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Toys, Safety Devices and Other RECALLS

Keep on top of what has been declared unsafe for your child!

********************************************* SAFETY TIPS - PREVENTING IRON POISONING *********************************************

Below you will find some information submitted by a parent and a ParentsPlace.com member. Following her description, you will find some information by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) with a link for more detail.

>From Barbara: "I would like to share the following item with all of you so that you too will become aware of the danger of vitamins. My two year old loves the taste of vitamins. The vitamins that I buy for my kids have added iron. To make a long story short she was on her 13th vitamin when I found her quietly eating them. I immediately called the poison control center and was informed that vitamins, with added iron, are potentially dangerous. When ingested in large doses it can become fatal due to lead poisoning. Had I not called the poison control center I would not have known that iron fortified vitamins could be potentially dangerous. My daughter is now fine, but rest assured I do not allow my daughter to serve herself any pill/tablet and presently I have made sure that I have a lock and key on the upper cabinet where the vitamins are stored."

>From the FDA - January 15, 1997 FDA Background Report: "Since 1986, poison control centers in the United States have received reports of more than 110,000 incidents of children under 6 accidentally swallowing iron tablets. Some of the children were hospitalized; more than 35 died. Accidental iron overdose is a **leading cause of poisoning deaths in children under 6** in the United States.

The iron products involved in the poisonings ranged from nonprescription daily multivitamin/mineral supplements for children to high-potency prescription iron supplements for pregnant women. In some cases, the iron products were left within the child's reach in uncapped or loosely capped containers. In others, the child managed to open the container, even though in some cases it appeared to be in child-resistant packaging. In some cases, a sibling opened the container.

The children were poisoned after consuming as few as five to as many as 98 iron-containing tablets. Death occurred from ingesting as little as 200 mg to as much as 5,850 mg of iron. .... Iron is an essential nutrient that is lacking in some people's diets. Recommended Dietary Allowance for iron for females between ages 11 and 50 is 15 mg a day and for pregnant women, 30 mg. For adult men and women over 50, the RDA for iron is 10 mg. Iron deficiency also can affect children, particularly during the rapid growth period from 6 months to 4 years. The RDA for iron for children in this age group is 10 mg."

For more information, please see the full FDA background report at: http://www.parentsplace.com/genobject.cgi/readroom/features/fdairon.html

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FEDERAL TRAFFIC SAFETY OFFICIALS HAVE A NEW RECOMMENDATION: NEVER PUT CHILDREN UNDER 13 IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF A CAR!!! The National Transportation Safety Board is urging state governments to require children under 13 years old to sit in the back seats of cars. This is just one of more than a dozen points adopted by the NTSB in order to decrease traffic fatalities. Board officials said children are three times less likely to die in a car crash if they are riding in the back seat ("the back seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride.") This is not only because of the obvious hazards, but also because of the dangers due to air bag deployment. Air bags have been blamed in the deaths of 67 children and small adults since 1990. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is currently reviewing proposals that would permit deactivation of air bags by the consumer. Efforts are also being made to modify air bags so that they use less force and deploy on higher impacts than the current standard of 12 miles per hour.

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Weebles Tractor The Weebles Tractor (item #5242) has been voluntarily recalled by Playskool of Pawtucket, R.I. This toy is yellow with blue wheels, and was sold with a colorful farm girl weeble. The red plunger on top of the toy may crack and break, which could present a choking hazard. Playskool is offering a free replacement by calling them toll-free at 1-888-377-3335.

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Disney Babies Romper Sets Catton Brothers Corp. of New York, N.Y., has recalled approximately 13,200 Disney Babies romper sets for boys and girls. These rompers were of denim construction with an embroidered Baby Minnie or Mickey, and were sold with matching denim hats. Some crotch snaps may have exposed prongs which could cause injury. Consumers are advised to return the rompers to the place of purchase for a refund.

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Quiet Time Infant Swings Cosco Inc. of Columbus, Ind., is providing a free repair kit for about 355,500 Quiet TimeTM infant swings. Screws connecting the metal hanger tubes and the U-shaped seat support can loosen and fall out, causing the seat support to fall and possibly injurying infants. Thus far, the company has received 300 complaints with 44 reports of injuries. If you have the Quiet Time Swing, check the underside of the swing's seat for both the model number and date mark. Model numbers being recalled for repair are: 08-975 and 08-977 and the date stamps are from 0593 through 4095. To receive a free repair kit, call Cosco at (800) 221-6736

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Safety News - April 25, 1997 Northwest Airlines agreed with a request from the Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to pull an ad in the April 25th's USA Today showing a child bending over with its head in abucket. The airline agreed to pull the ad and mount a safety campaign after the CPSC advised it that ^^^at least two children die each month^^^ in the U.S. by drowning in buckets.

For more safety related information, visit http://www.parentsplace.com/readroom/safety.html

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Balloons Leading Cause Of Nonfood Choking Deaths: According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, balloons are the leading nonfood cause of choking deaths in young children. Out of nearly 450 nonfood choking deaths that have been reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission over the past 20 years, it was found that balloons caused 29% of these deaths (including 9 deaths in just the last 2 years). Balls and marbles caused 19%, and other toys caused 20% of deaths.

Because infants and toddlers are most likely to place objects such as toys in their mouths, this may lead parents to believe that this age is at highest risk. ****But nearly 2/3 of recent deaths due to balloons and other nonfood objects occurred in children over four years of age.**** So, it is important to teach older children about the hazards of placing small objects in their mouths as well.

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PORTABLE BASKETBALL SYSTEM: Lifetime Products Inc. of Clearfield, Utah, is recalling over 29,800 ProCourt portable basketball systems. The base can develop a leak, which in turn could allow the water used to stabilize the system to leak out, resulting in the hoop falling over and causing injury. Items being recalled have a number 4 on the bottom of the base and date codes from 970101 through 970873. Call Lifetime Products at (800) 225-3865 for a free replacement base and a free net.

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INDIAN GIRL AND BOY STUFFED BEARS: The Mazel Co. of Solon, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 835 Teddy Precious Indian girl and boy stuffed bears. The beads can come off and young children can choke on the beads or inhale them into their lungs. A label sewn to each bear's foot reads, "Teddy Precious." The bears also have a tag that reads, "DANDEE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED...MADE IN CHINA." You should return the bears to the store where purchased for a full refund or a replacement toy.

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NHTSA ANNOUNCES TWO CHILD SAFETY SEAT RECALLS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today announced child safety seat recalls being conducted by Century Products Company of Macedonia, Ohio, and Evenflo of Piqua, Ohio.

The Century recall involves 11,000 Century SmartMove Model 4750 convertible child safety seats manufactured between Nov. 27, 1995 and Feb. 13, 1996. They are being recalled because a mismatch of latching components could allow the buckle to release during a crash.

NHTSA Administrator Ricardo Martinez, M.D., told parents who had no suitable alternative to safety seats affected by this recall to continue using them until they receive and install the retrofit kit from the manufacturer. An unrestrained child is at a much greater risk of injury in a crash than a child in a restraint system, he explained.

To obtain a free retrofit kit, owners of these seats should call Century at (800) 583-4093 or write to Century Products Company, 9600 Valley View Road, Macedonia, Ohio 44056.

The Evenflo recall involves 10,423 Evenflo Trooper Adjustable Shield child safety seats, Models 219140, 219164, 219180, 219186 and 219188 built between Nov. 27, 1995 and Jan. 22, 1996. Evenflo is replacing the instruction pamphlet accompanying these seats because it switched the instructions for toddler and infant use. This error could lead some owners to believe that infants smaller than 20 pounds can ride facing forward. Evenflo will provide owners with a new, corrected instruction pamphlet.

Owners of these Evenflo child safety seats who wish to contact the company for a new instruction pamphlet should call (800) 837-4002 or write to Evenflo at 1801 Commerce Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356.

If you want to check to see if the child safety seat that you are using has been recalled click here. NHTSA Child Safety Seat Recalls

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