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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Umbrella strollers imported from China by the Britax Child Safety Inc., of Charlotte, N.C. were recalled after it was determined that the stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding or opening the stroller.

About 14,000 units were recalled in the U.S. and 900 in Canada. It involves all Britax “Blink” single umbrella strollers. They were sold at Buy Buy Baby and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers from July 2009 through February 2010 for about $150.

Consumers can call Britax at 1- 888-417-4829 to receive free stroller hinge covers.

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Wind chime toys distributed by Tiny Love of New York and Maya Group of Huntington Beach, Ca. and manufactured in China were recalled because the toy can be pulled apart, exposing sharp medal rods which pose puncture and laceration hazards to babies.

About 600,000 toys in the U.S. and 200,000 in Canada were subject to the recall.

The wind chime toys sold separately with the Gymini Kick and Play Activity gym and Tiny Smarts gift sets produce the sound of a wind chime.

They were sold at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Target, Buy Buy Baby and T.J. Maxx stores nationwide from February 2002 through February 2010 for about $8 separately, $22 with the Tiny Smarts gift set and $70 with the Gymini kick and play activity gym.

Consumers can contact Tiny Love at 1-888-791-8166 to receive a free replacement toy.

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Pull-a-Long Friends Toucan, Pulla Long Friends Alligator and Pull-a- Long Friends Sharky pull toys distributed by Manhattan Group of Minneapolis, Minn. and manufactured in Thailand, were recalled because the toy has wooden components that can break or come loose, posing a choking/aspiration hazard to young children.

About 2,400 toys in the U.S. and 400 in Canada were recalled; they were sold in gift and specialty stores nationwide, online and through catalogs from September 2009 through January 2010 for about $22.

Consumers can call Manhattan Group at 1-800-541-1345 for information or return the toy to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement toy.

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About 900 baby bracelets and pacifier clips manufactured in the U.S. were recalled when it was discovered that they both contain high levels of lead.

The product name is Allreds Design Baby Bracelets and Pacifier Clips and are sold in sized 0-6 months, 1-4 years and 4-8 years of age. They were sold in retail stores nationwide from June through December 2008 for about $5.

Consumers can contact Allreds Design at 1-866-695-3551 for instructions on how to receive a replacement bracelet or pacifier clip.