CPSC Launches Resale Round-up Campaign to Keep Dangerous Recalled Products Out of Resale Stores and Off the Internet

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced its Top Ten list of recalled children's products as part of the agency's "Resale Round-up" campaign. CPSC's goal is to protect consumers by getting dangerous recalled products out of resale stores and off the Internet. Re-selling recalled products is a violation of federal law.

Before re-selling products, CPSC encourages re-sellers to check its Web site, www.cpsc.gov, to determine if the product has been recalled.

"Those who re-sell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Resale stores should make safety their business and check for recalled products and hazards to children."

A CPSC study conducted in 1999 found that nearly 70 percent of resale stores sold at least one recalled or otherwise hazardous product.

CPSC is partnering with the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops (NARTS), the Salvation Army, state agencies, and others to alert re-sellers about recalled products, product hazards including cribs that do not meet current safety standards, drawstrings in children's clothing, and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

"NARTS fully supports CPSC's outreach efforts to resale stores," said Adele Meyer, NARTS' Executive Director. "Our members are resale professionals committed to product safety who believe good value and selling safe products go hand in hand."

The agency's education campaign, which will include safety seminars for resale store owners and employees, is part of CPSC's commitment to protecting consumers, especially children.

CPSC's Internet surveillance team is monitoring online retailers and auction sites for sales of recalled and hazardous products. Re-sellers are reminded that they must comply with the federal law which will be enforced for in-store and online sales.

CPSC has released a new "Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Re-sellers" to help resellers comply with the law. It can be found at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/thrift/thrguid.pdf or can be ordered by calling CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.

CPSC's Top Ten list of recalled children's products includes:

Recalled Product (Date)
Hazard

Playskool Travel-Lite Play Yards (March 10, 1993)
If the side rails of the portable crib fold during use, an infant can become entrapped and suffocate. Three deaths have been reported.

Evenflo Happy Camper Play Yards (June 25, 1997)
The product can collapse, trapping the child in the "V" formed by the folded top rails. The rotating plastic hinges can crack or break, presenting a sharp edge or possibly allowing the child to escape. Evenflo and CPSC are aware of three deaths involving the play yards.

Baby Trend Home and Roam and Baby Express Portable Cribs and Play Yards (December 19, 1994 & February 28, 2001)
These cribs/play yards can collapse and entrap an infant. In January 2001, a 9-month-old baby in Longview, Wash., died of asphyxiation when her neck was caught in the V-shape created by the collapsed sides of her crib/play yard. There have been three other deaths and three reports of babies found not breathing (who were revived) associated with these products.

Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets (March 31, 2006 & April 19, 2007)
Tiny magnets inside the plastic building pieces and rods can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. This product is unsuitable for young children. CPSC is aware of one death and at least 27 serious injuries.

Easy Bake Ovens (July 19, 2007)
Young children can insert their hands into the oven's front opening, and get their hands or fingers caught, posing entrapment and burn hazards.

Polly Pocket Dolls with Magnets (August 14, 2007 & November 21, 2006)
Small magnets inside the dolls and accessories can come loose. The magnets can be found by young children and swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract to each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal. CPSC is aware of 3 serious injuries.

Simplicity Drop Side Cribs (July 2, 2009, September 17, 2008 & September 21, 2007)
The drop side can detach. When the drop side detaches, it creates space between the drop side and the crib mattress. Infants and toddlers can roll into this space and become entrapped which can lead to suffocation. CPSC is aware of 10 deaths associated with Simplicity drop side cribs.

Simplicity Bassinets (also includes bassinets with Graco or Winnie the Pooh motif) (September 11, 2008, August 27, 2008 & August 28, 2008)
The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars that are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped between the metal bars and suffocate. CPSC is aware of at least three deaths involving Simplicity bassinets.

Hill Sportswear hooded drawstring sweatshirts (February 12, 2009)
CPSC received one report of a death involving a 3-year-old boy in Fresno, Calif. He was strangled when the drawstring on the hooded sweatshirt that he was wearing became stuck on a playground set.

Evenflo Envision High Chairs (April 2, 2009)
Recline fasteners and metal screws on both sides of the high chair can loosen and fall out, allowing the seatback to detach or recline unexpectedly. Children can fall backwards or fall out of the high chair and suffer bumps and bruises to the head, abrasions, cuts and bruises. Detached hardware also poses a choking hazard to children.

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