Furniture

Choking

Entrapment

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Choking

Suffocation

Entrapment

Choking

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Originally issued October 4, 1994; Revised March 3, 2011Release #95-003 CONTACT: Elaine Tyrrell(301) 504-6815 CPSC And Industry Redesign Products To Save Lives Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today a major cooperative effort with the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to protect children from strangling in window covering pull cords. Window covering pull cords are associated with at least 140 deaths since 1981, a rate of one death per month.CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "This collaborative effort between CPSC and manufacturers, importers, and retailers of drapery and blind cords epitomizes how government and industry can work together to save lives. This program will change future production, and give consumers who have or will buy window coverings a way to prevent the needless deaths of children."CPSC, which investigated seven window covering cord strangulation deaths this year in Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, and California, is currently investigating an eighth death in the state of Washington.Although some children were described as "entangled" or "wrapped" in window covering cords, most were found hanging in the loop of the cords. The younger victims, usually 8 to 23 months old, were in cribs, which were placed near window covering pull cords. While a few older children found the cords hanging near the floor, most of these victims, usually between 2 1/2 to 4 years old, became entangled and strangled in cords when they climbed onto furniture to look out windows.Although a few of the older children were previously seen playing with the cords, most of the accidents occurred when the children were alone in a room for only a short time. CPSC and the Window Covering Safety Council announced a three-part program that will eliminate the loop in most window blind cords by (1) improving the safety of existing window coverings, (2) modifying the future production of window coverings, and (3) implementing an educational campaign for consumers. Part one - Consumers who have window coverings in their homes should call the toll free number (800) 506-4636 immediately. The Window Covering Safety Council will either give the names of retail stores where consumers can pick up safety tassels now or send consumers safety tassels free-of-charge with installation instructions. Callers should be prepared to specify the number of individual tassels needed in their households. Part 2 - As of Jan. 1, 1995, two-corded window coverings sold in stores will be manufactured with a new safer design. Part 3 - The industry is committed to an educational campaign, which includes, brochures, posters for pediatricians offices and public health offices nationwide, and product alerts in window covering packaging. In the interim, consumers should look for brands already manufactured with a safer design or get the tassels from retailers when they purchase new blinds. Consumers should add the safety tassels to new blinds immediately upon installation. Parents should KEEP WINDOW COVERING CORDS AND CHAINS PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Never place a child's crib within reach of a window blind. Unless the cords can be completely removed from the child's reach, including when the child climbs on furniture, CPSC recommends against knotting or tying the cords together because this creates a new loop in which a child could become entangled. Upon receiving their replacement safety tassels, consumers should install them as follows: For two-corded HORIZONTAL BLINDS, Cut the cord above the tassel, remove the equalizer buckle, and add a new safety tassel at the end of each cord. For two-corded PLEATED OR CELLULAR SHADES: leave the cord ball or buckle near the top rail in place, cut the cord above the tassel and add a separate safety tassel at the end of each cord. When shades are raised, a loop will appear above the cord stop. Keep cord out of the reach of children. VERTICAL BLINDS, CONTINUOUS LOOP SYSTEMS, DRAPERY CORDS and CHAINS cannot be fixed with the replacement safety tassels but can be fixed with tie-down devices. Consumers should call CPSC at (800) 638-CPSC for information on modifying these types of window coverings

October 3, 1994 Release # 95-002 Washington, D.C. - CPSC, BernzOmatic, once located in Medina, New York (now a brand under Irwin Industrial, located in Wilmington, OH), is offering owners of model TX900 and TX900A propane heaters $250 to return the heaters to the company. Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a defective burner in the heaters has killed at least 42 people, six of them since 1987.About 40,000 of these portable propane gas radiant heaters were sold for $30-35 nationwide from 1962 to 1966. Bernzomatic originally recalled the camping-style heaters in 1966 and reissued the recall in cooperation with CPSC in 1987. Bernzomatic repeated the recall in 1988, 1989, and 1990.About 7,000 of the recalled heaters are believed to still be in use. The heaters are often re-sold in yard sales and in second-hand stores.Recalled heaters have a green metal cabinet that is approximately 9 inches wide, 14 inches high, and 7 inches deep with room inside for one or two 14.1 ounce propane gas cylinders. "BernzOmatic" appears on the front of the heater and on the instructions inside the rear door. The model number TX900 or TX900A and the words "Portable Gas Radiant Heater" also appear on the instructions inside the rear door.Consumers should stop using the heater and call call Irwin Industrial (which owns the BernzOmatic brand name) toll-free at 800-654-9011 for instructions on how to return it for the $250 bounty

September 19, 1994 Release # 94-130 Washington, D.C. - CPSC, Sub-Zero Freezer Company Inc. of Madison, Wis., is voluntarily offering to inspect, at no cost, its model 550 and 501 built-in refrigerators/freezers installed between June 1989 and December 1992. Sub-Zero has received 30 reports of the refrigerators/freezers tipping forward, including nine injuries. All tipovers involved refrigerators that were not properly secured during installation.Approximately 61,000 refrigerators/freezers were sold nationwide through kitchen dealers and appliance stores. The refrigerators are 36 inches wide and have the name "Sub- Zero" on the ventilating grill. The model number is on a sticker attached to the interior door frame. Model 501 refrigerators/freezers have a single door with the motor on the bottom. Model 550 refrigerator/freezers have a drawer on the bottom, a single refrigerator door, and the motor on top. These refrigerators/freezers are intended to be secured to the wall studs or to solidly-attached surrounding cabinets. Failure to secure them during installation could allow the refrigerators/freezers to fall forward during use.Owners of Models 501 and 550 refrigerators/freezers installed between June 1989 and December 1992 should contact Sub-Zero to arrange for a free installation inspection and, if necessary, correction by calling 1-800-222-7820, or by sending their name, address, and telephone number to: Sub- Zero Freezer Company Inc., P.O. Box 44130, Madison, WI 53744-4130

Entrapment

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May 4, 1994 Release # 94-068 PRODUCT: Approximately 121,000 Model DC33 Scotsman Home Ice CubeMachines sold nationwide and manufactured prior to September 1991. The models include DC33A-1A, DC33A-1B, DC33A-1W, DC33PA-1A, DC33PA- 1B, DC33PA-1W, and DC33PA-1A-PB. The model number and the ice machine's serial number/date code are printed on a label affixed to the left side of the machine's base behind the front grill, and on some ice machines, on a second label affixed to the control box cover at the lower front side of the unit. The serial number/date code consists of a six-digit serial number immediately preceded or followed by a number/letter combination representing the machine's date code (e.g. 10X- 999999 or 999999-10X). The affected ice machines have the letters D, E, F, G, H, J, S, T, U, V, W or X in the date code or have a date code of -01K, -02K, -07K, -08K, -09K, -10K, -11K or -12K. Scotsman has received up to 10 reports of ice machines catching on fire. No reported injuries occurred. However, the incidents resulted in damage to the ice machine itself, and in some instances, minor water damage from severed water lines in the unit, heat damage to surrounding walls or cabinets, and smoke damage. WHAT TO DO: Turn the unit's control knob to the "OFF" position and contact Scotsman at (800) 733-5383 providing your name, address, and the machine's serial number/date code. Consumers will then be referred to authorized repair/service centers in their area that will install a retrofit at no charge. WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC, Scotsman Group, Inc., Vernon Hills, Illinois, is announcing a voluntary retrofit program for certain home ice cube machines because of a potential fire risk. Scotsman commercial ice machines are not affected by the retrofit program.Scotsman has received up to ten reports of ice machines catching on fire. The incidents resulted in damage to the ice machine itself, and in some instances, minor water damage from severed water lines in the unit, heat damage to surrounding walls or cabinets, and smoke damage. Scotsman has received no reports of injuries or major claims.Approximately 121,000 products covered by this retrofit program were sold nationwide and manufactured before September 1991. These ice makers are the Scotsman Model DC33 Home Ice Cube Machines, including models DC33A-1A, DC33A-1B, DC33A-1W, DC33PA- 1A, DC33PA-1B, DC33PA-1W, and DC33PA-1A-PB. The model number and the ice machine's serial number/date code, are printed on a label affixed to the left side of the machine's base behind the front grill, and on some machines, on a second label affixed to the control box cover at the lower front side of the unit. The serial number/date code consists of a six-digit serial number, immediately preceded or followed by a number/letter combination representing the unit's date code (e.g. 10X-999999 or 999999- 10X). The ice machines have the letters D, E, F, G, H, J, S, T, U, V, W or X in the date code or have a date code of -01K, -02K, -07K, -08K, -09K, -10K, -11K, or -12K. Consumers should turn the units control knob to the "OFF" position and contact Scotsman at (800) 733-5383 and provide their name, address, and serial number/date code of their ice cube machine. Consumers will then be referred to authorize