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                         April 26, 2002

CPSC announces recall round-up of deadly products

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- It’s time for spring cleaning, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging Americans to join its "recall round-up" of 12 hazardous products still found in millions of homes.

Most of these products have been involved in children’s deaths. The goal of this recall round-up is to convince consumers to throw away, repair or replace these hazardous products. Despite recall notices and public warnings, CPSC believes that many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers.

"As families do their spring cleaning, we want them to take a fresh look at items in their homes such as appliances, window blinds, older cribs, storage chests and halogen lamps to make sure the products have not been recalled and don’t present hazards," said CPSC Acting Chairman Thomas Moore.

"We can get dangerous products off store shelves, but the real challenge is to get them out of families’ homes."

Some of the hazardous products that might be in consumers’ homes are:

n GE and Hotpoint dishwashers bought between 1983 and 1989 have a faulty ignition switch that present a fire hazard. Call GE at (800) 599-2929.

n Whirlpool (Kenmore) dishwashers that present a fire hazard. Whirlpool sold 500,000 of the recalled dishwashers from June 1991 through October 1992. Wiring in the door latch may overheat and catch fire. There have been over 40 reports of fires with these dishwashers. Owners of both brands should call (800) 874-9481.

n Window blind cords with loops that can strangle children. Window blinds may have pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation if children become entangled in the pull cords or the inner cords. Call the Window Covering Safety Council for free repair kit: 800-506-4636, or go to www.windowcoverings.org.

n Halogen torchiere floor lamps that can cause fires when combustibles such as drapes come too close to the bulb. These lamps need a wire or glass guard to help reduce the fire risk. People can get the wire guards by sending a postcard to Catalina Lighting Consumer Services, 18191 NW 68th Avenue, Miami, Fla. 33015.

n Playpens that can collapse and entrap a child in the V-shape folded top rails. The top rails must be turned to set up the playpen. CPSC is aware of 15 deaths to children when the top rails of playpens collapsed. A new industry standard requires that the top rails of these playpens automatically lock into place when the playpen is fully set up. CPSC obtained voluntary recalls of the following playpens with top rails that people had to turn into place when setting up the playpen: Evenflo "Happy Camper," "Happy Cabana," and "Kiddie Camper;" Century "Fold-N-Go" Models 10-710 and 10-810; Baby Trend "Home and Roam," and "Baby Express;" and Kolcraft "Playskool Travel-Lite Model." CPSC also issued a safety warning about "All Our Kids" Models 742 and 762 playpens imported by a firm that is out of business.

n Cosco Playpens models "Zip n Go," "Okie Dokie," and "Carters" manufactured by Cosco and recalled by Dorel Juvenile Group, have plastic tabs on the playpen that lock the rails into the corners. The plastic tabs can break or loosen over time, allowing the rails to turn inward, collapse, and entrap an infant. Contact Dorel Juvenile Group to get a refund or replacement product at 800-314-9327 or www.djgusa.com.

n Lane Cedar chests with lids that automatically lock when closed made by The Lane Co. between 1912 and 1987 and sold under the "Lane" and "Virginia Maid" brands. Only those made between 1912 and 1987 are involved. Contact the company to get a free replacement lock to prevent entrapment. Call (888) 856-8748 or go to www.newlock.net.

n Old cribs made before CPSC and industry safety standards can entrap, strangle or suffocate children. Old cribs with: more than 2-3/8 inches between crib slats; corner posts; or cut-outs on the headboard or footboard, present suffocation and strangulation hazards. Destroy old cribs and those with missing or broken parts. Get a crib that meets current safety standards.

n Old chest freezers made between 1945 and 1970 have heavy lids that latch. Destroy the old freezer, take the door off, or remove the latch. Call (800) 267-3138 or go to the following web site: http://aham.org/Freezer_Safety/Freezer_Safety.cfm.

n Hairdryers without immersion protection devices to prevent electric shock. Since the early 1990s, hairdryers have had built-in shock protection devices to prevent electrocution if submerged in water. However, electrocutions from old hairdryers are still occasionally reported. Replace the old hairdryer with a new one with a large rectangular plug and the mark of a recognized testing laboratory.

n Drawstrings around the neck on children’s jackets and sweatshirts can catch and strangle children. Pull out or cut all neck drawstrings on children’s jackets and sweatshirts. Do not sell them at garage sales or give them to thrift stores. In 1998, CPSC found that many thrift stores were selling recalled, hazardous products.

CPSC’s toll-free telephone hotline and Web site provide information about recalled products and information on what to look for when buying products.

Consumers can reach the hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit CPSC’s official Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

To get a list of major recalls, consumers should send a postcard to "Recall List," CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.