Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Flying Tiger Copenhagen Recalls Wooden Toys Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: April 19, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-147

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Wooden Toy Blocks and Giraffes

    Hazard: Parts of the wooden toys can become detached, resulting in small pieces that can pose a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund – Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys from young children and return the products to Flying Tiger Copenhagen for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Flying Tiger Copenhagen toll-free at 844-350-0560 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.flyingtiger.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 1,000

    Description: This recall involves Flying Tiger Copenhagen wooden blocks and wooden giraffe toys. The Twist & Lock blocks were sold in a combination of blue, green and yellow and red, pink and yellow. Item number 1701354 is printed on the packaging for the blocks. The Twist & Lock giraffe toys were sold in pink and red combination and a yellow and orange combination. Item number 1701493 is printed on the packaging for the giraffe.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold exclusively at: Flying Tiger Copenhagen in New York from November 2015 through December 2015 for about $3.Importer: Flying Tiger Copenhagen, of New York

    Distributor: Flying Tiger Copenhagen, of New York

    Manufactured in: China

  • Miniland Educational Recalls Moogy Plush Toy Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: April 15, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-145

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Moogy plush toys

    Hazard: The red button on the Moogy plush toy’s left pocket can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately take the recall toy away from children and contact Miniland Educational for instructions on cutting off the button to remove the hazard in order to receive a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Miniland Educational toll-free at 866-201-9069 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.minilandeducationalusa.com and click on “Products,” then on “Safety Information” in the dropdown menu for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Miniland-Educational-Recalls-Moogy- Plush-Toys/

    Units: About 2,000 (in addition, 100 were sold in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves Moogy plush fastening toys for toddlers between 12 and 36 months of age. The toy has zippers, buttons, buckles and laces. The Moogy toy has a blue and green face, red ears, a blue jacket with a red zipper, pink/red striped pants and pink and orange shoes with polka dots. Moogy measures about 18 ½ inches tall. “Miniland,” item number R.96295 and lot number 0115 1402813 085 are printed on a white tag sewn into the toy’s pants.

    Incidents/Injuries: Miniland has received one report of the button on the pocket falling off when a baby was playing with the toy.

    Sold at: Specialty toy stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Gilt.com, HighlightsforChildren.com, ToysRUs.com and Zulily.com from July 2015 through February 2016 for about $33.

    Importer/Distributor: Miniland Educational Corp., of Miami, Fla.

    Manufactured in: India

    Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/57902r-eng.php

  • Fisher-Price Recalls Infant Cradle Swings Due to Fall Hazard

    Recall Date: April 14, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-143

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Cradle ‘n Swings

    Hazard: When the seat peg is not fully engaged the seat can fall unexpectedly, posing a risk of injury to the child.

    Remedy: New instructions

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cradle swing and contact Fisher-Price for revised assembly instructions.

    Consumer Contact: Fisher-Price at 800-432-5437 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.service.mattel.com and click on Recalls & Safety Alerts for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Fisher-Price-Recalls-Infant-Cradle-Swings/

    Units: About 34,000

    Description: This recall includes three models of the Fisher-Price cradle swings: CHM84 Soothing Savanna Cradle ‘n Swing, CMR40 Sweet Surroundings Cradle ‘n Swing, and CMR43 Sweet Surroundings Butterfly Friends Cradle ‘n Swing. The swings have two different swinging motions – rocking side-to-side, or swinging head-to-toe, and six different swing speeds from low to high. The product number is located on the seat under the pad.

    Incidents/Injuries: Fisher-Price has received two reports of a seat peg coming out from the seat, causing the seat to fall. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold at: buybuyBaby, Target and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from November 2015 through March 2016 for about $170.

    Importer: Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, N.Y.

    Manufactured in: Mexico

  • Girls now begin consuming alcohol at a younger age than boys!

    The National Institutes of Health have just released a study on April 12, 2016. This is something for parents of young children to note…as underage drinking by sibling teens affects every member of the family–especially young children. The full article is at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_158269.html

  • Back to Nature Issues Allergy Alert for Limited Number of Classic Crème Cookies Due to Undeclared Milk

    Recall Date: April 11, 2016

    Consumer Contact: Back to Nature –  844-275-5845

    Announcement:

    Naples, FL – Back to Nature Foods, LLC is voluntarily recalling two (2) lots of its Classic Crème cookies, 12 oz packages, because it may contain undeclared milk, not listed as an ingredient on the label. Persons who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

    The affected product was distributed to retail stores nationwide. Packages are marked with a unit UPC #19898-01103 and with best by dates of 10 SEP 16 and 16 SEP 16 labeled on top of the package. No other best by dates are affected.

    Consumers who have purchased the Back to Nature Classic Crème cookies with the UPC and dates noted, and have an allergy to milk, should destroy the product they have or are urged to return to the place of purchase for product replacement or refund.

    Consumers with questions may call Back to Nature’s Consumer Relations Center at 844-275-5845. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Consumers also may contact the center via e-mail by visiting the Contact Us page at www.backtonaturefoods.com for a replacement coupon.

    No other Back to Nature brand products are included in this recall.

    This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

    The company has also reported the recall to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) and is placing a notification on the FAACT website www.foodallergyawareness.org

    __________________

    When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company’s announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

  • IKEA Recalls Children’s Bat Cape Costumes Due to Strangulation Hazard

    Recall Date: April 7, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-139

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s LATTJO Bat Cape Costumes

    Hazard: The fabric hook and loop fastener at the neck of the bat cape can fail to detach readily during use, posing a strangulation hazard to children.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately take the recalled bat capes away from children and return the capes to any IKEA store for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: IKEA toll-free at 888-966-4532 anytime or online at www.ikea-usa.com and click on Press Room at the bottom of the page, then Product Recalls for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/IKEA-Recalls-Childrens-Bat-Cape-Costumes/

    Units: About 11,000 (in addition, 750 in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves IKEA children’s bat cape costumes. The capes are black with gray stripes, 100% polyester, measure 30 inches long by 57 inches wide and have a fabric hook and loop fastener closure at the neck. IKEA, LATTJO and numbers 60311650 and 18937 are printed on a white label sewn into the seam of the cape.

    Incidents/Injuries: IKEA has received three reports outside of the United States of the fabric hook and loop fastener at the neck of the costume failing to detach readily and scratching children’s necks.
    Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide and online at www.ikea-usa.com from November 2015 through February 2016 for about $13.

    Importer/Distributor: IKEA North America Services LLC, of Conshohocken, Pa.

    Manufactured in: China

    Health Canada’s press release is available at: healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/57812r-eng.php

  • Rainbow Play Systems Reannounces Recall of Plastic Yellow Trapeze Rings Due to Low Response Rate

    Recall Date: April 7, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-137

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Plastic Trapeze rings

    Hazard: The rings can unexpectedly crack or break during use, posing a fall hazard to children.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop children from using the recalled rings, contact Rainbow for ring removal instructions, then remove the rings from the playset and receive a $10 gift card.

    Consumer Contact: Rainbow Play Systems toll-free at 888-201-1570 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.rainbowplay.com and click on the Recall tab located on the top menu bar for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Rainbow-Play-Systems-Recalls-Plastic-Yellow-Trapeze-Rings/

    Units: About 121,000 pairs of rings in the United States (in addition about 6,500 were sold in Canada and about 5,500 in Mexico)

    Description: This recall involves only the yellow plastic trapeze rings. They are triangular in shape with rounded sides and have a loop at the top. They measure about 8½ inches high by 6½ inches wide. The yellow rings come as a pair and were connected to a trapeze bar. They were sold either as a separate component or as an attachment on the following Rainbow®-branded residential wooden playsets: All-American, Backyard Circus, Carnival, Fiesta, King Kong, Monster, Sunray, Sunshine and Rainbow. All of these playsets have an aluminum plate located on the front of the wooden swing beam with the following name stamped on it, “Playgrounds America,” “Rainbow Play Systems Inc.,” or “Sunray Premium Playgrounds.”

    Incidents/Injuries: Rainbow has received more than 100 reports of the rings cracking or breaking, including 15 with reports of injuries consisting of bumps, bruises, lacerations, concussion and one broken finger.

    Sold at: Rainbow dealers nationwide from January 2007 through December 2011 and at several mass merchandisers including Sam’s Club, Toys R Us and Walmart from January 2009 through December 2009. The playsets retailed for between $900 and $10,000.

    Manufacturer: Rings: Nylacarb Corporation, of Vero Beach, Fla

    Distributor: Rings: Child Works, of Carollton, Ga.

    Manufactured in: United States

    In conjunction with:

    Health Canada’s press release is available at healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/57788r-eng.php

    Profeco’s (Mexico) press release is available at www.profeco.gob.mx/Verificacion/alertas_nvo.asp

  • March is Poison Prevention Month!

    March is Poison Prevention Month, and there are some recommendations that parents, family members and caregivers should know and follow to prevent childhood poisonings, especially related to medicines and household products! Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in young children. Common unintentional injuries are suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fire/burns, falls, and sports-related injuries and, of course, injuries caused by motor vehicles. For the purpose of this blog posting, we will concentrate on how to prevent child poisonings, especially those related to household products and medicines.

    Pediatric Poisoning Products
    (Source: CPSC.gov)

    First, the U.S. Poison Control Center’s telephone number should be accessible near your landline phone and/or in your speed dials or list of emergency contacts on your cell or smart phone. The number should be easily visible to anyone including your child’s caregivers or babysitters! The number is: 1 (800) 222-1222. This phone line is open and staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! If you suspect a poisoning, call the Poison Control Center, stay on the phone and follow the instructions you are given.

    ALL medicines and household products (including the items you would normally keep in a medicine cabinet or medicine chest and cleaning products, laundry detergents, household chemicals of all kinds, etc.) SHOULD BE STORED UP HIGH, OUT OF SIGHT, preferably in a LOCKED CABINET. Children–even young children–are climbers, they are curious, they pull things down on their heads they can barely reach.

    If you take medicine, do not place your medicine on the table, counter or night table, where a child might see it and think it is candy, reach and possibly swallow it.

    If you take or give medicine to a child at night, TURN ON THE LIGHT, so you can see that you are taking or giving your child the proper dosage.

    If you must do something else while you are in the process of taking medicine–like answering the phone or going to the bathroom–take your young children with you and don’t allow yourself to be distracted when medications are present. Make sure to secure child safety caps every time you open and close your medicine bottle or container. And put the medicine away after use, up high, where your child CANNOT reach it.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends that you learn if any guests visiting your home and bring in medicines or drugs, legal or illegal, ask guests to store their medicines where children cannot get to them. Don’t take or give larger doses of medicine to your child than are prescribed by your family physician. Follow the directions on the label, and if you have questions, call your pharmacist, your child’s primary care provider, or your doctor’s office before administering the medicine!

  • Measles Again!

    The source for this information was a news release by ABC/7 with input from the Florida State Health Department1, because it is one of the best summaries I have read of what people, especially parents, caregivers and family members, need to know for their children’s and the general public’s safety, with regard to Measles.

    Spring is coming and so is the occasional measles outbreak. Measles was essentially conquered in its endemic form by rigorous vaccination programs since 1963, and seemed eradicated in the United States by 2000. The medical community has not seen it in widespread outbreaks in the past few years, as badly as in days prior to the the use of Measles vaccine (now known as MMR, Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine). But there have been outbreaks in California, Florida, New England, Washington, D.C., and Branson, MO, and the medical community expects there may be outbreaks this year which are not necessarily due to infected travelers or unvaccinated people who have become infected and entered the U.S. Again, this news release is one of the most clearly written about Measles that I have seen and it may help parents and caregivers to read it now before measles rears its ugly head again this spring! (Omitted are the statistics about Florida infections in 2015, merely to save space.) Please take a read:

    “Measles is a serious respiratory disease caused by a virus of the same name (Measles). The disease is highly contagious and can spread to others who are unvaccinated.

    “We applaud all who have gotten vaccinated or confirmed their immunity in light of the unfortunate cases of measles in Florida this year”, said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Vaccination remains the best way for Floridians and visitors to protect their children, themselves and their communities from what is ultimately a serious yet preventable illness.”

    People who are particularly susceptible are pregnant women, infants under the age of 12 months and people who are immunocompromised.

    Vaccinations are available year round through health departments [in Florida’s 67 counties] or your local doctor’s office. The department encourages all residents and visitors who have not been immunized to get vaccinated immediately, according to health officials.

    The department says it continues to work with community health care and governmental partners in sharing the facts about measles and the benefit of being vaccinated.

    The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is about 97 percent effective if both scheduled doses are received. This means about three out of every 100 fully vaccinated persons may still be affected, according to health officials.

    ________________

    1 News release by ABC/7 with input from the Florida Health Department, April 24, 2015, on Measles.

  • CPSC Approves New Federal Standard for Portable Hook-On Chairs

    Release Date: March 11, 2015

    Release Number: 16-118

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory standard intended to improve the safety of portable hook-on chairs and prevent deaths and injuries to young children. The Commission voted unanimously in favor of the standard (5 to 0) on March 8, 2016.

    A portable hook-on chair is a legless seat attached to a table where the occupant sits and that is supported solely by the table on which the chair is mounted. Portable hook-on chairs are intended for children between the ages of 6 months and 3 years and who weigh no more than 37 pounds.

    The new federal standard incorporates by reference the most recent voluntary standard developed by ASTM International (ASTM F1235-15), Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Portable Hook-On Chairs, without modification.

    In addition, the new safety standard addresses hazards associated with portable hook-on chairs, including:

    compromised attachment
    restraint or containment issues
    unintended release of seat fabric fastenings
    seat fabric separation due to breaking or tearing components
    broken structural components.

    From January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2014, CPSC received about 90 incident reports related to portable hook-on chairs. These reports included 50 incidents involving injury, 38 non-injury incidents and one fatality.

    The effective date for the new mandatory portable hook-on chair standard is 6 months after the final rule is published in the Federal Register.

    The Commission is required by The Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act, Section 104(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), to issue consumer product safety standards for durable infant or toddler products. In the past six years, the Commission has approved new federal safety standards for durable infant or toddler products, including full-size cribs, non-full-size cribs, play yards, baby walkers, baby bath seats, children’s portable bed rails, strollers, toddler beds, infant swings, handheld infant carriers, soft infant carriers, framed infant carriers, bassinets and cradles.