The week’s news in product safety…
Lakeshore Learning Materials recalls Magnetic Maze Boards due to multiple hazards
Hazard: The magnetic maze board’s plastic wand can separate and expose a magnet that can be a choking hazard to children. Also, if a child has more than one of these toys and the magnets detach and are swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.
Incidents/Injuries: Lakeshore has received ten reports of wands separating and magnets detaching, though no injuries have been reporte
Description: The recall affects about 18,500 magnetic maze boards that read at the top: “Who’s Hiding in the Garden?,” “Who’s Hiding in the Ocean?,” “Magnetic Counting Maze,” “Magnetic Alphabet Board” or “My Community Magnetic Board.”
Where you bought it: Lakeshore Learning Materials stores, catalogs and online at lakeshorelearning.com from January 2009 through May 2010 for between $30 and $40.
What to do: Contact Lakeshore Learning at (800) 428-4414 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, receive a free replacement product.
Kompan Inc. recalls swing sets due to fall hazard
Hazard: The warmers can overheat bottles and the liquid inside, posing a burn hazard to adults and babies.
Incidents/Injuries: Kompan received 19 reports from BigToys of swings that have had the end brackets replaced due to both actual or potential for cracking or breakage at the joint of the top beam and the support posts. The firm has received three reports of minor injuries to users, however the firm has been unable to verify the cause or nature of these injuries.
Description: The recalled swingsets include the “To Fro” models listed below with any numbers in the series of model number codes listed here.
Where you bought it: Kompan, Inc. from January 1998 to December 31, 2008 for about $700-$3250. Kompan has not manufactured the swing since December 31, 2003 and has not sold it since December 31, 2008.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swing sets and remove the chains connecting the seats to the top beam. A retrofit kit will be provided to all affected customers with installation instructions. Kompan is contacting swing owners directly by telephone and mail to advise them to stop using the swing, remove the chains connecting the seats to the top beam and advising customers that retrofit kits will be delivered with installation instructions. Kompan will follow up by telephone and email after the retrofits are delivered to confirm installation by customers. For additional information, please contact Kompan representative Joedi Rice at (800) 624-4869 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s website at www.kompan.com, or e-mail the firm at joeric@kompan.com.
Federal investigators stumped at surge in diaper rash linked to Pampers
From April through August, the Consumer Product Safety Commission received nearly 4,700 incident reports about diaper rash related to Pampers Dry Max diapers. Almost 85 percent of those complaints came in May, and the flood dropped off quickly in June.
But federal safety regulators said this week that, after extensive testing, they had found no clear cause for any increased risk of diaper rash.
The news is the latest in a back-and-forth between officials and parents, thousands of whom have taken to Facebook and other online forums to demand action from Pampers and government regulators. The Facebook groups – with names like Bring back the Pampers Cruisers, Dump Dry Max!” “Recall Pampers Dry Max diapers!” and “Pampers, Just Admit you made a mistake already!” – were flooded with angry parents convinced of a link between the well-known brand and the all-too-familiar rash.
