U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Reports Five Recalls

Maran Inc. Children’s Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: Squeeze Kids Girl’s Corduroy Jackets.

Units: About 6,000.

Distributor: Maran Inc. of North Bergen, N.J.

Hazard: The garments have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled garments are brown corduroy jackets with a pink hood and pink sequins on the front pockets. “Squeeze Kids” and style number 4JZ642FK are printed on the care label sewn into the back collar area of the garment. The sweatshirts were sold in girls’ sizes small (7/8), medium (10), large (12/14) and x-large (16).

Sold exclusively at: TJ Maxx retail stores nationwide during January 2007 for about $13.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard, or return the garments to the place where purchased or to Maran Inc. to receive a refund.

Consumer Contact: Maran Inc.

Maple Chase Co. Recalls Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Alarms Due to Malfunctions

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: FireX Branded 10000 Series Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms and 12000 Series CO/Smoke Combo Alarms.

Units: About 280,000.

Manufacturer: Maple Chase Company, of Plain City, Ohio.

Hazard: The recalled alarms can sound a “double chirp”/fault alarm in the presence of CO, prior to going into full alarm. Upon hearing a double chirp, the Owner’s Manual instructions recommend a consumer take the alarm out of service, which could expose consumers to hazardous levels of CO and suffer injury or death.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall includes FireX branded 10000 and 12000 series alarms with item numbers: 10000, 12000, 12000C, 12000-6, 12200, 12220, 12400, 12400C manufactured between June 1, 2007 and February 1, 2008. The date code appears on the back of the unit with a four-digit year, three-digit month followed by the day (ex: 2007JUN1 for June 1, 2007). Units with a manufacture date code prior to June 1, 2007 are not included in this recall.

Sold: Commercial electrical distributors and electrical contractors and builders for installation into new home construction. A limited number of units were sold at Menard’s nationwide from June 2007 through February 2008 for about $20 (10000 series) and $30 (12000 series).

Manufactured in: Mexico.

Remedy: Consumers should contact Maple Chase immediately to receive a free comparable replacement alarm and make arrangements to return their recalled alarms. Consumers should not take the alarms out of service until they receive the replacement alarm.

Consumer Contact: Maple Chase.

Manhattan Group Recalls Infant Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: Tumble Tower Infant Rattles.

Units: About 7,000.

Manufacturer: Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The blue plastic end caps of the rattle can break, resulting in small parts, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Manhattan Group has received two reports of the blue plastic end caps breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled Manhattan Toy(tm) baby rattle is 5 inches long and made of clear plastic with blue end cap pieces. The two clear handles feature colorful beads inside and brightly colored rings on the outside. A blue face spins on a purple post inside the rattle center when it is turned.

Sold at: Gift and specialty stores nationwide, mail order catalogs, and the Internet from September 2007 through April 2008 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China.

Remedy: Consumers should take the toys away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or contact Manhattan Group to exchange the rattles for another toy.

Consumer Contact: Manhattan Group.

Fuel Cells Used With Framing Nailers Recalled by Paslode for Fire Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: “Tall Red” Fuel Cells.

Units: About 86,000.

Manufacturer: Paslode, of Vernon Hills, Ill.

Hazard: The fuel cells used to power cordless framing nailers can leak fuel, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves “Tall Red” fuel cells designed for use in Paslode cordless framing nailers. The fuel cells have part number 81600 printed in the upper right hand corner of the product’s packaging. The recalled fuel cells have the following date and manufacture codes.

Best-Use-Before Dates – located at the bottom of each fuel cell:
09 AUG 2009 10 AUG 2009 11 AUG 2009

Manufactured Dates – located on the outside of master cartons:
Feb. 11, 12, and 13, 2008

Sold at: Construction supply and home center stores and by construction supply dealers nationwide from February 2008 through April 2008 for between $11 and $14.

Manufactured in: United States.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the fuel cells and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or credit.

Consumer Contact: Paslode.

Shindaiwa Corp. Recalls Backpack Blowers Due to Laceration and Impact Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Product: Shindaiwa Backpack Blowers.

Units: About 23,000.

Importer: Shindaiwa Corp., of Tualatin, Ore.

Manufacturer: Shindaiwa Kogyo Co. Ltd, of Hiroshima, Japan.

Hazard: The blower’s impeller (fan) can separate from the base and break apart, causing plastic pieces to be blown out of the machine, and pose a laceration and impact hazard to consumers. The flying pieces also can cause property damage and injury to bystanders. Note: These backpack blowers were previously recalled due to a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Shindaiwa is aware of 13 incidents involving broken impellers. One incident involved a minor head injury and minor property damage to a nearby automobile.

Description: This recall involves Shindaiwa Models EB8510 and EB8510RT. All models up to serial # 7014728 are included. The backpack blowers weigh approximately 24 pounds and include Serial Numbers through February 2007 production (S/N 702XXXX), which are located on the side label. These machines are black and blue with a red and black label that reads, “EB8510, Shindaiwa.”

Sold by: Shindaiwa dealers nationwide from September 2005 through January 2007 for about $600.

Manufactured in: Japan.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the backpack blowers immediately and contact Shindaiwa for the closest dealer location to schedule a free inspection and impeller replacement. Consumers who have registered their equipment should have already received correspondence from Shindaiwa about this recall.

Consumer Contact: Shindaiwa.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.