Health Alerts - July 2005

McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals is recalling several varieties of Children's Tylenol because confusing packaging information could lead to overdoses.

All lots and flavors of the following are being recalled: Children's Tylenol Meltaways (80 milligram dose) packaged in bottles and blisters;Children's Tylenol SoftChews (80 milligram dose) packaged in blisters; and Junior Tylenol Meltaways (160 milligram dose) packaged in blisters.

To request a refund, write to McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, CRC, 7050 Camp Hill Road, MB #790, Fort Washington, PA 19034.

For more information, contact McNeil's Consumer Relationship Center at(877) 895-3665 (English) or (888) 466-8746 (Spanish) or visit www.tylenol.com.

RadioShack Corp., of Fort Worth, Texas, is recalling 1 million Wet System Video Head Cleaners because the cleaning solution bottle, which is labeled as containing isopropanol, actually contains methanol. Methanol can be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed. It is much more toxic than isopropanol.

The recalled non-abrasive “Wet System” Video Head Cleaner was sold in a box labeled “Video Head Cleaner,”“RadioShack” and “44-1230” or “44-1213.”The box contains a cleaning video cassette and a bottle of cleaning solution.

The product was sold at RadioShack stores nationwide and www.radioshack.comfrom December 1995 through January 2005 for $13.

Consumers should place this product out of reach of children and return the product to the nearest RadioShack store for a refund, or dispose of the cleaning fluid in accordance with state and local requirements.

For more information, call RadioShack at (800) 843-7422 or visit www.radioshackcorporation.com.

Summit Marketing International LLC, of Dublin, Ohio, is recalling 2 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 in the hinge and slot areas of the chair, causing severe lacerations and finger tip amputations.

The firm has received seven reports of the chairs collapsing, resulting in injuries including finger tip amputations.

The recalled 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 with a table and two, four or six chairs.

The chairs were sold at hardware, discount department, toy, grocery and drug stores nationwide from September 2002 through May 2005 for $10 individually and $45 for a set.

Consumers should stop using the chairs and call Summit toll-free at (866)270-6275 for instructions on how to receive a repair kit to replace the locking pin.

Delta Enterprise Corp., of Brooklyn, N.Y., is recalling 180,000 Lov's Decorated Orthodontic Pacifiers that are banned under federal law. The pacifier nipples can separate from the base, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The recalled pacifiers are white with various colored handles. Designs,including an elephant, giraffe, lion, cloud, sun or Santa, are imprinted on the pacifier shields.

Small retail stores sold the pacifiers from November 2001 through December 2004 for $1.

Consumers should discard the pacifiers and contact the firm for instructions on how to obtain a refund or replacement product. Call (800)377-3777 or visit www.deltaenterprise.com/recall.

Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., is recalling 128,000 rechargeable batteries for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 computers because an internal short can cause the battery cells to overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The recalled lithium ion batteries are used with the following computers:12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. The recalled batteries have model numbers A1061, A1078 and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 or 3X446 through 3X510. Consumers should remove the battery from the computer to view the model and serial numbers on the bottom of the unit.

National and regional resellers, catalogers and Apple's online and retail stores sold the computers with the batteries from October 2004 through May 2005 for $900 to $2,300. The batteries also were sold separately for $130.

To arrange for a replacement battery, contact Apple at (800) 275-2273 or www.apple.com/support/batteryexchange. The computer can be used with the AC power adapter until a replacement battery arrives.

Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., is recalling 154,000 Grow-To-Pro Pogo sticks because an internal metal pin can wear down, causing the pogo sticks to remain in the down position and release unexpectedly, posing a risk of fall or facial injuries to children.

Fisher-Price has received 17 reports of injuries to those using the pogo sticks.

The recalled pogo sticks are green or pink and have model number 73386 or 77356 underneath the pogo stick's foot pegs. The recall includes green pogo sticks manufactured through Aug. 1, 2004, and all pink pogo sticks.

The pogo sticks were sold at discount department and toy stores nationwide from January 2002 through August 2004 for $25 to $30.

Consumers should take the products away from children and contact Fisher-Price at (800) 991-2444 or www.service.fisher-price.comto receive a free replacement pogo stick.

Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y., is recalling 54,000 Lil' Wagster Dragster push toys because a child's chin, jaw and teeth can get lodged in the opening at the top of the toy's handle.

Fisher-Price has received nine reports of injuries associated with the push toy's handle.

The recalled Lil' Wagster Dragster toy is an electronic push toy for children ages 1 year and older. Model number B0335 is printed on the underside of the toy's race car base.

The toys were sold at discount department stores and toy stores nationwide from December 2002 through February 2005 for $13.

Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children and contact Fisher-Price at (800) 991-2444 or www.service.fisher-price.comto receive a repair kit and installation instructions.

Dollar General Corp., of Goodlettsville, Tenn., is recalling 80,000 heart-shaped pendants because they contain high levels of lead, posing a serious risk of lead poisoning to young children. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

The silver heart-shaped pendants were sold at Dollar General stores nationwide from May 2003 through April 2005 for $1.

Consumers should take the necklaces away from children and return them to Dollar General stores for a refund. For more information, call (800) 678-9258 or visit www.dollargeneral.com.

Pamela Drake Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., is recalling 7, 0 0 0 L e m o n Meringue Wooden Push Toys because small parts can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The recall includes six different multicolored, solid wooden push toys,including an airplane, tractor, dump truck, fire truck, a two-piece circus train and a tow truck with family van.

The push toys were sold at toy and hobby stores nationwide from February through March 2005 for $15 to $24.

Consumers should take the toys away from young children and return the toys to Pamela Drake Inc. or their local retailer for a refund. For more information, call (800) 966-3762 or visit www.woodkins.com.

Quality Bicycle Products Inc., of Bloomington, Minn., is recalling 18,000 Dimension-brand threadless handlebar stems because they can crack or break,causing the bicycle rider to fall and suffer injuries.

The recall involves all Dimension-brand road and mountain threadless bicycle stems with a 130-degree rise, including models SM2330 to SM2333,SM4555 to SM4558, SM4567 and SM4570 to SM4573. The model numbers are printed on the original packaging.

The handlebar stems were sold at bicycle specialty stores, Web and mail order retailers nationwide from January 2003 through March 2005 for $25.

Consumers should contact a local bicycle retailer to check the handlebar stem and obtain a replacement stem if necessary. For more information, call(877) 725-7211 or visit www.dimensionbikeproducts.com.

Carter Brothers Manufacturing Co. Inc., of Brundidge, Ala., is recalling 9,000 Fun-Karts because the wheel could separate from the go-cart, posing a roll-over hazard.

The recall includes one-seater models 1136-3020, 1136-3021, 1136-3420,1136-3421 and 1205-3020 and two-seater models 2336-3021, 2336-3022, 2336-5019,2575-3020, 2575-3420, 2605-3416, 2605-3515, 2606-3016, 2606-3017, 2606-3416,2606-3417, 2636-3016, 2636-3017, 2906-3015, 2906-3016, 2906-3017, 2906-4015,2906-4016, 2906-4017, 2909-3015, 2909-3415, 2909-4015, 2910-3015, 2910-3016,2910-3415, 2910-4015, 2910-4016, 2910-4415, 2911-4015, 2911-4016, 2946-3015 and 2946-3016. The model and serial numbers are under the seat.

The Fun-Karts came in red, black, blue, purple and green and were sold at Carter Brothers dealers nationwide from April 2003 through March 2005 for $900 to $2,900.

Consumers should stop using the Fun-Karts and call or visit their local Carter Brothers Dealer to schedule a free repair. For more information, call(800) 523-5278 or visit www.carterbro.com.

Mission - ITECH Hockey, of Kirkland, Quebec, Canada, is recalling 5,000 hockey goalie masks and goalie mask replacement wires because the metal wire could break at or near a weld point, exposing a hockey goalie to facial injuries.

The recalled items include ITECH Profile 2100, 1100 and 8.0 hockey goalie masks and ITECH RP607 and RP609 goalie mask replacement wires. A label identifying the model is affixed to the rear crown of the helmet.

The recalled hockey goalie masks and replacement wires are non-certified models with a cat-eye design. The goalie masks came in black or white. The replacement wires are black, white and chrome and are attached to the helmet/mask by four screws and posts without the use of any additional clips.

The items were sold at sporting goods and hockey specialty stores from January 1999 to September 2004 for $250 for the mask and $60 for the replacement wire.

Consumers should stop using the masks and replacement wires and return them to the company for a free replacement unit. For more information, call (877)832-3366 or e-mail [email protected].