May 18, 2012
Aqua-Leisure Recalls Children’s Trampolines Due to Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Toys “R” Us Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: First Fitness® Trampolines with Handlebars
Units: About 40,000
Manufacturer: Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc., of Avon, Mass.
Hazard: Metal fatigue can cause the handlebar to break away during use, posing a risk of laceration from exposed metal surfaces or other injury from a fall.
Incidents/Injuries: Aqua-Leisure has received four reports of handlebars breaking from the metal connection joint during use. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves First Fitness Kid’s First trampolines with handlebars. The child-size toy trampolines have a red and blue metal handlebar, a blue nylon deck guard and a black jumping deck. “First Fitness” is embossed on the jumping deck in white letters. The trampolines can be identified by model number FF-6902TR and Toys R Us SKN 491463. The model and store numbers can be found on the lower right corner of the back of the packaging. A sewn-in tag on the bottom of the deck lists the factory date code of five numbers followed by “GLTX.”
Sold Exclusively at: Toys “R” Us stores nationwide from September 2010 through April 2012 for between $45 and $70.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the recalled trampolines from children and contact Aqua-Leisure’s recall hotline for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Aqua-Leisure toll-free at (888) 912-7087 between 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.aqualeisure.com
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
May, 14, 2012
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. and Toys R Us Inc., of Wayne, NJ are announcing the recall of about 21,000 inflatable Banzai in-ground pool water slides. During use, the slide can deflate, allowing the user to hit the ground underneath the slide and become injured. The slide is also unstable and can topple over in both still and windy conditions and carries inadequate warnings and instructions.
The CPSC is aware that a 29-year-old Colorado mother died in Andover, Mass. after fracturing her neck going down a Banzai in-ground pool water slide which had been placed over the concrete edge of a pool. The victim hit her head at the bottom of the slide because it had partially deflated.
The CPSC and the retailers are aware of two other injuries which have occurred in a similar manner, including a 24-year-old man from Springfield, Mo. who became a quadriplegic and a woman from Allentown, Pa. who fractured her neck.
The recall involves Banzai in-ground pool water slides designed for use with in-ground pools. The vinyl slides have a blue base, yellow sliding mat and an arch going over the top of the slide. By connecting a hose to the top of the slide, water can be sprayed on its downward slope. The words ‘Banzai Splash’ are printed in a circular blue, orange and white logo, shaped like a wave on either side of the slide.
The recalled slides, which were manufactured in China by Manley Toys, Ltd, were sold at Walmart and Toys R Us nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for about $250. The recalled slides have the barcode number 2675315734 and model number 15734. Both the barcode and model number appear on the original packaging but are not on the actual slide.
CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the product and return it to the nearest Walmart or Toys R Us for a full refund. Consumers can also cut the two safety warning notices out of the slide and just return that portion. For additional information from Walmart, call (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website atwww.walmartstores.com. For additional information from Toys R Us, call (800) 869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, or visit the firm’s website at www.toysrus.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12174.html
December 19, 2011
Guest Blogger: ConsumerBell
Please visit us at: http://blog.consumerbell.com
Helping your Baby’s Brain to Grow: What Should Parents Invest In?
In the first year of a baby’s life, his or her brain doubles in volume reaching about 60% of its adult size.This first year is an important one in stimulating and growing your child’s brain. There are so many little things parents can do to help support their baby’s development.
Parents can work to enhance several types of intelligence, including social, linguistic, spatial and numeric. The most important tool, however, is parent interaction. Babies need motivation from their parent’s presence to flex their intellect. They lack the incentive to solve a puzzle or build a structure when left alone. But if the parent is nearby, the child will be motivated to solve the problem to gain their approval. The best thing to do for you child is simply spend time with him or her!
There are many different opinions on the benefit of investing in educational toys and programs for children. A quick scan of a some mommy blogs shows how big the debate is on both ends about paying for early education, toys, and much more. From DVD sets costing hundreds of dollars to preschools costing thousands for just one year, corporations have tapped into a huge market the plays on parents’ guilt. If they don’t throw down the bucks, they aren’t giving their child EVERY opportunity and parents feel they are holding their child back.
However, there is no research to back up the benefit of these expensive toys and DVDs. Studies haveshown, however, that there is no benefit to intelligence-building programming under the age of three. Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends zero screen time for children under the age of two.
There are benefits to some baby toys, however. Focus on toys that stimulate sight, sound,and tactile movements. For example, baby mobiles, rattles, playmats, stacking rings, and soft building blocks.
Despite the lack of research backing up the benefit of baby toys, last year, themarket for children’s goods, which includes everything from stuffed bears to changing tables, increased by 5 percent in 2010, to $18 billion, according to market research.
One of parent’s biggest concerns, however, is the high numbers of recalled children’s toys. Frequently check in to ConsumerBell’s marketplaceto make sure your child’s new favorite toy isn’t a safety hazard, like last month’s Toulouse-LapTrec Magnetic Sketchboards by Battat.
What are you thoughts on educational toys? Do you see a value to them, or is it just an easy way to get parents to spend money? Give us your opinion in the comments below or email us at info@consumerbell.com.
November 11, 2011
October 31, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2011
Release #12-022
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (855) 738-3711
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Bad Boy Buggies Recalled by BB Buggies Due to Loss of Steering Control and Crash Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Bad Boy Buggies off-road utility vehicles
Units: About 3,200 (Bad Boy Classic buggies were previously recalled in October 2009 and in December 2010)
Manufacturer: BB Buggies Inc., of Augusta, Ga. and Bad Boy Enterprises LLC, of Natchez, Miss.
Hazard: The steering assembly arm can break and cause the driver to lose control, posing a crash hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 15 reports of the steering assembly arm breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves Bad Boy LT, Classic, XT, XTO and XT Safari model electric off-road utility vehicles. The utility vehicles have four wheels, bench seats for the operator and passengers and were sold in camouflage patterns, hunter green, red and black. “Bad Boy” is printed on the side or front of the vehicles.
Sold at: Bad Boy Buggy dealers nationwide from August 2009 through June 2011 for between $7,000 and $15,000.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled utility vehicles and contact an authorized dealer or BB Buggies for a free replacement of the steering assembly.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact BB Buggies toll-free at (855) 738-3711 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET or visit the firm’s website at www.badboybuggies.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12022.html
September 19, 2011
We are so excited to finally launch our Baby Safe Childproofing Service Blog!
September means that this is “Baby Safety Month.” According to the Home Safety Council, the numbers are alarming, there are, on average, nearly
20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits each year. It’s because of these statistics we, at Baby Safe have a passion and are on a mission to help people of all ages to be safer in and around their homes.
Our blog will provide regular updates on a variety of topics, such as, baby gates, fireplace gates, plexiglas for fireplaces, balcony safety and stairways safety, too. We can’t forget the obvious, electrical outlet covers, child proofing doors, stairs, ovens and cabinets, recalls and important breaking news, too. We will explain the differences, the where’s, why’s and how to use these products. We will also discuss the toxins in and around homes, health and wellness topics, and much more! We know it’s not possible to eliminate all of these injuries, but we can prevent most of them.
For more information on related topics, please follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook. Also, visit our website for the latest in Baby News; to share this information with loved ones.
Bookmark this blog and visit us often and spread the word and tell a friend.
Ask us about our American Heart Association CPR training program!
