CPSC Announces Holiday Toy Safety Round-Up

December 22, 1999
Release # 00-039

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For Immediate Release;
Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1219

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is conducting a holiday toy safety round-up to get hazardous toys out of people's homes before the holidays. Despite recall notices and public warnings, CPSC has found that many products with the potential to seriously injure or kill are still being used by consumers.

CPSC has some of the most stringent toy safety standards in the world, and toys on store shelves are safer because of the day-to-day enforcement work by CPSC. "We can get recalled toys off store shelves," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown, "but the more difficult task is to get recalled toys out of people's homes."

Today, CPSC will launch the holiday toy safety round-up by issuing a list of recalled toys. This list identifies recalled toys that are off store shelves but may still be in people's homes. Some of the toys recalled this year include:

• "Toy Basketball Nets" (11 million) can strangle children on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. CPSC is aware of more than 20 reports of children under 5 years old whose head or neck caught in the net of a toy basketball set, and an 18-month-old child died after becoming entangled in a partly unhooked net. People should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Call the manufacturer to get new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots.

• "Swimming Pool Dive Sticks" (19 million) can cause rectal or vaginal impalement if children fall or land on the dive stick. CPSC knows of nine impalement injuries and three non-impalement injuries to children 5 to 11 years old. People should stop using the hard plastic dive sticks and throw them out. Depending on the dive sticks owned, consumers can receive a refund, replacement or repair.

• "Flammable Spray String" (1 million) can cause burn injuries if sprayed around flame sources such as birthday candles. CPSC is aware of three reports of burns resulting from the use of flammable spray string. Flammable products intended for use by children are banned by federal law. Return the flammable spray string to the retailer for a refund.

• "Star Wars Lightsabers" (618,000) without a battery protector could have a dislodged spring in the battery compartment, causing the batteries to overheat or rupture. CPSC and the company know of 38 reports of Lightsaber batteries overheating, including 6 reports of batteries rupturing, 3 reports of minor burns to consumers, and 1 report of eye irritation. Call Hasbro toll-free on (888) 690-6141 to get a free repair kit. Lightsabers currently being sold with the sticker "Now with battery protector" are not part of this recall.

• "Pooh Poppin' Piano" (202,000) has a carrot-shaped microphone with a green leafy top that could break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. CPSC knows of three broken parts from this toy piano. Call Tiger Electronics toll-free at (888) 748-2860 to get a replacement. Only pianos with serial numbers starting with "WT" or "CO15D" are part of this recall.

• "Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks" (3.8 million) that are recalled have red plastic coils with flexible plastic end caps covering sharply bent coil ends. The bent coil ends can break off, presenting a small parts choking hazard to children. CPSC is aware of four incidents where the end piece of the coil broke off. People should call Colorbok toll-free at (877) 677-4725 to obtain a free replacement coil. Blue's Clues Toy Notebooks currently being sold with "Version 2" on the back cover or lower edge of the packaging are not part of this recall.

• "Precious Moments Tender Tails Stuffed Toys" (472,000) have pompoms that can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. CPSC is aware of three reports of pompoms detaching. People should cut off the pompoms and return them to Enesco to receive a different, free Tender Tails toy.

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 the web site at www.cpsc.gov.

KidSource Editor's Note

To get a list of toy recalls, visit: Holiday Toy Roundup Summary . Or send a postcard to "Toy Safety Round-Up List," CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.