March 2010:  Product Recalls and Related News

Part One of Two

An unusually high number of products posing choking and strangulation risks are noted in the March 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC’s) recall list.  Other referenced items can cause fire, burn, shock or laceration injuries, while still others pose a special threat to infants and young children. Several of the remaining recalled products put consumers at risk for excessive lead paint and cadmium poisoning.

These monthly government lists help protect the public by urging consumers to avoid using or purchasing various dangerous products. Our law firm recommends that you regularly review these lists before ever making a major purchase or buying anything for a child.

Part One of our March 2010 recalled products review focuses mainly on items posing choking and strangulation hazards. It also describes several goods that create fall risks for consumers.

Part Two of our March 2010 review looks at many other products, including those posing lead paint, carbon monoxide and cadmium poisoning risks. Other noted items can create fire, burn, gas leak, shock and laceration hazards. This second half of our review also notes recent CPSC news.

Products Posing Choking and Strangulation  Hazards

• Peachtree Playthings of Atlanta, Georgia, has agreed to recall 127,000 children’s Batman, Tweety and Scooby Doo fork and spoon sets since the middle prongs of the forks can break off, posing a choking hazard to children. (These items are sold at Dollar Tree and Deals).
• Since such a large number of companies have agreed to recall their hooded sweatshirts (with drawstrings) for boys and girls due to their strangulation hazards, they will only be listed here by company name and any special brand name on the jackets. These companies include: Ten West Apparel, Children’s Apparel Network, Burlington Coat Factory, Liberty Apparel Company, LELE & Company Inc., Haselson International Trading Inc., Byer California (DBA Amy Byer, Philly) and Brand Revolution. (The two companies’ coats sold by Burlington carry the names Bubblegum USA and Regaliti Inc.)  The following are some of the additional coat names included in this recall: Jewel Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings, Girls’ Cargo Pocket Jackets, Locks All Over Boys’ Hoodies, All Over Skaters Boys’ Hoodies and Rock Mask Boys’ Hoodies.
• Also under recall are the Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds made by several companies, including: Ethan Allen Global Inc., Meijer and Lutron Electronics. Repair kits are available for some of these shades and blinds. (When young children play with these blinds, they can get their necks caught in them and even choke themselves).

Product Recalls Due to Fall Risks

• Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, California, has agreed to voluntarily recall about 4,300 Konrad and Loft Office Chairs. When some of the chair backs become detached from the seats, consumers can fall.
• Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1.2 million Graco Harmony™ High Chairs.  If the chair leg screws come loose and fall out (or if the rear leg bracket breaks), the high chair may become unsteady, putting children at risk of falling.
• BikeMine of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Quality Bicycle Parts of Bloomington, Minnesota; Security Bicycle Accessories of Hempstead, New York and Bicycle Technologies International (BTI) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, have all agreed to recall about 325 Ventus Ltd™ and Ventus Team™ Bicycle Aerobars. If the two rubber hand grips on these handle bars become loose while consumers are riding their bikes, they can fall off and injure themselves.
• Both the CPSC and Health Canada have asked Evenflo Co. Inc. of Miamisburg, Ohio to voluntarily recall about 150,000 (U. S.) and 33,000 (Canada) Evenflo Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood Gates. If the gate slats detach or break, children can fall and harm themselves.

Other products posing fire, burn, poisoning and shock risks are covered in Part Two of our review of the March 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall list.  Part Two also briefly notes some recent CPSC news.   Readers interested in reviewing the complete March 2010 CPSC list can visit the following link: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar10.html)

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Demas Law Group remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas Law Group attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.