Health Alerts - January 2004

Advantage Publishers Group, of San Diego, is voluntarily recalling 5,300 “Amazing Baby Listen and Play” activity books because the hub of the pink dial embedded in the inside back cover can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Advantage Publishers Group has received one report of a hub coming off. No choking incidents have been reported.

The book teaches children ages 12 to 24 months about different sounds, images and materials. The cover shows a baby face, a yellow bird that squeaks when pressed and a clear plastic container of multicolored beads. Mounted onto the inside back cover is a small rotating plastic wheel, which makes a clacking sound when turned.

Retail stores, bookstores, wholesalers and distributors, and membership warehouse clubs nationwide sold the activity books from May through October 2003 for $16.

Consumers should take these books away from young children and call Advantage Publishers Group toll-free at (866) 748-3731 to order a replacement activity book without the dial. For more information, visit www.advantagebooksonline.com.

BRIO Corp., of Germantown, Wis., is recalling 2,100 Plan Toys Solid Drums because the three rubber feet could be removed, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No injuries have been reported.

The recalled drums are natural wood with blue and red triangles painted on the side. On the top, the drum has curved holes; on the bottom, there are three rubber feet attached with screws. The recalled lot numbers are 46271068, 1546214 and 4345141 and are printed on the inside flap of the packaging. A stamp on the bottom of the drum displays the Plan Toys logo.

Specialty toy stores, Internet retailers and mail order catalogs nationwide sold the recalled toy drum from March to September 2003 for about $15.

The recalled drums should be taken away from young children immediately. For information on receiving a refund or replacement product, call BRIO at (888) 274- 6869 or visit www.Briotoy.com.

Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., is recalling 30,000 electric scooters and 55,000 electric mini bikes because a motor circuit malfunction can cause them to keep moving after the power button or throttle is released, posing a risk of injury to children.

Fisher-Price has received 56 reports of scooter incidents, including one report of a chipped tooth and one report of a broken arm.

The company has received 24 reports of mini bike incidents, including one report of a leg laceration.

The recalled Lightning PAC Scooters and MX3 Mini Bikes are battery powered ride-on toys. The product names are located on the side of the toy. The recalled scooters and mini bikes have model numbers of 73530 (Lightning PAC) or 73535 and B2222 (MX3 Mini Bike), which can be found inside the battery compartment.

Mass merchants and toy stores nationwide sold the scooters between November 2001 and October 2003 for about $250 and sold the mini bikes between May and September 2003 for about $200.

Consumers should take the toy vehicle away from children immediately and contact Fisher-Price at (800) 528-7153 or visit www.service.mattel.com to receive information about getting the toy vehicle serviced for free at a certified Power Wheels Service Center.

Two firms are recalling sidewalk chalk because they have high lead levels, posing a poison hazard to children.

• Target Corp. of Minneapolis, is recalling 26,000 packages of sidewalk chalk.

No injuries have been reported.

The sidewalk chalk is packaged in plastic that is molded to five sticks of chalk and a cardboard backing that is labeled “Double Dipp’n Fun.” Each stick of chalk has three colors layered together (green, red, yellow or blue). This recall does not affect solid color chalk sold in the same packaging.

The sidewalk chalk was sold at Target stores nationwide from March to July 2003 for about $1 per package.

Consumers should return the multicolored sidewalk chalk to Target stores for a refund. For more information, call Target at (800) 440-0680 or visit www.target.com.

• Toys “R” Us Inc., of Paramus, N.J., is recalling 50,000 packages of sidewalk chalk.

No incidents have been reported.

The sidewalk chalk is packaged in a clear-plastic backpack-type carrying case with the words “Chalk To Go.” The label on the package also says “Conforms to ASTM-D4236.” The sidewalk chalk comes in several shapes: butterfly, spider, ice cream cone, bottle, cylinder and triangular stick. The chalk pieces are solid-colored or multicolored, including red, blue, green, yellow and purple.

The sidewalk chalk was sold at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide from March to November 2003 for about $4.99 per package.

Consumers should return the sidewalk chalk to Toys “R” Us for a refund. For more information, call Toys “R” Us toll-free at (866) 274-6340 or visit www.toysrusinc.com.

Polardreams International Ltd., of Fairfield, Iowa, is recalling 50,600 candle gift sets because the tealight candle’s flame can be larger than normal as it burns to the end, posing a fire hazard.

One report has been received of a consumer having a minor burn from the candle wax.

The candle gift set includes two candle lamps and eight tealight candles. The lamps are approximately 3.5-inches high and have a warning label on the bottom with Polardreams’ name and address. These sets were sold in three different fragrance combinations.

The candle gift sets were sold at BJ’s Wholesale Clubs from August to October 2003 for $9.99.

Consumers should stop using these candle gift sets immediately and return them to any BJ’s Club for a refund. For more information, contact Polardreams at (800) 446-6541 or visit www.bjs.com/news.

Safeline Kids, Inc., of Bluffdale, Utah, has issued an informational recall for 10,495 units of the Sit‘n’Stroll child restraint, model #2003, because test crashes have shown that in some cases the child’s head moves forward further than government safety regulations allow.

No injuries have been reported.

Owners are asked to discard the shoulder and buckle pads provided with the Sit’n’Stroll model #2003. Owners also are instructed to ensure that only the upper forward-facing belt path is used when the Sit’n’Stroll is secured forward-facing in the vehicle with children who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds.

A replacement label and revised instruction manual was sent to owners who returned the registration card. The revised labels and instruction manuals have a revision date of 10/03.

Parents should continue to use this product, but must remove and discard the shoulder and buckle pads and use only the upper forward-facing belt path. For more information, call Safeline Kids at (800) 829-1625 or e-mail [email protected]. Upon request, replacement labels and instruction manuals will be available for retailers, child passenger safety organizations, child passenger safety technicians and other interested parties.