Consumer Products Recalls

Choking

Choking

Choking

Retrofit Program for Speed Queen Contempo Mate Washer/Dryer NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 9, 1989 Release # 89-035 Rent-A-Center Announces A Retrofit Program For Owners Or Users Of Speed Queen Contempo Mate Washer/Dryer Equipped With Caster -- Rollers WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rent-A-Center, Inc. of Wichita, Kansas, is voluntarily offering a retrofit program originally offered by Speed Queen for customers who either own or rent a Speed Queen Contempo Mate Stack combination washer-dryer with caster-rollers. The program is intended to eliminate the possibility that consumers could receive a hand or foot injury from the appliance when in operation. The casters elevate the appliance high enough off the floor to allow children to contact some of the washer's moving parts. Rent-A-Center will supply all its customers with a permanent guard for the base of the Contempo Mate Washer/Dryer equipped with caster-rollers. Casters permit consumers to roll the appliance to the water and drain source for clothes washing, and then to return the unit to another area for convenient storage. For those Rent-A-Center customers needing special assistance, Rent-A-Center has the retrofit safety guards at its service centers and will provide free installation of the guard for its customers. Rent-A-Center customers owning or renting the Speed Queen Contempo Mate Stack Washer/Dryer with caster-rollers should call Rent-A-Center toll-free at 1-800-666-8186 to obtain the free guard kit, obtain help in installing the guard, or for other information about the retrofit program.

April 6, 1989 Release # 89-027 Soft Drink Vending Machines To Be Retrofitted By Vendo WASHINGTON -- The Vendo Company of Fresno, California announced that it has begun implementation of a voluntary retrofit program for Vendo soft drink vending machines in order to prevent serious injury or death to consumers from tip-over of vending machines. The retrofit consists of anti-theft devices (provided by Vendo to soft drink bottling companies) which prevent the dispensing of free products when the machines are tipped or rocked by consumers.In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the company said that the retrofit program extends to approximately 115,000 Vendo soft drink machines with widths in excess of 38.5 inches which were manufactured between 1982 and 1985 without anti-theft devices. Vendo has also provided warning labels designed specifically for the retrofitted machines.CPSC said that within the last several years there have been reports of an increasing number of deaths and injuries involving tip-over of Vendo's vending machines which dispense free products when rocked or tipped. Most accidents are believed to have been the result of people tilting, shaking or rocking the machine in an effort to obtain a free product or the return of their money. CPSC warned consumers that such actions could cause serious injury or death if the machine topples on them.Vendo said it has launched the retrofit program by mailing anti-theft kits and installation instructions to bottling company customers. The public may obtain information about the retrofit program by calling Vendo at (209) 439-1770

Choking

Choking

March 14, 1989 Release # 89-022 Potential Strangulation Risk Prompts Baby Mirror Recall WASHINGTON, D.C.-- G. Pierce Toy Manufacturing Company of Chicago, IL is voluntarily recalling approximately 12,000 "Bright Reflections, to No. 4799, crib mirrors sold during 1988. The flexible plastic edging may separate from the mirror and could present a strangulation risk to infants.The company has received one complaint that a child's head became entrapped between the edging and the mirror. Although no injury occurred, the firm is recalling these mirrors in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to prevent future injuries from occurring."Bright Reflections" is a 12" x 16" shatter resistant mirror for use in cribs and playpens. It has three one-inch wide slots for the straps which are used to attach the mirror to a crib or playpen. Some of the mirrors had Velcro straps, most have nylon straps with plastic buckles. The plastic edging may be either blue or red. There is no manufacturer identification or labeling on the mirror. A decal with a yellow bear and the words "Bright Reflections" comes with the mirror for the purchaser to apply.The majority of these crib mirrors were sold nationally in Toys R Us stores between December 1987 and October 1988 for approximately $10.Consumers who have a "Bright Reflections" mirror should remove it from children and return it to the retailer for a refund of the purchase price. To obtain a new mirror, with the edging securely attached, consumers may return their mirrors directly to G. Pierce Toy Manufacturing Company, 4420 S. Wolcott Street, Chicago, IL 60609

Choking

Choking

Wiring Problem Prompts Deep Fat Fryer Inspection NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 28, 1989 Release # 89-016 Wiring Problem Prompts Deep Fat Fryer Inspection WASHINGTON -- T-Fal Corporation of Fairfield, N.J. is notifying consumers that certain of its TEFAL type 8215 deep fat fryers may have the potential for serious electric shock. T-FAL has identified a wiring problem that may exist in certain type 8215 fryers with specific manufacturing date codes. The firm has received two reports of shock out of approximately 40,000 units of this model that bear these specific date codes. In voluntary cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product safety Commission, T-FA.L will verify and correct consumer units which have specific date codes. Fryers involved are identified as TEFAL, Safety Super Fryer, type 8215 and have a three or four digit manufacturing code which ends in the numbers 6, 7 or 8. The fryers with numbers ending in 8 must also be preceded by the number 22 or less. Before calling, consumers should look on the bottom of their fryers for the type and date code numbers, then call T-FAL toll-free at 1-800-548-0588, or write T-FAL Corporation, 23 Kulick Road, Fairfield, N.J. 07006. Consumers with type 8215 fryers should stop using the appliance immediately until contacting T-FAL for further instructions as to the need for any correction.

Strangulation

Eyes And Nose Are Choking-Hazards On Koala Bear Fur Banks NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 1989 Release # 89-015 Eyes And Nose Are Choking-Hazards On Koala Bear Fur Banks WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Koala Bear Fur Banks, distributed at carnivals and fairs in the northeastern United States during the summer of 1988, have small parts which may present serious choking hazards to young children. The yellow plastic eyes and black plastic noses of the bears can be pulled oft and may be ingested or choked on. The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the distributor, ACE Novelty Company, Bellevue, Washington advise consumers to: 1) destroy the banks, or 2) remove and destroy both the eyes and the nose. The novelty banks are six inch tall koala bears covered with black, brown, grey or green fur and are molded in a sitting position. On the chest is a paper label which reads: "I AM A BANK." A coin slot is hidden in the fur on the back of the bear's head. The Koala Fur Banks, imported from Korea, were identified by U.S. Customs Service at the Port of Seattle, Washington during "Operation Toyland,11 a joint surveillance program conducted with CPSC.

Strangulation