Health Alerts - July 2003

Creative Kids Inc., of Monsey, N.Y., is recalling 1,400 Children’s Art Supply Sets because they contain mini-cutters with razor blades that pose a laceration hazard.

Creative Kids has received one report of a child receiving minor cuts to her finger after using the mini-cutter.

The 87-piece sets were sold in solid wood grain boxes and contained crayons, markers, scissors, water and oil paints, brushes, etc. The label reads “Jumbo Art Case 87 pieces” and “Item No. 11519.”

Bigg’s stores in Ohio and Kentucky sold the sets from August 2002 to March 2003 for $16.

Consumers should remove the mini-cutters from the set and call Creative Kids at (888) 678-8697 for more information and to receive a free pack of colored paper clips.

Monarch Velo LLC, doing business as Catlike USA, of Houston, is recalling 2,250 Catlike Kompact bike helmets because riders wearing these helmets are not adequately protected from falls and could suffer head injuries.

No injuries have been reported, but the helmets failed impact testing required under the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets.

The helmets were sold in various colors and in two sizes, small/medium and large/extra large. The sizing label inside the helmets reads “Kompact” and “SM/MD” or “LG/XL.”

Bicycle shops nationwide sold the helmets from March 2002 through February 2003 for $130.

Call Monarch Velo at (877) 228-5646 or visit www.catlike-usa.com for information on receiving a free replacement helmet.

Babi Italia, a division of LaJobi Industries Inc., of Edison, N.J., is recalling 2,000 “Tiffany” and “Josephine” model cribs because the slats can come loose or detach and a child’s head could get caught in the space, presenting an entrapment hazard. In addition, the child could fall out.

No serious injuries have been reported, but LaJobi has received 41 reports of the slats separating from the crib, 10 children have fallen out of the crib and one child became entrapped between the slats.

The cribs are made of solid natural wood and they can be converted into a toddler bed and an adult bed. The production codes are the four middle numbers located on the inside bottom of the headboard. The “Tiffany” cribs, production numbers 0601, 0701, 0801, 0901 and 1001, were manufactured from June 2001 through October 2001 and the “Josephine” cribs, production numbers 0101, 0201, 0301, 0401, 0501, 0601, 0701, 0801, 0901 and 1001, were manufactured from January 2001 through October 2001.

Babies R Us sold the cribs from July 2001 through January 2003 for $500.

Consumers should stop using the cribs immediately and call LaJobi at (877) 440-2224 or visit www.babiitalia.com for replacement rails.

Trisonic/Eastern America Trio Products, of Flushing, N.Y., is recalling 12,000 Trisonic Nightlights because they pose an electric shock, burn and fire hazard.

Trisonic has received one report of a nightlight exploding, resulting in laceration injuries.

The label on the back reads “Trisonic, 4W/120V custom made for Trisonic, Queens, N.Y., TS-45431.”

Dollar stores in the eastern portion of the United States sold the lights from April 2001 to March 2003 for $1.

For more information and to receive a refund, call Trisonic at (800) 434-8155.

Swimways Corp., of Virginia Beach, Va., is recalling 25,000 packages of dive sticks because children can fall or land on them in shallow water and suffer impalement injuries.

No injuries have been reported.

The “Swim Ways Deluxe Dive Buddies” weighted sticks are made of soft plastic and have character heads and feet, including a yellow sea horse, a green and purple walrus, a red and blue underwater diver, and a blue shark. They are 7.5 inches long and an inch in diameter. When dropped into water, they sink to the bottom and stand upright.

Specialty pool stores nationwide sold the sticks from December 2002 through May 2003 for $6.

Consumers should take the sticks away from children immediately. For information on receiving a refund or replacement product, contact Swimways at (800) 889-7946, or visit www.swimways.com.

The Step2 Company of Streetsboro, Ohio, is recalling 800 toy drumsticks because the tip of the drumstick can break off, posing a choking hazard.

Step2 has received one report of a child choking on the top of the drumstick.

The drumsticks were sold with the Step2 Toddle Tunes Big Band Drum set, models 7135B2 and 7135KR. The sets are blue and yellow with music decals attached to the front. “Step2” is imprinted across the front of the drum set. The yellow and blue drumsticks are 9 inches long.

Toy stores and online retailers sold the drum sets nationwide from February 2002 through April 2003 for $30.

Call Step2 at (800) 347-8372 to receive a replacement set of drumsticks.

International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., is recalling 126,000 toy vehicles because small parts can detach, posing a choking hazard.

International Playthings has received one report of small parts detaching. No injuries have been reported.

The Viking Mini Chubbies are toy wagons, tractors, helicopters, cars, airplanes and Jeeps. They are 3 inches long and come in red, blue and yellow. Model numbers AW01119, AW41111, AW61005 and AW81119 are printed on the bottom of the toy.

Specialty toy stores nationwide sold the toys from April 2002 through March 2003 for $1.

Call International Playthings at (800) 445-8347 for information on receiving a refund.

Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, is recalling 38,000 plastic Bearista Bear tumbler cups because if the flexible straw on the cups is chewed, small pieces of plastic can detach, posing a choking hazard.

Starbucks has received two reports of pieces of the straws becoming detached. One child began to choke on the detached piece of the straw, but no injuries have been reported.

The cup was sold in blue and green translucent plastic with “Bearista Bear” printed on the front. A flexible straw protrudes from the screw-on lid.

Starbucks stores in the United States, Canada and Taiwan sold the cups from April through May for $7.

Consumers should stop using the cups and return them to any Starbucks location for a refund and free beverage of any size. For more information, call Starbucks at (800) 235-2883 or visit www.starbucks.com