Children's Deaths Prompt Recall of Toy Dart Gun Sets Sold Exclusively at Family Dollar Stores

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, N.C., is announcing the voluntary recall of 1.8 million toy dart gun sets, due to an aspiration hazard. CPSC and Family Dollar have received reports of two asphyxiation deaths involving a 9-year-old boy in Chicago, Ill. and a 10-year-old boy in Milwaukee, Wis.

If a child places the soft, pliable plastic toy dart in his/her mouth, the toy can be inhaled into the throat and prevent the child from breathing.

The toy dart guns, imported by Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J., were sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores. Family Dollar is working cooperatively with CPSC to announce this recall because Henry Gordy International has refused to recall the toy dart gun sets.

The "Auto Fire" toy target set is sold with either an orange and yellow toy gun (item #P238) or a blue and yellow toy gun (item #9328), eight orange darts and a small target with numbers from 1 to 20. The gun's item number is located on one side of the handle in raised lettering. The soft plastic darts measure just over one inch in length and have a small suction cup at one end with a diameter of about ½ inch. The target board is black, yellow, red and green, and measures five inches in diameter. "Gordy Toy" for "Ages 8+" is printed on the packaging.

The toy sets were sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores nationwide from September 2005 through January 2009 for about $1.50.

The products were manufactured in China.

Consumers should immediately take the toy target sets from children and discard them. Consumers can also return the guns and darts to a Family Dollar store for a full refund. For additional information, contact Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.familydollar.com

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Claire's Recalls Children's Metal Charm Bracelets Due to High Levels of Cadmium

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: "Best Friends" Charm Bracelet Sets

Units: About 19,000

Importer: Claire's Boutiques Inc., of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Manufacturer: Dae Yeon Industries Corp., of China

Hazard: The heart lock charms attached to the bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Cadmium is toxic if ingested by children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The "Best Friends" three bracelet sets are silver-colored chains with metal pendants containing one of the words "Best," "Friends" or "Forever" and heart lock and key charms with different colored stones.

Sold exclusively at: Claire's stores nationwide from February 2009 through January 2010 for about $12.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled bracelets away from children and return the heart lock charms or the entire bracelets to any Claire's for a full refund or replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Claire's toll-free at (866) 859-9281 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.claires.com

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Vicks Dayquil Cold & Flu Liquicaps Recalled by Procter & Gamble Due To Failure to Meet Child-Resistant Closure Requirement

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: Vicks Dayquil Cold & Flu 24-Count Bonus Pack Liquicaps

Units: About 700,000 packages

Manufacturer: The Procter & Gamble Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio

Hazard: The cold and flu medicine contains acetaminophen and is not in child-resistant packaging and lacks the statement, "This Package for Households Without Young Children," as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. This medicine could cause serious health problems or death to a child if several of the capsules are swallowed.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves Vicks Dayquil Cold & Flu 24-Count Bonus Pack Liquicaps. The medicine comes in orange packaging with the green Vicks symbol and has the following UPC#: 3 23900 01087 1. No other Vick's product is included in this recall.

Sold at: Drug stores, grocery stores and other retailers nationwide between September 2008 and December 2009 for about $5.

Manufactured in: Canada

Remedy: Consumers should keep this product out of the reach of children. Consumers who purchased the product with the expectation that it would be in child-resistant packaging can contact Procter & Gamble for a full refund or a replacement coupon. Adult consumers can continue to use the product as directed.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Procter & Gamble at (800) 251-3374 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or log on to their Web site at www.vicks.com.

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter: @GAFrontPage

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

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page

Burley Design Recalls Child Trailers Due to Risk of Injury

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 Products: 2009 d'lite ST and Solo ST Child Trailers

Units: About 2,700

Manufacturer: Burley Design LLC, of Eugene, Ore.

Hazard: The axle assembly's internal sleeve can loosen, causing one wheel to separate from the trailer. This poses a risk of injury to the child occupant or bike rider.

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled products are two-wheeled child trailers designed to carry one or two children behind a bicycle. Only the 2009 d'lite ST and 2009 Solo ST trailers with serial numbers that begin with D939 or D948 are included in the recall. The serial number is located in the rear cargo area behind the seat on the lower left rear frame tube. The trailers have "d'lite ST" or "solo ST" screen printed on the cover.

Sold by: Independent bicycle retailers and specialty outdoor retailers nationwide and on various web sites from November 2008 through June 2009 for between $550 and $600.

Manufactured in: Philippines

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the trailer immediately and contact Burley to receive a free repair kit or to locate a retailer to assist with the free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Burley at (800) 311-5294 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.burley.com/STProductRecall .

-----
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page