Consumer Products Recalls

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Suffocation

Fall

June 23, 1995 Release # 95-137 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Black and Decker (U.S.) Inc. is urging approximately 7,500 owners of Black and Decker 1710 Type 1, 10-inch Miter Saws to inspect the electrical cords for nicks, cuts, or punctures. The electrical cords may have come in contact with the mounted saw blade during shipment, which could result in a possible shock hazard from a damaged cord.Consumers should examine the saw's entire 6-foot electrical cord for any nicks, cuts, or punctures. If even a small nick in the cord is found, stop using the miter saw immediately and return it to the Black and Decker retailer from which it was purchased for a free replacement saw. Consumers can also take the miter saw to a Black and Decker Service Center to have the electrical cord replaced free of charge.Black and Decker has received no reports of personal injury or property damage. The company is initiating this inspection program to prevent the possibility of injury.This inspection program affects the 1710 Type 1, 10-inch saws with date codes between 9501-9516, located on the underside of the saw's handle. These saws were sold nationwide from February to mid-April 1995 through large and small retailers, discount outlets, and hardware stores. No other Black and Decker product is involved in this program.For help in identifying saws, and for questions about the saws or this inspection program, call Black and Decker at (800) 762-6672

Fall

Fall

June 8, 1995 Release # 95-131 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Meco Corporation of Greeneville, Tenn., announced today a program to give owners of Meco brand charcoal smokers a kit to reduce the risk of fire from hot coals falling through a hole in the bottom of the pan.The kits fit Meco Smokers and Grills with the model numbers 5022-3, 5024-2, and 5025-2. Model 5022-3 is red or black painted steel. Model 5024-2 has a stainless steel body with a black hood. Model 5025-2 has a stainless steel body and hood. Each of the Meco charcoal water smokers has a black charcoal pan with a hole in it, a metal water pan in the middle of the unit, and grills for food at the top of the unit. Since 1983, Meco has sold about 253,000 of these smokers nationwide through wholesalers and retailers, including many mass merchandisers, from about $75 to $180 each.The company is voluntarily participating in this program to help prevent the possibility of fires. Using the smoker over a flammable surface is contrary to current warnings and instructions included with the Meco smokers.Consumers should call Meco Corporation at (800)251-7558 for a free kit to close the hole in the pan. To help reduce the risk of fire, consumers should never operate charcoal water smokers on or near flammable surfaces, even after the hole in the pan is closed.CPSC is investigating other brands of charcoal water smokers that may present a similar fire risk. CPSC views all charcoal water smokers, which have exposed charcoal pans with holes that can allow coals to fall out, as a potential fire risk

Choking

Fall

May 26, 1995 Release # 95-124 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dakin Inc. of Woodland Hills, Calif., is warning consumers that the pom poms on approximately 66,500 of their "Big Top Playmates" toys can detach, posing a choking or aspiration hazard.CPSC is aware of ten incidents in which pom poms separated from the toys or children under one year old ate pieces of the pom poms or placed the pom poms in their mouths. No injuries were reported and no medical attention was required.The "Big Top Playmates" series features a variety of products based on circus animals. This corrective action affects bear, bunny and elephant soft fabric dolls (item no. 40319), bottle hugging dolls (item no. 40321), finger puppets (item no. 40320), crib attachments (item no. 40335), dolls attached to the musical mobile (item no. 40324), and ring shaped rattles with soft plush animal head and feet (item no. 40325). The products are decorated with pink, yellow and blue trim with small pom poms that measure .5 inches.The products' hang tags include the item number and product name and reads in part, "THE FRASER COLLECTION, DAKIN, INC. San Francisco, CA, Product of China."Dakin Inc. distributed 66,500 "Big Top Playmates" products nationwide from February 1994 through April 1995. The products sell for $5.00 to $15.00 ($50.00 for the mobile) in approximately 3,800 specialty, toy and department stores.Consumers are urged to immediately cut the pom poms from the products and discard them. Consumers who have questions about this corrective action may contact Dakin Inc. toll- free at (800)227-6598 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. PST."Big Top Playmates" products currently on store shelves are being modified and should not have pom pom trim

Drowning

May 17, 1995 Release # 95-122 WASHINGTON, DC - CPSC, GT Bicycles Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif., is announcing an inspection and repair program for the forks on all 1995 GT "Aggressor" model bicycles. This inspection program affects approximately 4,000 bicycles, which are equipped with forks made by Polygon Industries, Inc. of Taiwan, R.O.C. The forks could break during use causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle and fall.CPSC is aware of 13 incidents in which bolts in the bicycles loosened, causing the bicycle forks to break. Although no serious injuries have been reported, the potential for injury is significant.One thousand GT-authorized retailers sold the bicycles nationwide between October 1994 and March 1995 for about $400.00. The bicycles, which have either a bright blue or candy red finish with "Aggressor" written on the frame, sold in adult sizes from 14 1/2 inches to 22 inches.CPSC and GT Bicycles are instructing consumers to stop using their 1995 GT "Aggressor" bikes and bring them to any authorized GT Bicycles dealer for a free inspection. Dealers will inspect the bicycles, tighten any loose bolts, and replace damaged forks at no cost to the consumer.For more information, consumers can call GT Bicycles at (800) 743-3248. Media inquiries should be directed to either Aaron Raines or Bill Galloway at the same telephone number