Several products that may pose a hazard to small children were recalled this week. A toy and window blinds can pose choking hazards, a frog mask could be a suffocation risk, and a child carrier is missing a bolt that lead to a fall. Here’s a rundown of this week’s recalled consumer products:
RECHARGEABLE BATTERY
DETAILS: Black rechargeable lithium-poly 37-volt batteries imported by Electric Motion Systems of Dulles, Va., and used in electric bicycles and propulsion systems. The batteries were sold at bike shops and on the company’s website from October 2009 through November 2010 on their own and as part of the E+ Flex Kits. The kits are complete propulsion systems.
WHY: The battery can overheat and catch fire.
INCIDENTS: The company has three reports of the battery catching fire with one resulting in a consumer receiving minor burns.
HOW MANY: 70
FOR MORE: Call 877-824-5339; visit www.epluselectricbike.com ; e-mail info(at)epluselectricbike.com.
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FROG MASKS
DETAILS: Child-sized frog-themed animal masks sold at Target stores nationwide from August through September. The plush masks, made in China, are green with yellow and red highlights. There are two eye cutouts and a green elastic band with a fastener used to secure the mask at the back of the child’s head.
WHY: They lack proper ventilation. When secured in place across a child’s face, they present a suffocation hazard.
INCIDENTS: None reported
HOW MANY: About 3,400
FOR MORE: Call 800-440-0680; visit www.target.com
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SHADES AND BLINDS
DETAILS: “Innovations” and “At Home with Meijer” Roman shades and roll-up blinds imported by Meijer, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and manufactured by Whole Space Industries LTD, of Centereach, N.Y. They were sold at discount retailers, dollar stores, flea markets and other retail liquidators nationwide from March 2010 through September 2011. The shades were manufactured in Taiwan.
WHY: Roman Shades can cause a strangulation hazard when a child’s neck is 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 the neck. Roll-up Blinds could cause a similar strangulation hazard.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 3,200 units (240,000 originally recalled in March 2010).
FOR MORE: Call 800-506-4636 or 800-927-8699; visit www.windowcoverings.org or www.meijer.com .
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CHILD CARRIERS
DETAILS: LittleLife Discoverer Child Carriers manufactured by Lifemarque, of United Kingdom and imported by Rock Gear, of Canada; sold at retail stores nationwide and online from January through July 2011. The carriers are green and gray with a black metal frame at the back with a folding leg bracket to enable the carriers to stand. The child carriers were manufactured in Vietnam.
WHY: The carriers were sold without bolts that attach the carrier’s main frame to the metal stand. Missing bolts cause the carrier to disconnect from the stand and fall backward, posing a fall hazard.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 40 in the United States and 10 in Canada.
FOR MORE: Call 877-922-5462; visit www.littlelife.com ; email customer.services(at)littlelife.co.uk.
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TWIST AND SORT TOYS
DETAILS: Twist and Sort Toys manufactured by Guidecraft Inc., of Winthrop, Minn. They were sold at specialty toy stores and gift shops nationwide, catalogs and online from September 2009 through November 2010. The wooden toys have a square base, four posts and 12 primary-colored game pieces that can be arranged to fit over the posts. The toys were manufactured in China.
WHY: The small pegs on three of the four posts can detach, posing a choking hazard.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 760.
FOR MORE: Call 888-824-1308; visit www.guidecraft.com .
