Consumer Products Recalls

Choking

Vehicle Accident

Choking

Houdini Portable Playyards Hazard NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Nychelle White December 17, 1996 (301) 504-7063 Release # 97-047 CPSC and Evenflo Warn of Potential Choking Hazard on Houdini Portable Playyards WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Evenflo Company Inc. of Piqua, Ohio is warning consumers that some of its Houdini Portable Playyards may present a potential small parts choking hazard and a sharp edge hazard. Approximately 205,000 of these playyards were sold. Small plastic covers from "push caps" used to secure various parts of the playyards together may crack and separate. Evenflo and the CPSC are aware of a number of reports of the plastic caps separating. Although no injuries have been reported, this action is being taken to prevent young children from choking or cutting themselves. All Houdini model numbers beginning with 332 are involved in this warning. The model number is located on a tag attached to the bottom of the unit. The playyards sold nationwide for about $45 from 1994 through 1996. CPSC and Evenflo are advising all Houdini owners to inspect the pushcaps on their playyards. The push caps on Houdini Playyards are small metal washers covered by a plastic clip. In some cases, these plastic clips have cracked and separated from the metal washer. The plastic clip could then present a choking hazard, and the exposed metal washer may be sharp enough to cut a child. The exposed metal washer will continue to hold the playyard securely together. Each playyard contains 16 push caps with three located in each corner of the top rail, and one in the center of each top rail. Consumers should look for loose, cracked, or missing plastic covers. If any are found, consumers should call Evenflo at (800) 490-7549 immediately to obtain free replacement push caps and installation instructions. Even if no loose, cracked, or missing plastic covers are found, consumers should call for a free warning label.

Poisoning

Choking

Lead

Entrapment

Poisoning

All Our Kids Portable Cribs/Playpens Hazard NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: November 21, 1996 (301) 504-7908 Release # 97-028 CPSC Warns of Strangulation Hazard with All Our Kids Portable Cribs/Playpens WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers that about 13,000 portable cribs/playpens sold under the brand name All Our Kids pose a strangulation hazard to young children. The playpens, also known as travelyards or playards, have rotating top rails, which can collapse unexpectedly, trapping a child at the neck in the "V" formed by the collapsed top rail. The CPSC is aware of 7 babies who strangled in collapsed portable playpens with similar top rail designs made by three other manufacturers. The most recent of these deaths occurred on October 15, 1996. The top rails of the All Our Kids playpens can collapse even when the product is set up properly. The All Our Kids playards, models 741, 742 and 761, come in a variety of colors, shapes (rectangular and square) and sizes with some having a detachable toy bag on one end. The words "All Our Kids" appear on two of the four top rails. A variety of retailers sold the playpens nationwide from 1992 to 1995. The Draco Corporation of Montebello, Calif., sold the playards under the All Our Kids brand name. CPSC is not announcing a recall of these products because Draco/All Our Kids is out of business. Consumers who own All Our Kids model 741, 742 and 761 portable cribs/playards should stop using them immediately and destroy them to prevent future use.