Consumer Products Recalls

Li'l Steeler Strollers Repaired by Hedstrom NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Originally issued February 19, 1986, Revised October 22, 2004 Release # 86-008 Note: Firm out of business. Consumers should discard or destroy the products to prevent injuries. Hedstrom To Voluntarily Repair Li'l Steeler Strollers To Prevent Collapse WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hedstrom Company of Bedford, Pennsylvania, announced a voluntary repair program affecting approximately 625,000 strollers manufactured between 1975 and September, 1982. The strollers which were distributed nationwide are being repaired because, in the event the stroller unexpectedly folds up, it is possible for a child to be injured by placing a finger into the hinge area of each side of the stroller. The Commission is aware of at least 14 incidents where the strollers have collapsed while in use. These incidents have resulted in at least 6 finger amputations and 8 other serious injuries to children after fingers were caught in the stroller's side hinge area. To eliminate the potential for injury, stop using the product immediately. Only the Li'l Steeler Strollers containing model numbers on the attached list were affected by this repair program. The model number can be found on the identification label attached to the frame of the stroller. If the label is removed, consumers can identify affected strollers by looking for the "Hedstrom" name sewn into the safety strap. The firm is out of business and the repair program is no longer available. The Commission advises parents to discard or destroy this product. Parents are also reminded never to fold or unfold this type of stroller with the child seated in or touching the frame of the stroller. 8-040 8-0508 8-0504 8-053 8-054 8-055 8-056 8-057 8-058 8-059 8-140 8-142 8-1423 8-150 8-1504 8-151 8-1511 8-1512 8-153 8-154 8-155 8-156 8-158 8-1581 8-159 8-243 8-2501 8-2502 8-251 8-2512 8-2514 8-252 8-2522 8-253 8-254 8-256 8-257 8-258 8-259 8-506 8-508 8-509 8-603 8-604 8-605 8-606 8-607 11-608 8-609 8-610 11-701 8-702 8-7021 8-703 8-7032 8-704 8-7042 8-707 8-708 8-7081 8-709 8-7092 8-710 8-7102 8-801 8-8014 8-802 8-8022 8-8027 8-8028 8-803 8-804 8-8045 8-805 8-8053 8-806 8-8067 8-807 8-8073 8-808 8-8085 8-809 8-810 8-8148 8-852 8-940 8-942 8-9422 8-9423 8-9427 8-943 8-9437 8-944 8-9443 8-945 8-950 8-9501 8-9502 8-9503 8-9504 8-9505 8-9506 8-9508 8-951 8-953 8-954 8-955 8-957 8-958 8-959 11-303 11-3030

Choking

Clacker Ball Toys Seized By Marshal NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 1985 Release # 85-065 Dangerous Toys Seized By U.S. Marshal In Phoenix The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that on December 6, the United States Marshal's Office in Phoenix, Arizona seized almost 4,600 banned "clacker ball" toys. The toys, labeled "KER-BANGERS," are a hand-held novelty item consisting of two plastic balls connected by a cord to a plastic handle. When the hand is raised and lowered, the balls "clack" or bang against each other in an arc. Despite the claim on the package that the "KER-BANGERS" are "SHATTERPROOF," when the Consumer Product Safety Commission tested these toys, the balls either shattered or cracked. In addition, many of the handles broke. Consumers who have "KER-BANGERS" should promptly throw them away. The toys were the seized at the premises of a wholesaler, Empire Novelty & Concession Supply, Inc. 2213 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Empire Novelty is voluntarily recalling the toys from its customers, who are retailers. The "KER-BANGERS" were shipped from California and, according to the label, were manufactured by Chuck Howard Toy Co. of Inglewood, California. The manufacturer is no longer in business. Clacker balls were a popular toy in the early 1970's. To prevent injuries from fragmentation of the balls or from propulsion of the parts upon sudden disassembly during use, they are subject to a regulation enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which requires them to pass specific durability tests.

Lead

Suffocation

December 3, 1985 Release # 85-061 Garbage Hauler Repairs Large Bins To Meet Federal Safety Standard The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that a commercial refuse hauler in Florida has brought into compliance seven large unstable slant-sided metal refuse bins of the type that are banned by federal law because they have tipped over and crushed children. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a ban to address the risk of tip-over of large unstable metal refuse bins that crushed children climbing or hanging on the bins. The federal ban outlaws metal bins with a volume of more than one cubic yard if they tip over during testing. The Commission test, designed to simulate the climbing and hanging activities of children, requires that bins sustain a horizontal force of 70 pounds and a vertical force of 191 pounds. Before the ban was issued, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had investigated 19 incidents of refuse bin tip-over, involving 21 victims, 20 of them children younger than ten years old. At the time, thirteen children had died from being crushed by unstable refuse bins. Since the 1977 ban, the Commission has investigated an additional 41 incidents of refuse bin tip-over, involving 41 victims, 39 of them children younger than age ten. There have been 16 more deaths. As part of the Commission's continuing surveillance to find all banned unstable refuse bins, investigators from Commission offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida discovered bins owned by ABC Disposal, Inc. in Port Richey, Florida that failed the federal safety standard. The Commission and ABC Disposal entered into a written agreement giving the firm fourteen days to repair or remove from public areas seven remaining unstable bins. In mid-November, the firm completed the repairs by welding extensions to keep the bins from tipping over

Vehicle Accident

Strangulation

Suffocation

Choking

Suffocation

Fall