Health Alerts - June 2005

Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is recalling 1.5 million children's folding chairs because the safety lock can fail, allowing the chair to collapse or fold unexpectedly. Children's fingers can become caught or entrapped in the hinge and slot areas.

The firm has received four reports of finger tip amputations and seven reports of lacerations to children's fingers.

The folding chairs are made of metal tubing with a padded seat. They were sold in red, blue, yellow and green either individually or as part of a set consisting of a table and four chairs.

Hardware, discount department, toy, grocery and drug stores nationwide sold the chairs from September 2002 through April 2005 for $10 individually and $30 for a set.

Consumers should stop using the chairs and contact Atico for a refund.

Call (877) 546-4835 or visit www.aticousa.com.

Zebco, of Tulsa, Okla., is recalling 1.5 million children's fishing poles because the paint on the rods contains lead, which is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

The recalled fishing poles feature pictures of the following cartoon characters on the reels: SpongeBob, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks; Dora the Explorer; Tigger; and the cast of Nickelodeon's Rocket Power.

The fishing poles were sold at discount department, sporting good and toy stores nationwide from August 2001 through March 2005 for $9 to $13.

Consumers should stop using the recalled fishing poles and contact Zebco for information on receiving a free replacement fishing pole. Call (800)444-5581, ext. 6217, or visit www.zebco.com/recall.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is recalling 220,000 Nu-Tronix karaoke cassette player/recorders because the paint on the control buttons contains excessive lead, posing a lead poisoning hazard to young children.

Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

This recall includes the Nu-Tronix Karaoke Cassette Player and Recorder with digital radio and alarm features. The karaoke player was sold with two cassette tapes with children's songs, a microphone and lyric sheets.

The karaoke players were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from June 2003 through March 2005 for $20.

Consumers should return the recalled karaoke players to their nearest Wal-Mart store to receive a refund.

For information, call Wal-Mart at (800) 925-6278 or visit www.walmartstores.comand click on Product Recalls for more information or submit questions on the Store Feedback link.

J.C. Penney Corp., of Plano, Texas, is recalling 228,818 Okie Dokie brand striped body suits because the appliqué can detach from the garment,posing a choking hazard to young children.

The multicolored bodysuits are 100% cotton and have heat-sealed appliqués on the front and side. The body suits were sold in sizes 0 to 24 months at J.C. Penney stores and Web site from October 2004 through February 2005 for $6.

Consumers should stop using the recalled body suits and return them to any J.C. Penney store for a refund. For information, call J.C. Penney toll-free at(888) 333-6063 or visit www.jcpenney.com.

Baja Products Inc., of Delray Beach, Fla., is recalling 145,000 My First Crayon-Balls and My First Crayon-Ball Activity Sets because small crayon balls can break loose from the plastic base of the products, posing a choking hazard to young children.

My First Crayon-Ball consists of a round yellow plastic base with small crayon balls attached. My First Crayon-Ball Activity Sets also contain scrolls of paper.

The toys were sold at discount and toy stores nationwide from June 2004 through March 2005 for $2 to $5.

Consumers should take these toys away from children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or call Baja Products toll-free at (800)556-3674 for a replacement product.

Royal Seating Ltd., of Cameron, Texas, is recalling 46,000 Prima children's chairs because the seat portion can detach from the leg base, possibly causing a child to fall to the floor.

The molded plastic chair is made up of two parts: the chair's seat and the base, which includes the chair legs. The chairs were sold in several seat heights and came in various colors with either black or same colored legs as the seat or navy seat with black legs. The Prima chair can be identified on the company's Web site(www.royalseating.com)under Early Learning, model number 7101. The model number does not appear on the chair.

The chairs were sold by furniture dealers and catalogs to schools and similar institutions between Feb. 1 and Nov. 20, 2004, for $29.

For information on having chairs tested and replaced if needed, call Royal Seating toll-free at (800) 460-4916.

Jake's Fireworks Inc., of Pittsburg, Kan., is recalling 75,000 24-shot Excalibur Reloadable Artillery Shell Kits because the aerial shells are fused,shaped and labeled in a way that could cause consumers to unintentionally place them into the launch tube upside down, resulting in a ground-level explosion. Such an explosion can cause serious injuries to those close to the device.

The shell kits are a consumer fireworks device that consists of a black plastic launch tube and 24 display shells in a display box. Only the model 24 shot Excalibur Reloadable Artillery Shell Kits are included in this recall.

The shell kits were sold by fireworks retailers, including display stands and tents in states permitting the sale of consumer fireworks from winter 2003 through winter 2004 for $30.

Consumers should stop using the fireworks and return the entire device to the store where purchased for a refund or contact Jake's Fireworks at (800)766-1277 or www.jakesfireworks.com.

Carter's, of Atlanta, is recalling 31,000 infant and children's overalls because the plastic center of the decorative snaps can detach, posing a choking hazard.

The recalled overalls are pink corduroy with decorative snap fasteners at the waist and shoulder straps, with style numbers 435-092 and 435-646.

Style 435-646 was sold exclusively through Carter's retail stores from July 2004 through March 2005 for $26. Style 435-092 was sold through Carter's retail stores and other retailers nationwide from August 2004 through March 2005 for $28.

Contact Carter's at (866) 999-1802 or visit www.carters.comfor information on receiving a refund.

California International Trading, of Los Angeles, is recalling 5,000 light-up pacifiers, toy pianos and toy trains because they can easily break apart, exposing small parts that pose a choking hazard to young children.

The plastic light-up pacifier also acts as a whistle. When a button on the pacifier's handle is pushed, the pacifier lights up with flashing LED lights. The New Style Piano is a battery-operated musical piano. The High Toys Choochoo Toy Train is a battery-operated train with tiny foam balls inside its pink smokestack.

The items were sold at swap meets and flea markets in the Los Angeles area from July 2004 through February 2005 for $1 to $2.

Consumers should take the recalled pacifiers and toys away from young children and call California International Trading toll-free at (800) 416-4491 to find out how to get a refund and postage reimbursement.

American Honda Motor Co. Inc., of Torrance, Calif., is recalling 200,000 Honda 2004-'05 FourTrax all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) because the steering rods can separate, causing the driver to lose steering control.

The following models are included in the recall: TRX350TE, TRX350TM,TRX350FE, TRX350FM, TRX400FA, TRX400FGA, TRX250TE, TRX250TM, TRX500FGA,TRX500FA, TRX500FE, TRX500FM, TRX500TM, TRX650FA and TRX650FGA. The model numbers can be found on the identification label on the left side of the frame down tube.

Honda motorcycle dealers nationwide sold the ATVs from August 2003 through February 2005 for $3,600 to $8,000.

Consumers should stop using the recalled ATVs. All recalled vehicles will be repaired free of charge.

For information, call Honda toll-free at (866) 784-1870 or visit www.powersports.honda.com.

Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., is recalling 575 cribs because the white paint can chip, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The recalled cribs are made of wood. Model numbers 8554W-PT and 8554WW are printed inside the headboard and on the envelope attached to the mattress support. The Simplicity name, address, manufacturing date and model number are written on a label found on the inside bottom of the headboard.

The cribs were sold at department stores, children's product stores and www.Target.comfrom June 2004 through April 2005 for $200.

For information on receiving a refund, call Simplicity at (800) 858-8323 or visit www.simplicityforchildren.com.