for $1,000 to $4,500.

Bring bicycles to the nearest Giant authorized dealer for a free inspection, and, if necessary, a repair. For more information, call (800) USGIANT (874-4268).

Saks Inc., of Birmingham, Ala., is recalling 14,500 boys’ vests because the elastic toggle cord on the end of the zipper pulls can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Saks has received one report of a toggle coming off, with no injuries.

Sold under the Urit and Parisian Kids brands, the recalled vests are red nylon/blue fleece reversible vests sold in toddler sizes 2T through 4T. The zipper pulls have black and white checkered elastic toggles on the ends. There is a front zipper and three pocket zippers.

Department stores including Parisian, Carson Pirie Scott, Younkers, McRae’s, Proffitt’s, Bergner’s, Herberger’s and Boston Store sold the $24 vests from July 2000 through January 2001.

Return vests to any Saks store for a refund. For more information, call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at (800) 638-2772.

Hedstrom Corp., of Bedford, Pa., and its subsidiary Backyard Products, of Collingwood, Ontario, are recalling 190,000 Star Cruiser and Rocket Rider swings on backyard gym sets. The screws that hold the swing together can fall out and cause the seat to fall to the ground, posing an injury risk to children.

Hedstrom has received 291 reports of seats separating, and 19 children suffered cuts, scrapes and bruises.

The recalled swings were sold with Hedstrom metal and wood gym sets, wood kits and as accessories. The Star Cruiser has a one-piece seat with a white plastic circle. A mesh backing, called a Safe-T Backrest, can be connected to the back of the seat. The Rocket Rider is a seesaw swing with a white seat.

Department, toy, discount, lumber and hardware stores nationwide, including Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Kmart, sold the gyms from September 2000 through April 2001 for $150 to $400.

Detach the swings from the gym set. To order a free repair kit, call Hedstrom at (800) 642-9193, visit www.hedstrom.com or write to Hedstrom Corp., Free Repair Kit, P.O. Box 432, Bedford, PA 15522.