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.

Where is My Child's Toy Made? My Daughter's American Girl was Made in . . .

I was surprised today when I received in the mail by daughter's new American Girl Elizabeth Doll. This is our first purchase of American Girl products and when I went to enter the doll into my SmartToyChoice.com account, I noticed the doll was MADE IN CHINA.

You can find out where some of your children's favorite toys are made by going to the Toy Information page at www.SmartToyChoice.com (or click here http://www.smarttoychoice.com/index.php?action=Toy%20Information) and searching on the toy name or manufacturer. The toys we have in our system will list the country they were made in. Interesting to see where Barbie's, Transformer's, and Lego's are made!

Toy Recall Affects Even the "Natural" Toy Companies

Today Earthentree of Kirkland, Washington recalled 13 different wooden toys due to choking hazard, strangulation hazard and violating the federal rattle standard. This company's website advertises that they offer natural wooden toys that are safe, lead free and handmade. While this is great and I applaud, today is a reminder that even the safest companies can run into a manufacturing problem that leads to a recall.

Earthentree recalled the following wooden toys made in India and sold between December 2007 and May 2008:

Large and Small Maracas

Pom Pom Rail Train

Duby and Duba Pull Toy

Duby Duck Pull Toy

Katerpillar Pull Toy

Kiddo

Rattleman

Six Ring Rattle

Turtle Family Pull Toy

Cat Rattle

Bear Rattle

Tutto Turtle Pull Toy

Choo Choo Train

Close to One Million Remote Controlled Helicopters Recalled This Year Due to Fire and Burn Dangers

Yesterday the CPSC recalled the Sky Scrambler and Sharper Image Wireless Indoor Helicopters due to fire and burn dangers. This makes close to one million remote controlled helicopters recalled this year due to the rechargeable batteries overheating and posing a fire hazard. Some customers hands have even been burnt once the fire started. This is up from the 332,000 remote controlled vehicles recalled in 2007 and 243,000 in 2006. All of the 2008 remote controlled helicopters were made in China.

The 2008 Recalled Helicopters include the following:
Sky Scrambler
Sharper Image Helicopter
Sky Champion (sold at Walgreens)
AT600 Falcon by Hobby Lobby
and Fun2Fly Microcopter