Children's Product Recalls » strangulation hazard

Build-A-Bear Recalls Teddy Bear Swimwear Set Due to Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:41:40 +0000

Name of Product: Swimwear Set With Inflatable Inner Tube

Units: About 19,720 units in the United States and 1,100 units in Canada

Importer: Build-A-Bear Workshop®, of St. Louis

Hazard: The inner tube accessory can be pulled over a small child’s head, posing a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Build-A-Bear received one report of an incident in which a 3-year-old girl pulled the inner tube over her head and had difficulty removing it.

Description: The inner tube is part of the three-piece Fruit Tutu Bikini swimwear set for teddy bears, which includes a two-piece fruit-print bikini. The inner tube is 9 inches in diameter and pink with white and yellow flowers printed on it. The model number of the swimwear set is 017220 and is located on the price sticker on the “Build-A-Bear” cardboard tag.

Sold at: Build-A-Bear Workshop® stores nationwide and online at www.buildabear.com from April 2011 to August 2011 for $12.50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the inner tube and return it to any Build-A-Bear Workshop® store to receive a $5 store coupon. If it is not possible to return the inner tube to a store, consumers may contact the company for information about how to receive a refund.

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1435

Boy Scouts of America Recalls Cub Scout Wind Tech Jackets Due to Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:34:15 +0000

Name of Product: Cub Scout Wind Tech jackets

Units: About 5,400

Importer: Boy Scouts of America, Charlotte, N.C.

Hazard: The jackets have retractable cords with toggles at the hood/neck area and at the waist, which can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997, to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall includes the blue Cub Scout Wind Tech jacket sold in youth sizes. The jackets are nylon with a polyester lining, long-sleeve, with a full zipper front and a Cub Scout wolf head emblem embroidered on the upper left chest. SKU numbers 73291, 73292, and 73293 are printed on the hangtag that is attached to the jacket at retail.

Sold at: Boy Scouts of America retail outlets nationwide and online at www.scoutstuff.org from November 2009 through July 2011 for approximately $32.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the cords from these jackets to eliminate the hazard, or return the jacket to Boy Scouts of America for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the Boy Scouts of America toll-free at (855) 873-2408 anytime or visit the firm’s website at www.scoutstuff.org

Dolls Recalled by Pottery Barn Kids Due To Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:21:58 +0000

I had no clue Pottery Barn actually sold toys. Whenever I think of them, I imagine furniture, picture frames, and candles. And one of my favorite episodes of “Friends”!

Name of Product: Chloe, Sophie and Audrey soft dolls

Units: About 81,000 in the United States and 1,300 in Canada

Importer: Pottery Barn Kids, a division of Williams-Sonoma Inc., of San Francisco, Calif.

Hazard: The hair on the Chloe and Sophie dolls may contain loops that are large enough to fit around a child’s head and neck, and the headband on the Audrey doll, if loosened, can form a loop that fits around a child’s head and neck. These loops can pose a strangulation hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of dolls with looped hair, including one report in which a loop of the Chloe doll’s hair was found around the neck of a 21-month old child. The child was not injured.

Description: This recall involves soft dolls sold under the names Audrey, Chloe and Sophie. The dolls measure about 17 inches high and have hair made of yarn. Audrey’s hair is black, Chloe’s hair is dark brown and Sophie’s hair is blonde. The dolls are part of Pottery Barn Kids’ Girl Doll Collection. The doll’s name can be found on a tag sewn onto her bottom.

Sold exclusively at: Pottery Barn Kids stores nationwide, online at www.potterybarnkids.com and through Pottery Barn Kids catalogs from July 2006 to April 2011 for about $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the dolls away from children immediately and cut the looped hair of the Chloe and Sophie dolls and remove the headband of the Audrey doll to eliminate the hazard. Consumers may also call Pottery Barn Kids for instructions on how to return the affected dolls for a merchandise credit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (855) 880-4504 between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m. PT seven days a week or visit the firm’s website at www.potterybarnkids.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1389

CHLOE

SOPHIE

AUDREY

CPSC Issues New Drawstring Safety Rule for Children’s Outerwear

CP_Recalls — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 06:12:52 +0000

Drawstrings at Neck and Waist Present Strangulation Hazard and Other Dangers

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted (5-0) today to approve a new federal safety rule for drawstrings in children’s outerwear. The final rule designates children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 12, with neck or hood drawstrings, and children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 16, with certain waist or bottom drawstrings, as substantial product hazards. Drawstrings can catch or become entangled with objects, such as a car door or playground slide, posing dragging, strangulation entrapment hazards to children.

CPSC has received 26 reports of children who have died when the drawstring on their garment became entangled on playground slides, school bus doors, and other objects. Waist and bottom drawstrings that have been caught in doors or other car parts have resulted in dragging incidents.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 provided CPSC with the authority to specify, by rule, for any consumer product or class of consumer products, characteristics whose existence or absence shall be deemed a substantial product hazard. CPSC’s federal partners at Customs and Border Protection now have authority to stop potentially hazardous shipments of children’s outerwear with drawstrings from entering the United States. In addition, CPSC has increased regulatory authority to issue product recalls of violative garments.

In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf), which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997, to help prevent children from strangling or becoming entangled on drawstrings in outerwear garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts. Since the industry standard was introduced, fatal incidents involving garments with drawstrings through the neck or hood have decreased by 75 percent, and fatalities associated with drawstrings through the waist or bottom have dropped 100 percent. Nonetheless, from 2006 through 2010, the agency has participated in 115 recalls of noncomplying products with drawstrings.

Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Roman Shades by The Shade Store

CP_Recalls — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 06:28:15 +0000

Name of Product: Roman shades

Units: About 45,000 Roman shades

Manufacturer: The Shade Store, of Port Chester, N.Y.

Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves custom-made Roman shades. The shades were made out of fabric and of woven wood. The shades do not have any permanent markings.

Sold at: Five showroom locations and online at www.theshadestore.com from February 2006 through March 2011 for between $120 and $355 per shade.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled shades and call the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit toll-free at (800) 506-4636 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (800) 506-4636 end_of_the_skype_highlighting anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org. The Shade Store is contacting all known customers.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact The Shade Store toll-free at (800) 754-1455 or by e-mail at help@theshadestore.com

Front

Back/Hazard

Front

Back/Hazard

Front

Lan Enterprises Recalls Zooper Strollers Due to Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:29:49 +0000

Name of Product: Strollers

Units: About 2,300

Distributor: Lan Enterprises, LLC, of Hillsboro, Ore.

Hazard: The opening between the armrest bar/snack tray and seat bottom of the stroller can allow an infant’s body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck, posing a strangulation hazard to young children when a child is not harnessed. When using a stroller, parents are encouraged to always secure children by using the safety harness, and never leave the child unattended.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Zooper strollers sold with an optional use snack tray and armrest bar. The four models of strollers included in this recall were manufactured between February 2009 and June 2010. A warning label attached to the seat has the stroller’s production date code. The following models are included in the recall:

Brand	Model Name	Model Number	Date Code	Model Year (s)
Zooper Everyday	Tango	SL808G	022009-060510	2010, 2011
Zooper Everyday	Twist	BU822B	060510	2011
Zooper Everyday	Waltz	SL800J	022009-060510	2010, 2011
Zooper Elite	Flamenco	SL350B	071509	2010

Sold at: Juvenile product and mass merchandise stores nationwide and online retailers, including at Amazon.com, Costco.com and Dmartstores.com from May 2009 to May 2011 for between $200 and $800.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the armrest bar and snack tray from the strollers and contact Zooper USA to receive a free replacement armrest bar and repair kit for the snack tray. Replacement parts will be available beginning July 1, 2011.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Zooper USA toll-free at (888) 966-7379 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.zooper.com or http://zooper.com/Zooper/Customer/Safety_Recall/2010_and_2011_armrest_bar.asp

Tween Brands Recalls Beaded Curtains Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation; Sold Exclusively at Justice Stores

CP_Recalls — Wed, 04 May 2011 05:37:18 +0000

Name of Product: Beaded Curtains

Units: About 36,000

Importer: GMA Accessories Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Distributor: Tween Brands Inc., d/b/a Justice, of New Albany, Ohio

Hazard: The beaded curtains are prone to entanglement. When an adult or child plays with or runs through the beaded curtains, the risks of entanglement and strangulation are posed.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reports of consumers becoming entangled in the curtains. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves two styles of Justice-brand beaded door curtains, the diamond beaded curtain, and the disco ball beaded curtain. These multi-colored curtains are used as a decorative divider in a doorway and measure 72 inches long. Each curtain is sold with two plastic mounting brackets, each measuring 12 inches wide. The name of the product is printed on the packaging and the curtains have tracking numbers 904598.1735 and 904597.1735 printed on labels located on one of the mounting brackets and on the packaging.

Sold at: Justice stores nationwide and online at www.shopjustice.com from August 2010 through March 2011 for approximately $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled curtains and return them to any Justice store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Tween Brands at (800) 934-4497 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.shopjustice.com

Girl’s Hooded Sweater Recalled by El Gringo Imports Due to Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:49:33 +0000

Name of Product: Girl’s Hooded Sweater with Drawstring

Units: About 300

Importer: El Gringo Imports of Seattle

Hazard: The hooded sweaters have drawstrings through the hood which can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf), which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997, to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The recalled product is a hand-knitted wool sweater with a hood in sizes 1 through 10. The sweater has a drawstring in the hood with multi-colored yarn tassels. The sweaters are multi-colored with a front zipper. “El Gringo Imports” is written on a black neck tag.

Sold: Pike Place Market in Seattle from November 2009 to August 2010 for between $20 and $25.

Manufactured in: Ecuador

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstring from the sweatshirt to eliminate the hazard or contact El Gringo Imports for instructions on how to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact El Gringo Imports toll-free at (877) 278-1434 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s website at www.elgringoimports.com or e-mail the firm at michael@elgringoimports.com

Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Sunsations Due to Strangulation Hazard

CP_Recalls — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 06:14:33 +0000

Name of Product: Children’s hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings

Units: About 3,600

Retailer: Sunsations Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: The hooded sweatshirts have drawstrings through the hood which can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf), which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997, to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: The recall involves children’s and juniors hooded sweatshirts sold in sizes small, medium and large that can fit children in a large range of sizes from 2T through 12. “Virginia Beach,” “Ocean City,” “Nags Head” or “Kill Devil Hills” are printed on the front. The following style and items numbers are included in the recall and are printed on a tag sewn into the sweatshirt’s neck: BL200 (item #16692) in black, style BL300 (item #16693) in brown and style 292 (item #20221) which come in navy blue, pink and light blue.

Sold at: Sunsations stores in Virginia Beach, Va; Ocean City, Md; and Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, N.C. from May 2009 through November 2010 for between $10 and $25.

Manufactured in: Pakistan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstring from the sweatshirt to eliminate the hazard or return the sweatshirt to Sunsations for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sunsations at (800) 786-9044 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s website at www.sunsationsusa.com or email the firm at info@sunsationsusa.com

FAB/Starpoint Recalls Circo Beaded Door Curtains Due to Risk of Strangulation; Sold Exclusively at Target

CP_Recalls — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:55:00 +0000

Name of Product: Circo beaded door curtains

Units: 79,000

Manufacturer: FAB/Starpoint LLC, of New York, N.Y.

Retailer: Target Corp., of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child plays with the beaded strands by wrapping them around their necks or by creating loops in which they can insert their heads. Also, children can get entangled in the strands, which are prone to entangle, just by running through the doorway.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of entanglement. In January 2009, a nine-year old girl was entangled while passing through the beads and nearly choked as she continued walking through the curtain. In January 2010, a six-year old girl in Reno, Nev. became entangled in the bead strands as she passed through them and suffered slight lacerations to her neck. In April 2010, a girl became entangled as the beads swung back behind her father who had walked through the beads before her. She was pulled off her feet and momentarily suspended before she regained her footing and she received scratches to her neck.

Description: The Circo pink door curtain is a set of two beaded door curtains, each of which is 12 inches wide and 72 inches long. The warnings on the packaging include: “Not for use in areas with children under 5 years of age. Plastic ornaments may pose strangulation or entanglement hazard. Not for use near cribs or playpens…”. The photograph on the packaging shows an installed door curtain at the doorway of a girl’s bedroom with pink wall color, child-themed lamp and clock. There is a CAUTION statement included in the installation instructions that states: “Do not tie bottom to form loops.”

Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide and target.com from January 2009 through May 2010 for between $13 (at target.com) and $15 in stores.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take down the curtains and contact FAB/Starpoint for a full refund. FAB/Starpoint will provide a postage-free package to consumers to return the door curtain.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact FAB/Starpoint toll-free at (888) 333-2684 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.fabny.com