Health Alerts - October 2005

Target, of Minneapolis, is recalling 494,000 Back Trails Jr. toddler, youth and child bicycle helmets because some do not meet safety standards, which poses a risk of riders suffering head injuries.

The recalled bicycle helmets were manufactured after Jan. 1, 2004. Model numbers 89888 or 88003 (toddler), 89951 or 88001 (girl's 8-vent youth), 89952 or 88002 (boy's 8-vent youth) or 89917 (14-vent child's) appear on a white label inside the helmets, along with date of manufacture (YYYY/MM/DD).

The helmets were sold at Target stores nationwide from April 2004 through July 2005 for $13.

Consumers should return the helmets to the nearest Target store for a gift card in the amount of a full refund. For details, call Target at (800)440-0680 or visit www.target.com.

Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is recalling 480,000 pairs of Surf Club inflatable arm bands because the seams can tear,causing them to deflate. This poses a drowning hazard to young children.

The recalled plastic inflatable arm band pool floats are bright orange on the outside and white on the inside with an inflation valve on each side. They were sold at CVS stores nationwide from April 2003 through August 2005 for$1.

Parents should stop their children from using the arm band pool floats and return them to CVS for a refund. For more information, call Atico toll-free at(877) 546-4835 or visit www.aticousa.com.

Two companies are recalling children's sunglasses.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts of Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is recalling 12,900 red sunglasses/toddler cap sets because the paint on the sunglasses contains high levels of lead. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

The sunglasses were sold with either a navy blue toddler cap featuring Mickey Mouse or a light blue toddler cap featuring the character Stitch.“Walt Disney World” or “Disneyland Resort” is stitched on the back of the toddler caps.

The sunglasses and caps were sold at Disneyland Resort in California, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Disney's Vero Beach Resort in Florida and the Disney Cruise Line based in Florida from November 2004 through June 2005 for $16.

Consumers should take the sunglasses away from children and contact Walt Disney World Co. at (866) 802-2782 for a free replacement pair of sunglasses and 20 Disney Dollars. For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com.

American Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, is recalling 120,000 Sesame Street toy sunglasses because the lens can separate from frames, posing a choking hazard to young children.

This recall involves DesignWare child-size sunglasses with Sesame Street character decals. Each package contains a yellow, blue, red and green pair of sunglasses.

Discount, toy, drug, grocery, party and specialty/gift stores nationwide sold the sunglasses from December 2003 through August 2005 for $3.

Consumers should take these sunglasses away from young children and contact the firm at (800) 777-4891 for a coupon redeemable wherever American Greetings' products are sold. For more information, visit www.ag.com.

World Wide Cycle Supply Inc., of Islandia, N.Y., is recalling 25,000 Harley-Davidson 16-inch BMX bicycles because the fork that holds the front wheel can separate at the weld, causing the rider to fall and suffer injuries.

World Wide Cycle Supply has received 15 reports of fork welds breaking on these bicycles, with six riders suffering injuries.

The bicycle has a yellow and red painted flame pattern with a yellow fork. Bicycles with the following serial numbers are being recalled: 02F0026155 through 02F0032454; 03A0007772 through 03A0013271; 03A0018849 through 03A0027348; 03B0004011 through 03B0007460; 03C0019597 through 03C0023496;03D0006431 through 03D0008030; 03E0022835 through 03E0023134; 03F0027500 through 03F0031059; 03F0037194 through 03F0040493; 03F0026276 through 03F0033275; and 03F0040194 through 03F0045493. The serial number is on the bottom bracket shell, which is underneath the pedals and can be viewed by turning the bicycle upside down.

The bikes were sold at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide from July 2002 through June 2005 for $80.

Consumers should stop riding the bicycle and return it to a Toys“R” Us store for store credit in the amount of the purchase price. For more information, call World Wide Cycle Supply at (800) 944-9951 or visit the Toys “R” Us Web site at www.toysrus.com. These bicycles were sold through a licensing arrangement with Harley-Davidson and were not manufactured by Harley-Davidson. Consumers should not contact Harley-Davidson.

Almar Sales Co. Inc., of New York, is recalling 50,400 water watches because the bands contains liquid petroleum distillates, which could be harmful if ingested and irritate the skin or eyes on contact.

Almar has received one report of a 2-year-old who ingested the petroleum distillate after biting into the watch band. The child suffered irritation of the mouth and throat.

The watches are made of clear plastic with white snaps, and the bands have clear glitter-filled liquid and colored liquid inside. They were sold at Dollar General Stores nationwide from March through July 2005 for $2.

Consumers should take these watches away from young children and return the watches to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Almar Sales at (800) 251-2522.

Pottery Barn Kids, of San Francisco, is recalling 7,600 Spindle Cribs because the spindles on the crib's front rail can loosen and detach. This can allow the child to fall from the crib and poses a risk of entrapment.

The recall involves Spindle Crib model 4825402, which is made of hardwood and came in white, pink and blue. The cribs were sold at Pottery Barn Kids retail stores, the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and PotteryBarnKids.comWeb site from January 2004 through July 2005 for $300 to $500.

Consumers should stop using these cribs and contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a free replacement front rail or a full refund (including shipping). For more information, call Pottery Barn Kids at (800) 330-6905 or visit www.potterybarnkids.com.

Gymboree Corp., of San Francisco, is recalling 5,600 Caroline Flower Baby Sandals because a plastic flower attached to the sandals can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Gymboree has received four reports of flowers coming off the sandals. One child reportedly put a flower in her mouth and started to choke.

This recall includes the Caroline Flower Baby Sandal with SKU number 140002069 sold in sizes 1 to 8. The SKU number is printed on the price tag above the bar code. The sandal has a white upper sole and a cork covered outer sole. A white decorative plastic flower is attached to the top of the front strap.

Gymboree stores and Web site sold the sandals from May through July 2005 for $22 to $28.

Consumers should return the sandals to a Gymboree store or via mail for a refund. For return instructions, call Gymboree toll-free at (877) 449-6932 or visit www.gymboree.com.

Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc., of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, is recalling 3,300 Stork Craft toy boxes because the lid support can fail,allowing it to collapse suddenly. This poses a strangulation hazard to young children, and may cause injuries to a child's head, neck, fingers or hands.

The recall includes toy boxes with manufacture date codes between November 2002 and July 2004 and the following model numbers and colors: 01520-331(white), 01520-334 (cherry), 01520-33C (cognac), 01520-33L (oak) and 01520-33N(natural). The date codes, model numbers and colors are on a label underneath the toy boxes.

The boxes, which are constructed of pine, were sold through Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney Web sites, and at furniture, baby and juvenile stores nationwide for $90.

Consumers should stop young children from using these toy boxes and contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 to determine if their toy box lid support needs to be replaced. If so, the firm will provide a free replacement lid support. For more information, visit www.Storkcraft.com.

Torelli Imports, of Camarillo, Calif., is recalling 1,100 bicycle tires because they can separate from the wheel, resulting in a flat tire. This can cause the rider to lose control and fall.

This recall involves Torelli Verona and Lugano Open Tubular bicycle tires with folding Kevlar beads, used to hold the tire to the rim. The tires were sold at bicycle specialty stores nationwide from February through July 2005 for $30 to $60.

Consumers should stop using the tires and contact their local bicycle retailer or Torelli Imports to receive a free replacement tire. For more information, call Torelli Imports at (800) 523-6604 or visit www.torelli.com.

Two companies are recalling bike wheels because the hub in the rear wheel can fail to engage properly, causing no resistance when pedaling. The bicycle rider could lose balance, fall and suffer injuries.

Ritchey Design, of San Carlos, Calif. (manufactured under license from American Classic Inc., of Tampa, Fla.), is recalling 2,000 Ritchey WCS -Protocol, Carbon, DS, DS Aero, Girder models (all rear wheels only).

The wheels were sold by Ritchey as sets and as rear wheel only for $350 to$700 and as original equipment on 2004 model year Fuji and Motobecane USA bicycles and the 2005 model year Prestige road bike from Raleigh for $2,100 to$4,000.

Bicycle specialty stores nationwide sold the wheels from January 2003 through July 2005.

Consumers should inspect their hub to determine if the wheel is included in the recall and contact Ritchey toll-free at (888) 776-8625 to schedule a free repair.

For more information, visit www.ritcheylogic.com/wcsrecall.

American Classic, of Tampa, Fla., is recalling 2,850 American Classic road and mountain bike wheels.

The recall includes all American Classic after-market rear wheels and hubs,as well as the following 2005 bike models, which use American Classic rear wheels or hubs: Fuji Team Super Lite (Team SL); Orbea Aletta, Onix, Lobular 50, Dama Race, Mitis and Mitis Dama models; Felt F55 and F2C; Fetish Cycles road and mountain bikes; Argon 18; and Motobecane LeChampion SL. The recalled models were made at the start of January 2005, and the outside of the rear hub shell has a serial number that starts with the letter “S.”

Bicycle specialty stores nationwide sold the wheels from January through June 2005 for $240 (per rear hub).

Consumers should stop using the bike wheels and contact a local bicycle retailer to receive a free inspection. If you have a recalled wheel, the dealer will provide a free repair. For more information, contact American Classic at (800) 345-8356 or www.amclassic.com.