Children’s products top this week’s list of recalls. A playground slide lacks a platform at the top. The difficulty of moving from the ladder to the slide has led to falls, and more than a dozen reports of children suffering fractures. Also recalled this week were toy vehicle sets with parts that can break into small pieces. No injuries have been reported, but the toys pose a choking hazard.
A rundown of problematic products recalled this week:
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CHILDREN’S PLAY SLIDES
DETAILS: Slalom Glider playground slides that have a curved shape and are made from molded plastic. The 6-foot high slides include an arched, tubular steel access ladder and were manufactured by Landscape Structures Inc. of Delano, Minn. The recalled product comes as a stand-alone slide or as an attachment to other playground equipment. The slides have model numbers 156456 and 172627 and were sold in combinations of colors, including red, blue, tan, green, gray and white. The slides were sold to schools and other facilities with playground equipment nationwide between January 2006 and December 2011.
WHY: The slide lacks a transition platform on the top and sides of the chute. That has caused some children to fall when moving from the ladder to the slide, or when descending the slide.
INCIDENTS: Sixteen reports of injuries to children younger than 8, including 14 fractures to arms and legs, a fractured collar bone and bruises.
HOW MANY: About 900
FOR MORE: Call 888-438-6574; visit www.playlsi.com .
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TOY VEHICLES AND PLAYSETS
DETAILS: Tumblekins toy vehicles and playsets including a farm vehicle playset, fire station, police car, roadster, off-roader, fire truck and school bus. The toys are wooden and painted in bright colors, ranging from 6 to 12 inches long and 4 to 9 1/2 inches tall. The toys were sold at stores nationwide and on various websites from March through December 2011. They were distributed by International Playthings LLC, of Parsippany, N.J. and manufactured by Lishui Treetoys Trading Co. Ltd., of China.
WHY: The toys can break into small pieces with sharp points. A child could choke on the pieces, or suffer cuts.
INCIDENTS: One report of a toy breaking into small pieces. No injuries reported.
HOW MANY: About 31,000
FOR MORE: Call 800-445-8347; visit www.cpsc.gov or email the distributor at recall(at)intplay.com.
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TEAPOTS
DETAILS: Ganz ceramic teapots that are tilted to appear as if they are dancing, with the handle and spout resembling a dancer’s arms. The 32-ounce teapots measure about 10 inches tall and 8 inches wide, and were manufactured in China. They were sold in blue, yellow, green, orange, pink and black at tea and coffee specialty stores, gift stores, drug stores, kitchen supply stores, hospital gift shops and other retailers nationwide from December 2011 through January 2012. The importer is Ganz U.S.A. LLC, of Cheektowaga, N.Y.
WHY: The teapot’s handle can get extremely hot, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
INCIDENTS: None reported
HOW MANY: About 2,100
FOR MORE: Call 800-724-5902; visit www.ganz.com .
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CHAIN SAWS
DETAILS: Stihl chain saws, model MS 391. The chain saws are gas-powered, with an orange top casing, gray base and black front handle and hand guard. “STIHL” and “MS 391” are printed in an orange circle on the starter side of the unit. The chain saws were manufactured by Stihl Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va., and sold at authorized Stihl dealers nationwide from March through July 2011.
WHY: The flywheel on the chain saw can crack. That could cause parts of the flywheel to come off, potentially hitting the person using the saw, or bystanders.
INCIDENTS: None reported
HOW MANY: About 3,000
FOR MORE: Call 800-610-6677; visit www.stihlusa.com .
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ADJUSTABLE OTTOMAN BEDS
DETAILS: A metal-framed ottoman that can be unfolded and converted into a twin-sized bed. The products were sold through the Improvements and Skymall catalogs and online at Improvementscatalog.com and Skymall.com from May through August 2011. The Chinese-made sets were distributed by JN Bailey and Associates Inc., of Dayton, Ohio.
WHY: When the ottoman is converted into a bed and weight is put on it, it can collapse, posing a fall hazard.
INCIDENTS: Five reports of beds collapsing, including two reports of minor injuries.
HOW MANY: About 800
FOR MORE: Call 800-985-6044; visit www.improvementscatalog.com .
