RECALL ALERT

The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks and serous injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.

As described, the CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard.

The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products, such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals, contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

In an effort to keep our readers informed, we will publish information obtained on product that have been recalled by the CPSC.

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This week brings recalls from two manufacturers of cribs.

Caramia Furniture recalled the Diane Crib which features drop sides. It was reported that the slats on the cribs drop-side can detach from the top and bottom rails, posing fall and entrapment hazards to the child.

There have been 18 reports of it happening, but no injuries have been reported. The cribs, manufactured between September 2002 and June 2004 in Slovenia and distributed by the Caramia Furniture and Mother Hubbard Cupboard’s of Ontario, Canada, was sold at Buy Buy Baby and various merchandise stores nationwide for between $240 and $370. Call Caramia at 1-877-728-0342 for a free replacement drop side which will be available beginning March 2010.

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About 1.5 million strollers produced by Graco Children’s Products of Atlanta have been recalled by the CPSC after the manufacturer reported seven children who were injured when their fingers became caught caught in the canopy hinges.

According to the CPSC, the defect resulted in five fingertip amputations as well as two fingertip lacerations. The hinges on the stroller’s canopy were determined to pose a hazard when the canopy is opened or closed.

The recall involves Graco Passage, Alano and Spree strollers and travel systems with a plastic, jointed hinge mechanism that has indented canopy positioning notches.

The recalled strollers were manufactured in China between October 2004 and February 2008 and were sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, KMart, Fred Meyer, Meijers, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers nationwide between October 2004 and December 2009 for between $80 and $90 for the strollers and between $150 and $200 for the travel systems.

A list of model numbers of the recalled strollers can be found online at www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub /prerel/prhtml10/10115.html.

Consumers who have the recalled strollers should stop using them immediately and contact Graco to receive a free protective cover repair kit.

For additional information, call Graco at 1-800-345-4109 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit www.gracobaby.com.

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Dorel Asia SRL of Barbados, distributor of Dorel Asia cribs recalled approximately 635,000 cribs after one infant death and ten injuries to infants was reported.

The drop side hardware can fail causing the drop side to detach from the crib, this creates a space in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle.

The item, which was manufactured in China and Vietnam, was sold at K-Mart, Sears and Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2009 for between $120 and $700.

Consumers can call Dorel Asia at 1-866-762-2304 for a free replacement kit.

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Moore Co recalled 700 ergonomic office chairs due to fall hazards. The product, Spine Align and Posture Perfect Ergonomic Office Chairs were manufactured in South Korea and sold through catalogs and online by United Stationers, Staples, S.P. Richards, and W.B. Mason from Dec. 2007 through Oct. 2009 for between $320 and $650.

It was reported that the legs of the chair can break posing fall hazard to the user. Five reports of the legs of the chairs breaking, resulted in three minor injuries and in the aggravation of an existing back injury.

Consumers can call 1-888-446- 5161 for a free repair or replacement chair.

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About 18,000 Fitness Elliptical Trainers were called by the distributor Johnson Health Tech North America, Inc., of Cottage Gove, Wisconsin after reports that the foot pedal can become disengaged posing a fall hazard.

There were 58 reports of foot pedal disengagements, but no injuries have been reported.

The product, manufactured in China, was sold at sporting goods stores nationwide and on line between October 2009 and November 2009. Consumers can contact Johnson Health at 1-800-962-3596 and schedule a free in-home replacement of the defective pedals.

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The Conair Corp of Stamford, Connecticut is recalling about 162,000 Lysol Steam Cleaning Mops.

It was reported that hot water mixed with Lysol can forcefully spurt out and rupture the housing unit, posing a burn hazard and a laceration hazard to consumers from the broken housing unit.

The product, which was manufactured in China, was sold nationwide from September 2006 to September 2009 for about $40.

Consumers can contact Conair at 1-800-687-6916 to receive a free replacement steam cleaning mop.

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Thermador Built-in Ovens distributed by BSH Home Appliance Corp have been recalled due to gaps in the insulation where overheating can occur, and when used in the selfcleaning mode, can cause nearby cabinets to catch fire.

Three incidents have been reported, but there have been no injuries reported.

The 37,000 recalled items, manufactured in the United States, were sold at appliance and specialty stores nationwide from June 2004 to July 2007 for between $3,000 and $4,400.

Consumers can contact Thermador at 1-800-701-5230 to schedule and inspection and free repair.

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Tea Lights have been recalled due to fire hazards.

Ceramic Santa Tea Light Holders and Glitter Tea Lights both sold at Pier 1 were recalled because of fire hazards.

The Santa holders can be ignited by the flame from the tea lights and the glitter found on the other type of tea lights can ignite causing a fire hazard.

The Santa holders were manufactured in China and the Glitter lights were manufactured in Vietnam.

Consumers can call Pier 1 at 1- 800-245-4595 or return the items which sold for about $10 to any Pier 1 store for a full refund or merchandise credit.