Two Strangulation Deaths Prompt Summer Infant to Recall Video Baby Monitors with Cords; Firm to Provide New On-Product Label & Instructions

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Summer Infant Inc., of Woonsocket, R.I., is announcing the voluntary recall to provide new on-product label and instructions for about 1.7 million video baby monitors with electrical cords. The cords can present a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if placed too close to a crib. Because of this serious strangulation risk, parents and caregivers should never place these and other corded cameras within three feet of a crib.

Over the past year, CPSC and the firm have received reports of two strangulation deaths of infants with the electrical cords of Summer Infant video baby monitors. In March 2010, a 10-month-old girl from Washington, D.C. strangled in her crib in the electrical cord of a Summer Infant video monitor. The monitor camera had been placed on top of the crib rail.

In November 2010, CPSC received a report of a six-month-old boy from Conway, S.C., who strangled in the electrical cord of a baby monitor placed on the changing table attached to the crib. In January 2011, CPSC learned the product involved was a Summer Infant video baby monitor.

CPSC and the firm are also aware of a near strangulation incident in which a 20-month-old boy from Pittsburg, Pa. was found in his crib with the camera cord wrapped around his neck. The Summer Infant monitor camera was mounted on the wall, but the child was still able to reach the cord. He was freed from the cord without serious injury.

Summer Infant has initiated a campaign to provide new on-product labels for electric cords and instructions to consumers with the recalled video monitors distributed between January 2003 and February 2011. The baby monitors were sold at major retailers, mass merchandisers, and juvenile products stores nationwide for between $60 and $300. They were sold in more than 40 different models, including handheld, digital, and color video monitors. All video monitors include both the camera (placed in the baby's room) and the hand held device (some models have 2 hand-held devices) which enable the caregiver to see and/or hear the baby from a specific distance. The brand "Summer" is found on the product.

The product was manufactured in China.

CPSC and Summer Infant urge parents to immediately check the location of the video monitors, including cameras mounted on the wall, and all electric cords to make sure the cords are out of arm's reach of their child. Consumers should contact Summer Infant toll-free at (800) 426-8627 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.summerinfant.com/Home/Product-Recall.aspx to receive a new permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk and revised instructions about how to safely mount camera and keep cords out of child's reach.

In October 2010, CPSC issued a safety alert warning consumers that there had been six reports of strangulation in baby monitor cords since 2004. Since that alert the number of death reports has risen to seven. CPSC has revised the safety alert Infants Can Strangle in Baby Monitor Cords.

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Hoover Recalls WindTunnel Canister Vacuums Due to Fire and Shock Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Hoover® WindTunnel Canister Vacuums

Units: About 142,000

Importer: Hoover Inc., of Glenwillow, Ohio

Hazard: The power cord between the power nozzle and the wand connector can short-circuit posing fire and shock hazards to consumers. This condition can occur even if the vacuum has been turned off but left plugged in.

Incidents/Injuries: Hoover has received 69 reports of overheating or electrical malfunction, including one report of fire and smoke damage, and two reports of carpet damage. There has been one report of a minor injury.

Description: This recall involves the Hoover WindTunnel Bagless Canister Vacuum model S3755. The vacuum is silver and black in color, and comes with a power nozzle. The model number can be found on a label on the bottom of the canister.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers, department stores and independent vacuum retailers nationwide and online from March 2003 to December 2008 for between $250 and $280.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vacuum cleaners and contact Hoover for a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hoover toll-free at (888) 564-2066 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.hoover.com/windtunnelcanisterrecall

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Hoover Recalls Upright Vacuum Cleaners Due to Fire and Shock Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Hoover(r) WindTunnel T-Series(tm) Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaners with Cord Rewind Feature

Units: About 108,000

Importer: Hoover Inc., of Glenwillow, Ohio

Hazard: The power cord is not properly routed or securely seated in the cord rewind assembly allowing the power cord to be pulled loose. This poses fire and shock hazards.

Incidents/Injuries: Hoover has received three reports of minor burns to carpet and furniture and one report of a minor burn to a consumer's hand.

Description: This recall involves Hoover(r) WindTunnel T-Series(tm) Bagless Upright vacuum cleaners with the cord rewind feature. This feature enables the cord to wind inside the vacuum for storage. The following model numbers and manufacturing codes are included in the recall.

Model Numbers / Manufacturing code ends with...
UH70110 UH70120 / HO9A O9A
UH70200 UH70205 / JO9A KO9A
UH70210

Vacuums with the manufacturing code KO9A followed by a green dot are not included in this recall. Vacuum cleaners with the cord rewind feature sold after November 2009 and with any other manufacturing code are not included in this recall. The model number and manufacturing code can be found on a label on the lower rear part of the vacuum cleaner.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers, department stores and independent vacuum retailers nationwide and online from August 2009 through May 2010 for between $100 and $160.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vacuum cleaners and contact Hoover for a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hoover toll-free at (888) 891-2054 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.hoover.com/tseriesrewindrecall

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CPSC Announces Voluntary Recalls to Repair Millions of Roman Shades and Roll Up Blinds by Multiple Firms

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that multiple firms are recalling millions of units of Window coverings, including Roman shades and roll-up blinds. These window coverings present a serious risk of strangulation to young children.

CPSC has received reports of five deaths and 16 near strangulations in Roman shades since 2006 and three deaths in roll-up blinds since 2001. Strangulations in Roman shades occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the back side of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck. Strangulations in roll-up blinds occur when the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

The recalled Roman shades and roll up blinds were sold by a variety of manufacturers and retailers, including major discount department stores, home improvement stores and window covering manufacturers and retailers. Remedies vary among firms from repair kits to refunds.

"Parents need to make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of their window coverings", said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Avoid these deadly dangers by getting the repair kit or installing cordless window coverings in all homes where small children live or visit."

To help prevent child strangulation in window coverings, CPSC and the Window Covering Safety Council urge parents and caregivers to follow these guidelines:

Examine all shades and blinds in the home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side or back of the product. CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.

Do not place cribs, beds and furniture close to windows with corded window coverings because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.

Make loose cords inaccessible.

If the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.

List of Voluntary Recalls to Repair Roman Shades and Roll Up Blinds

Company / Number of Units / Sold At

Window Covering Safety Council / All Roman shades (25 million) and Roll-up blinds (27 million) / Retailers nationwide
Walmart / 500,000 Roman shades, 600,000 Roll-up blinds / Walmart stores and other retailers
JCPenney / More than 2.2 million Roman Shades, 340 Roll-up blinds / JCPenney
Lotus and Windoware / 250,000 Roll-up Blinds / Ace Hardware and Big Lots
All Strong Industry / 290,000 Roman shades / Walmart stores and other retailers
Pottery Barn Stores / 350,000 Roman shades, 45,000 Roller shades / Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn, and PBTeens
International Merchandise / 355,000 Roll-up Blinds / Big Lots
West Elm / 42,000 Roman shades / West Elm's catalog and website
The Land of Nod / 2,000 Roman shades / Land of Nod Stores
Louis Hornick / 6,300 Roman shades / Ross stores
Draper / 1,800 Roman shades / Specialty window covering dealers nationwide

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Steam Cleaners Recalled by Thane International Due to Shock and Burn Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: H2O Mop Steam Cleaners

Units: About 580,000

Distributor: Thane International, Inc., of La Quinta, Calif.

Hazard: The power cord can unexpectedly wear down and expose the wiring, posing a shock and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Thane has received 10 reports of incidents involving shock injuries and eight reports of incidents involving burn injuries.

Description: The H2O Mop is an electrically-powered appliance for cleaning a variety of floor surfaces that uses microfiber or disposable cloths on a cleaning head through which steam is dispersed. H2O Mops are white with a purple water tank with the "H20" and "M" symbol printed on the top of the cleaning head. The model numbers of affected units are 808.092 and OEM-TV-001. This recall only includes H2O Mops with the following reference numbers printed on the label on the back of the product: 200709198 to 200803148 or H20M1000 to M-H20M1198.

Sold: Directly to consumers by Thane through television infomercials; on the Web at www.thane.com; by QVC, through its televised shopping program; and by retailers nationwide from June 2007 through December 2008 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using recalled steam cleaners and contact Thane to receive a free repair kit. Thane is sending repair kits to all consumers who purchased recalled units directly from Thane.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Thane anytime at (800) 485-0017 or visit the firm's Web site at www.h2omopservice.com .