Original; see modified release: Bicycle Helmets Recalled by Three Firms
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
This is the original of a document that has been modified. To see the modified version, click here
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2000
Release # 01-032
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
CPSC, Three Firms Announce Recall of Bicycle Helmets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Variflex Inc., of Moorpark, Calif.; NHS Inc., of
Santa Cruz, Calif.; and First Team Sports Inc., of Anoka, Minn.; are
voluntarily recalling about 243,000 bicycle helmets. These helmets fail
impact testing required under CPSC's Safety Standard for Bicycle
Helmets, violating the Consumer Product Safety Act. Riders wearing these
helmets are not adequately protected from falls, and could suffer severe
head injuries or death. The recalls are the result of a CPSC
investigation, test results provided by the Good Housekeeping Institute
and a helmet company's report to CPSC.
CPSC and these firms are not aware of any injuries or incidents
involving these helmets. This recall is being conducted to prevent the
possibility of injuries.
Variflex Inc. "X-Games Aggressive" Bicycle Helmets
Variflex Inc. is recalling about 240,000 "X-Games Aggressive" bicycle
helmets, which are either black, white or chrome. They have a red "X-
Games" insignia on the front and "X-Games" is written on the back. A
large label inside these helmets reads "SGS CPSC CY50159." And "Variflex Inc." "Static" and "Made in Taiwan" are written on the packaging.
Sporting good and discount department stores nationwide sold these helmets from October 1999 through September 2000 for about $20.
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, and return them
to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement helmet. For
more information, call Variflex at (800) 248-5327 between 8 a.m. and 5
p.m. PT Monday through Friday.
Variflex Inc. "X-Games Aggressive" Bicycle Helmet
NHS TSG Helmets
NHS Inc. is recalling about 1,100 "TSG Metallic Gold," 1,000 "TSG Gloss
Black" and 500 "TSG Foundation Blue" helmets. The Metallic Gold and
Gloss Black helmets have "TSG" written on the front and rear of the
helmet. The Foundation Blue helmets have the word "Foundation" across
the front and a star and moon on the side of the helmet. They have
serial numbers beginning SN: 00170 or SN: 00171, and a date code of
January, February and April 2000 written on the white label inside the
helmets.
Sporting good stores nationwide sold these helmets from February 2000
through October 2000 for between $35 to $45.
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately and return them to NHS Inc., not to the store where purchased, for a refund. For more
information and instructions on how to return the helmet, call NHS at
(877) 743-7820 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.
NHS TSG Helmet
First Team Sports "Guardian Junior Helmets"
First Team Sports Inc. is recalling about 1,000 "Guardian Junior
Helmets." They are slate blue, and have "Guardian" written on the front
and rear of the helmets. They have model numbers 007471, 007958, 009406, 009437, 009455 or 009830, and date code "2000/04" written on a label inside the helmets.
Sporting goods stores in the eastern and north eastern U.S. sold
these helmets from February 2000 through October 2000 for about $25.
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, and return
them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information,
call First Team Sports at (800) 528-5872 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT
Monday through Friday.
