[Recalls Page]

July 2003 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cervélo Cycles Inc., of Toronto, Canada, is voluntarily recalling bicycle forks. The forks on the bicycles can develop cracks near the crown area resulting in failure of the fork and posing a risk of injury to the rider.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hedstrom Corp., of Bedford, Pa., is voluntarily recalling trampolines. Welds on the frame of these trampolines can break during use, causing consumers to fall to the ground and suffer injuries.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ideal Industries Inc., of Sycamore, Ill., is voluntarily recalling Ideal Solenoid Voltage Testers. These testers can short out at high voltages. Consumers can suffer burns.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart is voluntarily recalling Home Trends Kiddy Sling Chairs. The small plastic bolt covers pose a choking hazard to small children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., is voluntarily recalling Earlyears Bobbie Bear Stacking Rings. Plastic knobs on the rings can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 265,000 18-volt cordless drill/drivers. The drill's switch can malfunction and overheat, posing the possibility of a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, UWATEC AG of Hallwil, Switzerland is voluntarily recalling UWATEC Smart Dive Computers. The computer's alert signal system may not work properly and the computer screen may freeze. This may cause inaccurate information to be displayed, such as water depth, tank pressure, and ascent rate, posing a risk to the safety of a diver.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, De Bon Sales is voluntarily recalling cigaretter lighters. The novelty lighters are not equipped with child-resistant mechanisms. They pose fire and burn hazards to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, DesignPac, of Northlake, Ill is voluntarily recalling oil lamp boxed sets . The bottles of paraffin oil in these sets do not have the child-resistant closures required by federal law.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex is voluntarily recalling slow cookers. The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling onto consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Midwest is voluntarily recalling Toad Lawn Sprinklers. The handles on the base of the slow cookers can break, posing a risk of burns from hot food spilling onto consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 TimeCutter Z Riding Lawn Mowers. The actuator arm could fail, resulting in a loss of transmission control and risk of personal injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Select Comfort Corporation, of Minneapolis, Minn. is voluntarily recalling about 90,000 adjustable Sleep Number Beds. When exposed to severely cold temperatures and impact, such as may occur during shipping, the power cord insulation on the electric air pump can crack, creating a short-circuit or exposing live electrical wires and presenting a shock or electrocution hazard.

A voluntary standard developed by industry and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (the national trade association of the manufacturers of water heating and space heating equipment and components), in cooperation with CPSC, calls for conventional tank-type gas water heaters manufactured after July 1, 2003, to be equipped with new safety technology. This technology, often referred to as a flame arrestor, prevents flashback fires by trapping and burning dangerous gas vapors inside of the heater, while preventing ignition of the vapors in the room.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Toshiba America Consumer Products, Inc., of Wayne, N.J. is voluntarily recalling 3,400 Rear Projection Televisions. If the capacitors short circuit due to a very high electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike, the metal parts on the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard. In addition, the metal jacks on the back of the television or another metal box attached to the television could present a shock or electrocution hazard as a result of the capacitors' failure.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Promotional Events Inc., of Florence, Ala. is voluntarily recalling about 22,700 "TNT" Reloadable Tube Fireworks. The firework device has a defective base and can break during launch, if reused, the launching device could then send fireworks in unintended directions, possible causing injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), GSW Industries Inc., of Fergus, Ontario, Canada is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 S.I.T. Gas Temperature Controls on GSW Water Heaters in the U.S.A. A potential burn hazard from ignition flashback or an increase in tank water temperature.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Small Small World, of Englewood, N.J. is voluntarily recalling about 75,000 "Egg Dippers" Easter Plush Toys. The toys' seams can separate and allow small beads to be released, presenting an aspiration hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Franzus Company LLC, of Beacon Falls, Conn. is voluntarily recalling about 29,000 International Adapter Plugs. The adapter plugs can separate, exposing live electrical conductors, posing an electrocution and shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), JAKKS Pacific Inc., of Malibu, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 1.3 million "Spit Smatter" Spray Foam Cans. The aerosol cans can forcefully break apart, posing a risk of serious injury to nearby consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Perfect Fit Industries, of Charlotte, N.C. is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 SOIREE and Soft n' Warm Electric Blankets. These blankets can overheat, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers, especially when the blanket is folded or bunched.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in recent years an average of about 250 children under 5 years old drowned in pools nationwide annually. More than half of these deaths occurred in the summer months. Among unintentional injuries, drowning is the second leading cause of death to this age group after motor vehicle incidents. Another 2,700 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for near-drowning incidents. Most of these cases involve residential pools.

Safety experts have a new tool to get a more accurate count of burns related to children's clothing thanks to a new data collection system launched today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.