Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper”bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned thaton August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to deathwhen she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of in the co-sleeper bassinets. On September29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars ofthe bassinet and died.

CPSC is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchasedall of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it isnot responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spacedfarther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under thefederal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabricflap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet isconverted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-securedwhen the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrappedin the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumersto share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family andfriends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinetcovered by this warning.The Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product Safety ImprovementAct, to release this warning upon making a finding that the health and safety ofthe public require immediate notice.

Today, CPSC is announcing that the following retailers havevoluntarily agreed to recall the product and provide a refund or store credit toconsumers who return the product to the store where purchased:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. – (800) 925-6278 or www.walmart.com
Toys "R" Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J. - (800) 869-7787 or www.toysrus.com orwww.babiesrus.com
Kmart Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill. – (800) 659-7026 or www.kmart.com
Big Lots!, of Columbus, Ohio – (866) 244-5687 or www.biglots.com
Target of Minneapolis, Minnesota sold at www.target.com
onlyJ.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas – (888) 333-6063 or www.jcp.com

Below is a listing of Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible "Close-Sleeper"model bassinets that are included in this recall. The model number can be found on a label on the underside of the bassinet.RECALLED Model Numbers:
3000CL
3112DOH
63011WHE
9250A
3016LAU
3046GTM
3010BIJ
3112DOH
73011WHK
3012SOM
3016MIR
3046HAN
3010HAV
3122BAN
3012BIJ
5750SAR
3017NCB
3047MON
3010NGS
3122TGC
3012OXF
3012TGT
3020SFB
3050LIL
3010TGT
3010BIJC
3012SFD
3013PRO
3025BER
3050SAR
3010WHE
343-8363
3040SAR
9250B
3025C
3060GFS
3040LAU
343-8399
3040SPR
3014LOL
3026CRT
3060TFS
TD2500
3045FEL
3050SWT
3014NGS
3027MIS
8393
3040WDS
3111DPC
3060BTL
3015GFR
3030SAR
3040SPRC
3045DRM
3012LLTC
3112BDY
3070MAN
3040CLA
3040LAC
3111ZOL
3050SWTC
3045OXFC
3112DOH
5730FKB
3045DRMC

HABA Recalls 22 Wooden Infant Toys Due to Choking Hazard

The CPSC recalled 118,000 wooden toys made by HABA today. The wooden rattles, pacifier holders, and stroller toys contain small pieces including glued on mirrors and prisms that can detach and pose a choking hazard to infants. HABA has received 15 reports of the recalled puzzles, rattles, and pacifier holders detaching and being mouthed by young children. These wooden toys were made in Germany and sold from January 2002 to August 2008.

While the CPSC listed19 of the HABA toys recalled, the HABA site listed 22 toys recalled. The CPSC list included the following:

0972 Lucy Clutching Toy
0973 Little Heart Clutching Toy
0920 Clutching Toy Belinda
2268 Triolino Puzzle
0951 Miro
1037 Bunny Pacifier Chain
1048 Pacifier Chain Bear
0917 Speedy Clutching Toy
0971 Bella Clutching Toy
0919 Clutching Toy Pixie's World
0924 Clutching Toy Pirate
0974 Bonita Clutching Toy
0975 Rally Clutching Toy
1062 Pram Decoration Little Hearts
1066 Flori
1067 Triola
1184 Trio
3572 Discovery Ball W/rattle
3571 Discovery Balls, Set Of 4

The HABA site (www.HABAusa.com/safety) included these additional toys:

3708 Construction Site Stroller Chain
3739 Stellino Clutching Toy 3744 Tamtam Clutching Toy

Update on Remote Controlled Helicopter Recalls

Today the CPSC added another remote controlled helicopter recall to the list for 2008. The Hobbico Heli-Max Axe CP-L rechargeable battery has reportedly overheated and or melted 28 times. Flames and minor property damage occurred during 27 of the reported times. These helicopter kits (which include the battery) were made in China and sold at hobby stores from November 2007 to March of 2008 for $200.

Remote Controlled Helicopter Kills 6 Year Old in Brazil

In an article reported by the associated press, a remote controlled helicopter spun out of control yesterday in Brazil and killed a 6 year old boy. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080818/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/brazil_model_helicopter

As reported in our blog post on July 25, close to one million remote controlled helicopters have been recalled by the CPSC in the US so far this year. The models recalled include the following:

Sky Scrambler
Sharper Image Helicopter
Sky Champion (sold at Walgreens)
AT600 Falcon by Hobby Lobby
and Fun2Fly Microcopter

Back to School Lead Concerns - Lunchboxes

As my daughter enters Kindergarten this fall, I am in search for a safe lunchbox. In my Internet searching, I came across the following from the Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, California (CEH) (http://cehca.nonprofitsoapbox.com/index.php).

According to the CEH, over 200 children's soft vinyl lunchboxes that CEH has tested since 2004 contained high levels of lead. Lead was usually found in the lining of the lunchboxes where it could come into contact with food. The group said tests of one lunchbox made by Targus International contained more than 90 times the legal limit for lead paint in children's products.
Other brightly colored vinyl lunch boxes were tested featuring characters such as PowerPuff Girls, Superman and Hamtaro. All contained lead over the 600 ppm legal limit for lead in children's products.

In addition to being a known carcinogen and reproductive toxin, lead is a neurotoxin that can cause health effects such as behavioral problems and hearing problems in children that are exposed to low levels. Because it is difficult to tell by sight which lunchboxes contain lead, CEH is advising parents to buy products from companies that have committed to only sell lead-safe lunchboxes. If these are not available, the CEH recommends that parents avoid soft vinyl lunchboxes altogether, or test their own lunchboxes at home.

We are currently looking at www.reusablebags.com for a selection of lead free lunch bags including NY Munchlers and Mimi the Sardine for our daughter.

Fisher Price Returns to the Toy Recall Front

It has been nine months since Fisher Price was included in a toy recall. Today the CPSC recalled 15,000 of the Fisher Price Learning Pots and Pans due to a choking hazard. These toy pots and pans were recalled because the blue pan may be missing screws that hold the toy together. Fisher Price has received five reports of the plastic cover coming off of the toy releasing the small balls inside. The toy recall affects the Learning Pots and Pans manufactured in China and sold by Fisher Price from October 2007 to August 2008.