Health Alerts - June 2004

Tek Nek Toys, of Grapevine, Texas, is recalling 70,000 ride-on toy trucks because the screw and nut assembly attaching the steering wheel can come loose, posing a choking and aspiration hazard.

There have been six reports of the screw and nut coming loose, including one that resulted in the death of an 18-month-old.

There are five models of the ride-on toys: Butterfly Girl, Fire Rescue, Mermaid, Police Car and Tonka Construction Crew. The vehicles have a date code from 20021127 to 20030319, located in the battery compartment. The toy trucks were sold for children ages 1 to 3 at Kmart, Meijer, Shopko, Toys ’R Us and Wal-Mart from December 2002 to March 2004 for about $30.

Consumers should take these toy vehicles away from children and contact Tek Nek Toys for replacement parts at (888) 661-0222.

The Academy again is calling for the U.S. government to ban wheeled baby walkers, after previous failed attempts. Now, the Academy requests that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission follow the lead of the Canadian government, which prohibited new and used baby walkers from being advertised, sold or imported as of April 7.

The Academy has been seeking such a ban since 1995. In 2001, more than 6,000 children in the United States were injured in baby walkers. As an alternative, the Academy suggests consumers use safer equipment such as stationary activity centers.

Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga., is recalling 225,000 Children’s Mirror Books because the mirror can crack or break, posing a laceration hazard to young children.

There have been 26 reports of the mirror cracking or breaking, including four reports of cuts and one report of a pinched finger.

The mirror books are brightly colored, made of flexible vinyl, and contain a plastic mirror on one of the inside pages. The recalled books come in four versions: “Baby’s Fun Book,” “Baby’s Photo Album,” “Picture This Vinyl Book” and “Carter’s Imagination Picture Book.” The name “Kids II” is printed on the back cover of each book, except for the “Imagination Picture Book” which shows “Carter’s” on the front and back covers. The books were sold from December 2001 to March 2004 for $4 to $8.

Parents should take the books away from small children immediately, and detach and mail the mirror page to Kids II at 1015 Windward Ridge Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30005 for a refund.

Mattel, of El Segundo, Calif., is recalling 314,000 Batman Batmobile toy cars because the rear tail wings of the Batmobile are made of rigid plastic and come to a point, which creates a potential puncture or laceration hazard.

There have been 14 reports of injuries, four of which required medical treatment.

The 20-inch plastic toy car is blue and gray with a detachable motorcycle. The model number, B4944, appears on the bottom of the Batmobile. The cars were sold from June 2003 to February 2004 for about $27.

Parents should take these toys away from children and call Mattel at (888) 271-9891 for a free repair kit with new wings.

Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., of Arcadia, Wis., is recalling 22,476 bunk beds because there are gaps between parts of the bunk bed that violate federal safety standards and can be entrapment or strangulation hazards to children.

There have been no incidents reported.

The following models have been recalled for repairs: B383-58T, B383-57T, B213-58 and B233-58. The B383 models are sold under the group name “Trails End.” The B213 is sold under the group name “Cottage Retreat.” The B233 is sold under the group name “Stages.” Model numbers are on product stickers on each bunk bed. On the B383 model, the product sticker is on the inside of the lower rail on the top bunk end panel. On the B213 and B233 models, the product sticker is on the inside of the lower panel on the bottom bunk. For model B383, the gap between the end rails on the upper bunk is too large. For models B213 and B233, the gap between the guardrails of the upper bunk can be widened with pressure, presenting an entrapment hazard.

Models were sold between December 2000 and February 2004 for between $299 and $699 at furniture stores nationwide.

Consumers can get a free repair kit by contacting the dealer where sold or Ashley at (800) 999-2936.

H&M of New York is recalling about 6,300 water bottles because the drinking spout can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

No incidents have been reported.

The bottles are black plastic in a green canvas sports holder. “H&M” is shown on the bottle and the strap of the holder. The water bottles were distributed free with the purchase of children’s wear between February and March 5, 2004, at H&M clothing stores nationwide.

Consumers should return the water bottle to any H&M store for a free $5 coupon for another H&M purchase. For more information, call H&M at (877) 439-6261 or visit www.hm.com.

Nikko America, of Plano, Texas, is recalling about 287,000 radio-controlled toy trucks because the circuit board causes the toy truck to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard.

There have been five reports of overheating, resulting in minor property damage caused by fire and smoke. No injuries have been reported.

The cars are 1/10; scale models of the Chevy Avalanche, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, Hummer Wagon and Ford F150. The toy trucks were sold from July 2003 to February 2004 at discount department stores.

Consumers should contact Nikko for a free circuit board replacement at (866) 232-6013 or www.nikkoamerica.com/recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning parents and school personnel about the use of folding mobile tables that can tip over and seriously injure or kill children. Do not allow children to push, pull or ride on these folded mobile tables.

CPSC first warned about this hazard in 1989. Six mobile table manufacturers joined in a CPSC program to place warning labels on all folding mobile tables (50 inches or higher when folded) in elementary, junior and senior high schools nationwide. CPSC has reports of nine deaths since 1971 when children moved or played with folding mobile tables and the tables tipped over on them. Victims ranged in age from 19 months to 9 years old. Many of the injuries occurred when an adult asked a student to move a folded table in a school cafeteria or a conference room. One of the table’s wheels may have hit an obstruction on the floor and the heavy folded table tipped over and crushed the student. School administrators should warn school personnel about the tip-over hazard, and keep students away from tables when the tables are in the upright folded position.