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Westminster Inc. of Atlanta recalled 102,000 “Thunder Wolf Remote Controlled Indoor Helicopters”, model number T0996, today. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited that the Chinese-made toy is prone to melting or catching fire, which can lead to injury.

There have been seven reports of overheating and melting, including one that caught fire and two that caused minor property damage. Only the models without “Made In China” stamped on the bottom are subject to the recall. Westminster inc. said that owners of this toy should stop using it immediately and contact them for a refund. Retailers will not accept returns or refunds for this product. To contact Westminster Inc., call (800) 618-0023 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET Friday. You may also sent an email to info@thunderwolfhelicopter.com or visit their website at www.thunderwolfhelicopter.com.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Fisher-Price Inc., has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted, settles allegations that the company failed to report to the government that a nail fastener in the Little People® Animal Sounds Farm could separate from the toy and pose a serious choking or aspiration hazard to young children.

About 67,000 Little People® Animal Sounds Farms were sold nationwide by Fisher-Price from June 2002 through July 2002. In September 2002, the company received its first report of a nail fastener coming loose from one of the toy barn’s stall doors. Over the next two months, Fisher-Price received nine additional reports, including one case of a child placing the nail fastener in her mouth.

By February 2003, Fisher-Price had received two reports of parents concerned that this problem posed a choking hazard to children and a report of a December 30, 2002 incident in which a 14-month old child aspirated a nail fastener into his lung. The child was taken to the hospital and underwent an emergency surgical procedure to have the metal nail fastener removed.

It was not until March 2003 that the company reported the safety hazard with the Little People® Animal Farm to the Commission. By that time, Fisher-Price was aware of at least 33 reports in which the nail fastener came loose from the stall doors. These included four reports of children who put the metal nail fastener in their mouths and the one case of the child who aspirated the nail fastener.

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.

In April 2003, CPSC and Fisher-Price announced the recall of the Little People® Animal Sounds Farms and recommended that consumers take the toy away from young children immediately and contact the company to receive a free repair kit. Consumers can still call Fisher-Price anytime at (866) 259-7873 or order the repair kit online at www.service.mattel.com

In agreeing to settle the matter, Fisher-Price Inc. denies CPSC’s allegations that the company knowingly violated the law.

Prior to the loss of quorum, the Commission delegated authority to the Office of Compliance and Field Operations to settle this matter with Fisher-Price before March 1, 2007.

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The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price have combined to announce a voluntary recall of 500,000 “Laugh and Learn Bunny Toys” because of a choking hazard.

The government agency reported that no injuries had occurred yet, but the toy company reacted quickly after learning that the nose could detach and pose a choking hazard.

This recall involves the Laugh and Learn Learning Bunny that measures about 10-inches tall. The yellow bunny with one green and one orange ear has musical and counting sound effects. The words, “Laugh and Learn” are printed on the bunny’s shirt. Product numbers involved in the recall are: K0468, K2960, K2961, K2962, K2963, K2964, K2965, K3440, K6898, K7884, L0327, and K5862. The product numbers are located on the fabric tag sewn to the body of the bunny. Only bunnies with three dimensional pompom noses are included in this recall. Bunnies with flat or embroidered noses are not subject to this recall.

Again to its credit, the company has asked consumers to take the toy from a child and contact Fisher-Price to arrange a replacement toy of the consumer’s choice. That is a classy way to end what could have been public relations nightmare.

For additional information, contact Fisher-Price at (866) 447-5003 anytime.

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In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Playskool, of Pawtucket, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 255,000 Team Talkin’ Tool Bench toys following the deaths of two young children.

Playskool received reports that a 19-month-old boy from Martinsburg, W.V., and a 2-year-old boy from League City, Texas, suffocated when oversized, plastic toy nails sold with the tool bench toys became forcefully lodged in their throats. Though the toy nails are not considered a small-part, and the toys are intended for children age 3 and older, Playskool is voluntarily conducting a recall as a precaution to prevent additional incidents.

The Team Talkin’ Tool Bench™ is a 20-inch tall plastic toy tool bench with an animated red toy saw, a yellow toy drill and a blue toy vice. The toy talks and makes various sound effects, including tool sounds. The product also includes a toy hammer, screwdriver, two 2″-inch plastic screws, two 3-inch plastic nails and pieces to build a small toy plane. The red Playskool logo is on the front of the brown surface of the tool bench.

The toy was sold at Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Target, KB Toys stores and various other stores nationwide from October 2005 through September 2006 for about $35.

Consumers should immediately take the two toy nails away from children and contact Playskool to get information on returning the nails for a $50 certificate for a Playskool (or its related companies’) product.

For additional information, call Playskool at (800) 509-9554 anytime.

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LEGO and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of 358,000 LEGO EXPLORE Super Trucks.

The toys pose a safety hazard to children, according to the government agency, which issued a press release stating that there have been ten incident reports filed including two “serious” puncture wounds.

EGO EXPLORE Super Truck is a toy-in-toy product designed for children ages 18 months and up. The toy features a red plastic pick-up/dump truck that measures about 15-inches high and 19-inches wide with four 7-inch black plastic wheels that are packed with a box of 40 LEGO DUPLO bricks in the cargo area. The unit has a row of DUPLO “studs” across the top of the cab, molded yellow headlights and stickers on the front and sides of the unit create the idea of a windshield, windows and doors depicting a LEGO figure in the driver’s seat. The LEGO Explore logo is printed on the door stickers. The box of DUPLO bricks is not included in this recall.

Consumers should stop using the toy immediately and contact LEGO at (800) 718-1858.

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Following yesterday’s announcement from the EPA that millions of cans of confetti string were being destroyed as an environment hazard comes news of another children’s toy recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and LeapFrog Enterprises have recalled 186,000 units of the “Learn-Around Playground Activity Center”. The agency said a child’s arm could become caught in the center tube. LeapFrog has reported receiving more than 140 reports of that occurring, resulting in minor injuries more than one-third of the time.

The toy is a multi-colored plastic musical activity center for children aged 6-36 months. The affected units have item number 10200 written on the unit below the legend “Made In China”. The agency asked parents and caregivers to take the unit from the child and contact LeapFrog toll-free at (800) 701-5327. The company has extended hours of 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. pst on Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The CPSC also announced today the recall of 3,000 Delta Performance Water Heaters because of a potential carbon monoxide leak and 27,000 patio umbrellas sold by Long’s Drug Stores because of excessive lead in the unit.

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More than 600,000 “musical toy chairs” made by Fisher-Price have been recalled because a child can become lodged between the seatback and side table of the chair, possibly leading to their strangulation.

The recalled Laugh & Learn Musical Learning Chair is a plastic infant toy that measures about 17 inches high. It plays music and teaches children numbers and letters. It also features a blue chair with four green plastic legs and a side table with a purple base and white top. The table holds a clock, book, and a lamp. Smiley faces are displayed on the lamp and seat back. “Fisher-Price” is written on the front of the chair. The packaging states that the toy is intended for children 12 months through 36 months of age. The model numbers are H4609, H7167 through H7173, H8157, H8998, and J0272 through J0275 can be found on the underside of the seat of the chair.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers to take the recalled musical chair away from children immediately and contact Fisher-Price toll-free at (866) 552-3914 anytime.

Posted under Recalls