Health Alerts - November 2003

Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Exton, Pa., is providing new instructions for 538,000 “Pack ‘n Play” portable play yards with raised changing tables because a child’s neck can become trapped between the changing table and play yard rail, posing a strangulation hazard.

Graco has received one report of a death of a 13-month-old girl whose neck became caught between the rail and the changing table.

The “Pack ‘n Play” portable play yards with raised changing tables also are sold with an infant bassinet. The recalled units have model numbers 2016, 25235 or model numbers that begin with 9531 or 9533 (the last three digits of the model number will vary). Models currently sold in stores that have green stickers on the boxes already have been modified and are not recalled.

Discount, department and juvenile product stores nationwide sold the play yards from October 2001 to September 2003 for $99 to $119.

Consumers should never place a child in these portable play yards when the changing table is still in place. To receive a free warning label to be affixed to the changing table, contact Graco at (800) 233-1546 or visit www.gracobaby.com.

Apothecary Products Inc., of Burnsville, Minn., is recalling 154,000 “Comforts” pacifiers because they can come apart, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The pacifiers come in both silicone and latex formulations in powder blue, red, purple or pink. Some of the pacifiers were marketed for children ages 0 to 6 months, and others were for 6- to 18-month-olds. The last five digits of the UPC code are the model numbers and are listed on the back of each package: 35826, 35827, 35828 and 35829.

Kroger-owned stores sold the pacifiers from August 2002 to August 2003 for $3.50 to $5.

Consumers should return the pacifiers to the store where purchased for a refund.

For more information, call Apothecary Products at (866) 274-7956 or the Kroger Co. at (800) 632-6900.

L.M. Becker & Co. Inc., of Kimberly, Wis., is recalling 1.4 million toy necklaces because high lead levels in the necklace’s pendant put young children at risk of poisoning.

L.M. Becker & Co. has received one injury report about a child who swallowed the necklace’s pendant, which resulted in high levels of lead in her blood.

The necklaces have a 10-inch black cord and gray metal pendant with assorted symbols on one side.

Mall vending machines, discount department stores and grocery stores nationwide sold the necklaces from March 2002 to April 2003 for 50 cents.

To obtain a refund, call L.M. Becker & Co. Inc. at (888) 869-6569 or visit www.toynjoy.com.

Simon & Schuster Inc., of New York, is recalling 26,000 copies of a Dora the Explorer children’s book because a plastic replica of a balloon can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The heavy-cardboard book is titled, “Whose Birthday Is It?” Discount department stores and bookstores nationwide sold the books during August 2003 for $10.

Consumers should take these books away from young children immediately. To get a replacement book, call Simon & Schuster at (800) 223-2336 or visit www.simonsayskids.com.

Swimways Corp., of Virginia Beach, Va., is recalling 3,400 “Sandy Claws” Swim Trainers because the body strap on the trainer can detach or tear from the flotation device and release a child into water, posing a drowning hazard.

No injuries have been reported, but there have been seven reports of the body straps detaching and two reports of the seams splitting.

Specialty pool and toy stores nationwide and Internet retailers sold the red and yellow crab flotation devices from January to July 2003 for about $12.

Consumers should stop using the swim trainers immediately. To obtain a refund, contact Swimways at (800) 889-7946 or visit www.swimways.com.

Home Line Industries, of Philadelphia, is recalling 3,600 bunk beds because the openings between the guardrails at both the sides and ends of the bed are large enough for a child’s body to slip between, posing a strangulation hazard.

No injuries have been reported.

The recalled bunk beds have the following model numbers: S116, S117, S130, S131, S132, S133, S135 and S136.

Furniture stores nationwide sold the bunk beds from September 2002 to May 2003 for about $190.

For a free repair, call Home Line Industries at (800) 523-3310.

CCDA Waters LLC, of Atlanta, is recalling 3.2 million units of bottled water with push-pull sports caps because the drinking spout can slip off when in use, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported, but there have been 10 complaints.

The recalled bottled water was sold under the brand names Dannon Fluoride to Go, Pure American, Enon Springs, Alhambra Junior Sport Drinking Water and Sparkletts Junior Sport Drinking Water.

Gas stations, grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and drugstores nationwide sold the bottled water from March 2002 to September 2003 as singles and multi-packs in 8-ounce, 8.5-ounce and 0.33-liter sizes.

Consumers should return the bottled water with sports cap to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call the CCDA Water Consumer Line toll-free at (800) 322-4616.

Pottery Barn, of San Francisco, is recalling 5,400 tealight holders that were sold with Halloween houses because the plastic tealight can flare up in the turret, posing a fire hazard.

No injuries have been reported.

The Halloween house is black with wire-web windows, mesh rooftops and a brick exterior. Four tealights are on the bottom floor and one is inside the turret.

Pottery Barn retail stores nationwide sold the Halloween houses with tealight holders from July to September 2003 for $40.

Consumers should go to their Pottery Barn store with the purchase receipt, if available, to receive a free set of replacement tealights and a warning sticker to place on the item for future users that states: “Warning - Do not use plastic tealights. Use only with metal tealights.”

For more information, call Pottery Barn at (888) 922-9245.

Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp. USA, of Lincoln, Neb., is recalling 75,000 Prairie all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) because the lower front suspension arm can separate from the steering assembly, causing loss of steering and posing a risk for serious injury.

Kawasaki has received 42 reports of incidents, including nine injuries, such as broken bones, bruises, scrapes and cuts.

The recalled Kawasaki ATVs include both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive versions of the Prairie 300 and 400 models. The ATVs come in green or red and have the words “Kawasaki” and “Prairie” printed on each side of the vehicle.

Kawasaki dealers nationwide sold the ATVs from September 1996 to December 2000 for $4,500 to $6,100.

Consumers should stop using the ATVs immediately and contact their Kawasaki dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection, replacement of the pinch bolt or repair of damaged parts. Kawasaki’s toll-free number is (866) 802-9381.

Park Tool USA, of St. Paul, Minn., is recalling 4,000 bicycle floor pumps because the pump can become over-pressurized with air, causing the handle to unexpectedly thrust upward, potentially injuring the user.

Park Tool USA has received reports of three minor injuries.

Specialty bicycle retailers sold the chrome bicycle pumps from March to August 2003 for $80. Only units manufactured prior to August 2002 with a black indicator on the pressure gauge are included in the recall.

To receive a replacement pump, call Park Tool USA at (888) 568-4959 or visit www.parktool.com.

Galls Inc., of Lexington, Ky., is recalling more than 10,000 batteries originally provided with H.A.L.O. Tactical Flashlights because they may overheat or explode.

Galls has received five reports of batteries overheating or exploding, causing minor burns and property damage.

The 3-volt lithium batteries came in pairs and had a white label with “Fuji Power” or “A&T Fuji Power CR123A” on them.

The Galls catalog, Galls Web site, www.galls.com, and retail stores in Kentucky and California sold the flashlight and batteries from June 2001 through May 2003. The flashlight sold for $49 individually and $99 with other items.

For information or replacement batteries, call Galls at (800) 477-7766.

GE Interlogix (GEI), of Tualatin, Ore., is recalling 14,000 ESL Smoke Detectors because they may fail upon installation or if there is a prolonged power loss.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The recalled alarms have the following model numbers on the back of the detectors: 521NB, 521NCSXT, 541NB, 541NCSXT, 541NCXTE, 521NBXT, 521NCSRXT, 541NBXT, 541NCSRH, 541NCSXTE, 521NCRXT, 541NCRXT, and 541NCSRXT. Also on the back of the alarms are the letters, “ESL,” and the manufacturing date code of “0223” through “0323.” Inoperable units won’t have the red indicator light flashing, though all units with the aforementioned model and date codes should be replaced.

Security system distributors, dealers and installers nationwide sold or installed these smoke detectors from June 2002 to June 2003 for $125 to $175.

For information, call GEI at (800) 648-7422 or visit www.geinterlogix.com/500N. Consumers also can contact their installer or service provider to determine if they have a recalled unit and to have a new unit installed at no charge.