August 2008 Recalls and Product Safety News (continued)

• IMS Recalls Car Chargers Used With Halogen Spotlights Sold at Sears and K-Mart Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Merchandising Service Inc. (IMS), of Fullerton, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 210,000 Car Chargers Used with Power System Plus 3 Million Candlepower Spotlights. The car charger is incompatible with the spotlight’s battery, which can cause it to overcharge inside of a vehicle and pose a fire or burn hazard to consumers.

• Stroller Activity Bars Recalled by International Playthings Due to Choking Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 10,000 Taggies™ Strollin’ Along Stroller Activity Bars. The shiny material on the elephant’s ear on the activity bar can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

•  Coffee Makers Recalled by Sears Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sears, Roebuck and Co. of Hoffman Estates, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 145,000 Kenmore and Kenmore Elite Coffee Makers. The wiring in the coffee maker can overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

•  Power Light Modules Recalled by GCI Technologies Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), GCI Technologies Corp., of Edison, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 Power Light Modules. Internal wiring in the module’s circuit boards is incorrectly installed, posing a risk of an electrical fire and burn hazards to consumers.

• CPSC Warns of Dangers at Home in the Aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay

Portable gas generators, often used by consumers to restore power to their homes and businesses in the aftermath of a storm, produce high levels of deadly carbon monoxide (CO). CPSC warns consumers that generators should be used outdoors only, far from doors, windows, and vents that could allow CO to come indoors.

• Venmar CES Inc. Recalls Heat Recovery Ventilators Due to Fire Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Venmar CES Inc., of Saskatoon, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 3,400 Light Commercial Heat Recovery Ventilators. The motors in these units can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

• Cervélo SA Recalls Bicycle Forks Due to Fall Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cervélo SA, of Switzerland, is voluntarily recalling about 5,800 Wolf SL Carbon Fiber Bicycle Forks. The forks steerer can break during normal use, causing the rider to lose control, fall and suffer serious injuries.

• Electrical Wire Splices Recalled Due to Shock and Fire Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 53,000 Electrical Wire Splices manufactured by Molex, of Lisle, Ill. (also known as Butt Splice Connectors) are being voluntarily recalled. The splice can fail to hold the wires adequately together, posing a shock and fire hazard to Consumers.

• Steam Cleaners Recalled by Thane International Due to Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Thane International Inc., of La Quinta, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 134,000 H20 Portable Hand Held Steam Cleaners. Steam can escape from the handle and trigger of the steam cleaner, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

• CPSC Offers Tips for Back to School Safety

More than 50 million children are headed back to school this fall and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents to pay special attention to safety this school year. Whether it’s wearing a helmet while they ride their bikes, watching out for dangerous drawstrings in children’s jackets, or checking the safety of school soccer goals, CPSC has important safety tips that can keep children from being sidelined with injuries.

• Electra Bicycle Company Expands Recall of Amsterdam Bicycles; Chain Can Derail and Pose Injury Risk to Riders

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Electra Bicycle Company, LLC, of Vista, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Amsterdam Bicycles (about 9,500 bicycles were recalled on July 22, 2008). The interior alignment tabs of the bicycle’s chainguard can be pushed against the chain causing it to derail, which poses a risk of injury to riders.

• Hobbico Inc. Recalls Batteries Used In Radio-Controlled Helicopters Due to Fire Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hobbico Inc., of Champaign, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 11,000 Batteries Used In Radio-Controlled Helicopter Kits. The rechargeable battery can overheat and catch fire while charging, igniting nearby combustible materials. This poses a fire hazard to consumers.

•  Flame Weeders Recalled by Gardener’s Supply Co. Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gardener’s Supply Co., of Burlington, Vt., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 Flame Weeders. The two-piece brass control valve can separate between the flame weeder and the propane tank and allow propane to leak from the tank. This poses fire and burn hazards to consumers.

•  Rossignol Recalls Snowboard Bindings Due to Strap Failure

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rossignol Ski Co., of Park City, Utah, is voluntarily recalling about 3,500 pairs of 2007 Rossignol HC Snowboard Bindings. The t-nuts that attached the buckles to the straps on the snowboard’s bindings can detach, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

• Children’s Board Skirts Recalled By Chelsea & Scott Ltd. Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Chelsea & Scott Ltd., of Lake Bluff, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 600 Sun Smarties™ Children’s Board Skirts. The paint on the grommets of the skirts contains an excess level of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.