December 1, 1994 Release # 95-030 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Imaginarium of Walnut Creek, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 500 fun music center toys.The toy was identified during a joint CPSC and U.S. Customs surveillance at the port of Long Beach, Calif. CPSC testing found that the toy contained small parts that present a potential choking hazards to young children.The multicolored toy is battery operated and consists of a keyboard with eight keys, three drum heads, one cymbal, two bells, and two drumsticks. The toy has a decal labeled "FUN MUSIC CENTER." The toy is 11 inches long, eight inches wide, and eight inches high. The toy is packaged in a cardboard container labeled in part, "FUN MUSIC CENTER...No. 1062...MADE IN CHINA." The toy was imported from China and sold nationwide from February 1994 to November 1994 at Imaginarium retail stores for $22.95.The toy should be taken away from young children immediately and returned to the store where purchased for a full refund. Neither CPSC nor Imaginarium is aware of any injuries involving this toy; this recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury
November 3, 1994 Release # 95-023 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Amana Refrigeration Inc. of Amana, Iowa, initiated a program to fix a shock hazard in certain side-by-side refrigerators.Amana estimates that approximately 5,000 of the 353,000 side-by-side refrigerators made from April 1993 to September 8, 1994, have a screw on the light cover that could come into contact with a concealed electrical wire to cause a shock. To date, Amana has received four reports of people receiving electrical shocks. The side-by-side refrigerators, which sold nationwide through appliance retailers for about $1,200 to $2,200, have serial numbers 9304000000 through 9409156208. Some of these refrigerators (Models 596.9530820, 596.9530850, 596.9530880, 596.9535610, 596.9535650 and 596.95356800) were sold under the Sears Kenmore brand name. Owners of these Kenmore models with serial numbers within the range will be contacted directly by Sears.Owners of Amana side-by-side refrigerators with serial numbers within the range who mailed in ownership registration cards will receive screw replacement kits from Amana. The kits contain instructions, a special non- conducting wrench, and nylon replacement screws. Consumers who believe they have one of the recalled units, and who did not mail in their registration cards, should call Amana immediately at (800) 688-9900 for a free screw replacement kit. Media inquiries should be directed to Ann Humbert of Amana at (319) 622-2142
October 31, 1994 Release # 95-018 Washington, D.C. - Today on Halloween, CPSC is warning consumers that Halloween pumpkin erasers resembling candy pose a choking hazard for young children. The erasers, imported by Oriental Trading Company of Omaha, Neb., do not meet CPSC's small parts regulations under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. CPSC issued this warning when Oriental Trading refused to join the agency in a voluntary recall of the erasers. The Halloween Toy Eraser Assortment, model number 9/260, consists of 60 assorted erasers in the shapes of black bats, white ghosts, and orange pumpkins with green stems, which sold for $4.50 in the 1994 Oriental Trading Company Halloween catalog. The assortments are packaged in clear plastic cylindrical containers with a sticker on the lids that read, "Item No. 9/260, Q'TY :1 TUBE(60 PCS), MADE IN TAIWAN." Underneath the container's lid is a cardboard Halloween night scene with the words "Eraser Fun" printed below a haunted house. While CPSC asked Oriental Trading to stop sale on all of the erasers, the pumpkin erasers, which measure 3/4 inch long and 3/8 inch thick, pose the greatest choking risk for children under 3 years of age. CPSC urges consumers, who may find any of these erasers in their children's bags as Halloween treats, to take them away from young children immediately. Parents and caregivers should be careful not to let younger siblings play with toys that are only appropriate for older siblings
October 17, 1994 Release # 95-008 Washington, D.C. - CPSC and the Lyons Group of Richardson, Texas, urge parents who own a 6-inch BARNEY doll with a red and white scarf and red Santa hat to remove a potential choking hazard from the doll. Parents should snip off the small white pom-pom from the tip of the hat to ensure that their child will not choke on the pom-pom.CPSC and the Lyons Group are issuing this safety warning after the company received seven reports of the pom-pom coming off of the hat on the doll. In one case, a child needed medical attention for choking on the pom-pom. The child fully recovered.About 594,000 videotapes and BARNEY dolls with a red and white scarf and red Santa hat were sold nationwide last holiday season in retail stores as the Barney Holiday Gift Pack. The Lyons Group sent notices to retailers, who still have the Santa Barney in stock, to remove the pom-pom before selling the dolls. The Lyons Group, which is also sending 800,000 notices of the choking hazard to members of the Barney Fan Club, removed pom- poms from the dolls for this year's holiday season.Consumers should remove the pom-pom from the doll immediately. The Lyons Group is asking consumers to attach the pom-pom to a 3" by 5" card, with their name and address also written on the card, and send it to the Lyons Group, P.O. Box 9523, Allen, TX 75002. Cards, which are received by Dec. 15, 1994, will be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win a 4-foot BARNEY or 4-foot Baby Bop doll. One of each doll, retail-valued at approximately $250, will be awarded in a random drawing on or about Dec. 16. More information and complete sweepstakes rules can be obtained by calling (800) 791-8093
Originally issued October 4, 1994; Revised March 3, 2011Release #95-003 CONTACT: Elaine Tyrrell(301) 504-6815 CPSC And Industry Redesign Products To Save Lives Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today a major cooperative effort with the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to protect children from strangling in window covering pull cords. Window covering pull cords are associated with at least 140 deaths since 1981, a rate of one death per month.CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "This collaborative effort between CPSC and manufacturers, importers, and retailers of drapery and blind cords epitomizes how government and industry can work together to save lives. This program will change future production, and give consumers who have or will buy window coverings a way to prevent the needless deaths of children."CPSC, which investigated seven window covering cord strangulation deaths this year in Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, and California, is currently investigating an eighth death in the state of Washington.Although some children were described as "entangled" or "wrapped" in window covering cords, most were found hanging in the loop of the cords. The younger victims, usually 8 to 23 months old, were in cribs, which were placed near window covering pull cords. While a few older children found the cords hanging near the floor, most of these victims, usually between 2 1/2 to 4 years old, became entangled and strangled in cords when they climbed onto furniture to look out windows.Although a few of the older children were previously seen playing with the cords, most of the accidents occurred when the children were alone in a room for only a short time. CPSC and the Window Covering Safety Council announced a three-part program that will eliminate the loop in most window blind cords by (1) improving the safety of existing window coverings, (2) modifying the future production of window coverings, and (3) implementing an educational campaign for consumers. Part one - Consumers who have window coverings in their homes should call the toll free number (800) 506-4636 immediately. The Window Covering Safety Council will either give the names of retail stores where consumers can pick up safety tassels now or send consumers safety tassels free-of-charge with installation instructions. Callers should be prepared to specify the number of individual tassels needed in their households. Part 2 - As of Jan. 1, 1995, two-corded window coverings sold in stores will be manufactured with a new safer design. Part 3 - The industry is committed to an educational campaign, which includes, brochures, posters for pediatricians offices and public health offices nationwide, and product alerts in window covering packaging. In the interim, consumers should look for brands already manufactured with a safer design or get the tassels from retailers when they purchase new blinds. Consumers should add the safety tassels to new blinds immediately upon installation. Parents should KEEP WINDOW COVERING CORDS AND CHAINS PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Never place a child's crib within reach of a window blind. Unless the cords can be completely removed from the child's reach, including when the child climbs on furniture, CPSC recommends against knotting or tying the cords together because this creates a new loop in which a child could become entangled. Upon receiving their replacement safety tassels, consumers should install them as follows: For two-corded HORIZONTAL BLINDS, Cut the cord above the tassel, remove the equalizer buckle, and add a new safety tassel at the end of each cord. For two-corded PLEATED OR CELLULAR SHADES: leave the cord ball or buckle near the top rail in place, cut the cord above the tassel and add a separate safety tassel at the end of each cord. When shades are raised, a loop will appear above the cord stop. Keep cord out of the reach of children. VERTICAL BLINDS, CONTINUOUS LOOP SYSTEMS, DRAPERY CORDS and CHAINS cannot be fixed with the replacement safety tassels but can be fixed with tie-down devices. Consumers should call CPSC at (800) 638-CPSC for information on modifying these types of window coverings