Recalled due to Strangulation Death of a Child

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.

Name of Products: Horizontal and Vertical Blinds and Cellular Shades

Units: About 15,400 (horizontal), 16,400 (vertical), 800 (Cellular Shades)

Manufacturer: Vertical Land Inc., of Panama City Beach, Fla.

Hazard: Horizontal Blinds: The blinds do not have inner cord stop devices to prevent the accessible inner cords from being pulled out. If an inner cord is pulled out, a child can become entangled in the loop and strangle.

Vertical Blinds: Strangulations can occur if a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop formed by the bead chain or by the cord with a weighted device.

Cellular Shades: Strangulations can occur if a child’s neck becomes entangled on the shade’s free-standing looped cord.

Incidents/Injuries: In May 2006, CPSC received a report of a 4-year-old girl from Pensacola, Fla., who strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or floor.

Description: This recall involves all Vertical Land custom-made vertical and cellular window coverings that do not have a cord tensioning device and horizontal blinds that do not have inner cord stop devices. A sticker identification label can be found on the head rail of some of the window coverings which lists the company’s name, address and telephone number.

Sold at: Vertical Land stores in Panama City and Pensacola, Fla. from January 1992 through December 2006 for between $60 and $200 (depending on the size of the blind).

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the window coverings and contact Vertical Land to receive a free retrofit kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Vertical Land at (800) 423-8653 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

Recalled  Due to Strangulation 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 product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: eebee’s ‘Have a Ball’ Adventures Cloth Books

Units: About 15,000

Importer: Sterling Publishing Co. Inc, of New York, New York

Hazard: A string attaching a ball to the book can become entangled in the basketball hoop element, posing a strangulation hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves the eebee’s ‘Have a Ball’ Adventure cloth book. This interactive activity book has a small cloth ball attached to a string which children use to complete activities in the book. The books are intended for children ages 9 to 36 months. ISBN 13:978-1-4027-5771-6 is located on a white tag attached to the book. Other eebee’s Adventures cloth books are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Book and toy stores nationwide and Internet retailers from June 2008 through June 2009 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take the book away from children, and return the product to the place of purchase for a refund.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. at (800) 367-9692 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Consumers can also email the firm at custservice@sterlingpublishing.com

Recalled Due To Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards

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.

Name of Product: Bonavita ‘Cabana’ Drop Side Cribs

Units: About 2,000

Importer: LaJobi Inc., of Cranbury, N.J.

Hazard: The wooden crib slats can detach or break creating a gap, which can pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers.

Incidents/Injuries: LaJobi has received 16 incident reports of crib slat failures, including 10 reports of slats falling out of rails and 6 reports of slats breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Bonavita ‘Cabana’ wooden drop side cribs with metal mattress supports. The cribs were manufactured from January 2006 through October 2008 and have production dates between 01 JAN 2006 and 31 OCT 2008. The model name, color, product order (PO) number, production date and other crib identifiers are printed on a label located on the inside bottom rail of the headboard or footboard. The cribs were sold in three finishes, antique white, classic cherry and montego brown. Cribs with other production dates are not affected by this recall.

Sold at: USA Baby, Beautiful Beginnings, Buy Buy Baby and other specialty stores nationwide from January 2006 through May 2009 for about $450.

Manufactured in: Vietnam

Remedy: CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs and find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact LaJobi to receive replacement crib side rails.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact LaJobi toll-free at (866) 688-9009 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.LaJobi.com

JCPenney Recalls Arizona® Newborn and Infant Pants Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with J.C. Penney Corporation, Plano, TX, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.

Name of Product: Arizona® Newborn and Infant Denim Pants

Units: About 24,000

Importer: JCPenney Co., of Plano, Texas

Hazard: The metal snap at the waist can detach posing a choking hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves Arizona® brand newborn and infant girl’s and boy’s denim pants. They were sold in sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months and 6-9 months. Only those pants made in Bangladesh are affected; pants made in China are not included in the recall. The country of origin is located on a label sewn into the waistband.

Sold Exclusively at: JCPenney stores nationwide and at www.jcp.com from July 2008 through October 2008 for about $15.

Manufactured in: Bangladesh

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled pants and return them to any JCPenney store for a full refund. Pants purchased through the firm’s Web site may be returned to the Catalog Desk at any JCPenney store.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime or visit JCPenney’s Web site at www.jcp.com

Children’s Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by R&D International Due to Strangulation 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 product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Young Colors Children?s Hooded Jackets

Units: About 1,500

Importer: R&D International Inc., of Salida, Colo.

Hazard: The jackets have drawstrings through the hood and at the waist. Children can get entangled in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstring in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From 1985 through June 2008, CPSC received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children?s clothing drawstrings.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The cotton knit and woven hooded jackets have a drawstring through the hood and waist. They were sold in sizes 12 months through size 10 in a variety of solid colors and prints. ?Young Colors? is sewn into the jacket tag located at the neck.

Sold at: Specialty children?s stores nationwide from April 2004 through September 2007 for about $45.

Manufactured in: Peru and Indonesia

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the jacket to eliminate the safety hazard.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact R&D International Inc. collect at (719) 539-3812 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm?s Web site www.youngcolors.com

Strangulation Death of a Child Prompts Recall of Roman Blinds; Sold Exclusively at IKEA

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.

Name of Product: IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds

Units: About 670,000 (an additional 4.8 million were sold outside of the United States)

Distributor: IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa.

Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck in an exposed inner cord on the backside of the roman blinds.

Incidents/Injuries: On April 4, 2008, a 1-year-old girl in Greenwich, Conn. became entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman Blind and strangled. The child was in a portable playpen that was located underneath a fully lowered roman blind. She was found partially suspended with the inner cord of the blind wrapped twice around her neck.

Description: This recall involves all sizes of IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds in white. The blinds have a sewn-in label at the top edge of the blind with the IKEA logotype, article name (IRIS or ALVINE), 5-digit supplier number 19799 or 21369, four digit date stamp (YYWW) and the words ?Made in India?. On the bottom edge of the blind there is a sewn-in orange/white safety warning label. The blinds are made from 100% cotton.

Sold at: IKEA stores nationwide from July 2005 through June 2008 for between $7 and $30.

Manufactured in: India

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman Blinds and return them to any IKEA store to obtain a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm?s Web site at www.ikea-usa.com

Note: CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman Blinds and shades in their homes. If looped pull cords are present or exposed inner cords are found on the back of blinds or shades and children are in the home or occasionally visit your home, please consider replacing them with blinds or shades that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.

CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Models

Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible ?Close-Sleeper? Models

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible ?close-sleeper/bedside sleeper? bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned that on August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to death when she became entrapped between the bassinet?s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of in the co-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet and died.

CPSC is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.?s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.

The Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, to release this warning upon making a finding that the health and safety of the public require immediate notice.