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"Recall Roundup" to get hazardous products out of King County homes and thrift stores

Tuesday, April 18, 2000

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - For the fourth consecutive year, Public Health - Seattle & King County and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are conducting a "recall round-up" to get hazardous products out of people's homes. Despite recall notices and public warnings, many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers and sold at garage sales and thrift stores.

"In the spirit of spring cleaning, I urge everyone to check their attics and garages for these recalled products", said Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "In addition, be sure not to sell them at garage sales or donate them to thrift stores where they could hurt another child."

Public Health - Seattle & King County sent letters to sixty-two area thrift stores alerting them to remove recalled objects from their shelves. This week Public Health staff will visit seven selected thrift stores to help management identify hazardous and recalled objects.

Today, CPSC released a "Recall List" of products. Some of the hazardous products that might be in consumers' homes and at second hand stores are:

  • Infant car seat/carriers where the handles can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward and the infant to fall. Three brands of carriers have been recalled. CPSC knows of a total of 160 injuries, including skull fractures and concussions, with all three recalled carriers. The recalled carriers are: Evenflo Model 207 and 492 made before July 27, 1997, by Evenflo Company; Cosco "Arriva" and "Turnabout" models made before September 9, 1997, by Cosco Inc.; and Kolcraft "Infant Rider," "Secura," and other models made from January 1, 1993, through June 30, 1999, by Kolcraft Enterprises. People should call the company to get free repair.

  • Pokemon Balls included with Burger King kids meals may pose a suffocation hazard to children under 3 years of age if either half of the ball gets stuck on the child's face, covering the nose and mouth. More than 25 million "Pokemon Balls" were distributed in November-December, 1999. A 13-month-old girl and a 4-month-old boy reportedly suffocated when one-half of a Pokemon ball covered their nose and mouth. In addition, CPSC is aware of several non-suffocation incidents. However, the girl's father, on the second attempt, pulled the ball-half from her face. Take the "Pokemon Balls" (including the clip) away from children under the age of 3 years and discard the ball or return both halves to a Burger King restaurant for a free small order of french fries.

  • Swimming Pool Dive Sticks can cause rectal or vaginal impalement if children jump into a shallow pool and fall or land on the dive stick. CPSC knows of nine impalement injuries and three non-impalement injuries to children 5 to 11 years old. People should stop using the hard plastic dive sticks and throw them out, or depending on the dive sticks owned, consumers can receive a refund, replacement, or repair.

  • Television carts made by Sauder Woodworking Co. and by Bush Industries Inc. can tip over and injure children and adults when the cart and the TV fall. There have been 15 reports of these carts tipping over, resulting in 3 injuries including a 3-year-old girl who suffered a skull fracture. The carts were sold ready-to-assemble and had a bottom cabinet with hinged double doors. People should remove their televisions and VCR's from the carts and contact the manufacturer to get a free repair kit to help prevent the cart from tipping over.

  • Tubular metal cribs made by Cosco Inc. before September 1997 can entrap or strangle a baby. These metal cribs can be mis-assembled with the mattress platform used as a side rail, creating a distance between the side rail slats that allows an infant to become entrapped. There have been 27 reports of babies becoming entrapped because of mis-assembly, resulting in 1 death. In addition, the mattress can compress and be pushed between the bars on the crib's platform, permitting a baby to slip between the bars on the crib's platform and become entrapped. Cosco has received 12 complaints of entrapment because of the compressed mattress, resulting in 1 death. Call the company to make sure the crib is properly assembled and to get a new, safer mattress.

  • Old cribs and other products made before CPSC's safety standards can choke, strangle, or suffocate children. Old cribs with more than 2-3/8 inches between crib slats, corner posts, or cut-outs on the headboard or footboard present suffocation and strangulation hazards. Bunk beds with spaces bigger than 3-½ inches can cause entrapment and strangulation. Old chest freezers can suffocate children. Hairdryers without built-in shock-protection devices in the plug can cause electrocution. Drawstrings around the neck of jackets and sweatshirts can strangle a child. Destroy these old hazardous products. Do not sell them at garage sales or give them to thrift stores.

CPSC's toll-free consumer Hotline and its website provide information about recalled products and information on what to look for when buying products. Consumers can reach the Hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit the web site at http://www.cpsc.gov. To get a list of major recalls, consumers may also send a postcard to "Recall List," CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.