Several consumer products recalled in the past week have high winter usage: snow bikes, portable space heaters and portable electric heaters.
Another notable recall, video baby monitors, tragically came in the wake of two strangulation deaths.
Here are items recalled this week:
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SNOW BIKES
DETAILS: Tech 4 Kids has recalled Outer Edge brand Snow MX-Ski-Doo and Snow MX-X Games snow bikes that were manufactured in China and sold at Costco, sporting goods stores and other retailers as well as online from September 2010 through January 2011.
WHY: The front ski can crack or break, causing the snow bike to stop suddenly and posing a fall hazard.
INCIDENTS: The company has received three reports of consumers falling off the bikes and sustaining injuries, including a cut requiring stitches and a dislocated shoulder.
HOW MANY: About 2,100.
FOR MORE: Call 866-287-4761; visit www.outeredgeindustries.com/safetynotice .
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VIDEO BABY MONITORS
DETAILS: Summer Infant Inc. of Woonsocket, R.I., has recalled video baby monitors with electrical cords that were made in China and distributed by retailers between January 2003 and February 2011.
WHY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission says the electrical cords on the monitors can be dangerous for babies if placed too close to their cribs.
INCIDENTS: CPSC says a 10-month-old girl from Washington, D.C., died in March when she strangled on the cord of a Summer Infant monitor camera that had been placed on the top of the crib rail. In November, a 6-month-old boy from Conway, S.C., strangled in the electrical cord of a baby monitor placed on the changing table attached to his crib. CPSC and Summer Infant are also aware of a 20-month-old boy from Pittsburgh who nearly strangled on a camera cord that was mounted to the wall in reach of the child.
HOW MANY: About 1.7 million.
FOR MORE: Call 800-426-8627; visit www.summerinfant.com/Home/Product-Recall.aspx .
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RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
DETAILS: Summer Infant has recalled rechargeable batteries sold at Babies R Us from September 2009 to May 2010 with certain Slim and Secure Video Monitors. They were manufactured by MP and BK, of China.
WHY: The battery in the handheld video monitor can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard.
INCIDENTS: Summer Infant has received five reports of ruptured batteries, including three involving minor property damage but none involving injuries.
HOW MANY: About 58,000.
FOR MORE: Call 800-426-8627; visit www.summerinfant.com .
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VACUUM CLEANERS
DETAILS: Hoover Inc. of Glenwillow, Ohio, has recalled Hoover WindTunnel Bagless Canister Vacuum model S3755, made in China and sold at retail stores and online from March 2003 to December 2008.
WHY: The power cord between the power nozzle and the wand connector can short-circuit.
INCIDENTS: 69 reports of overheating or electrical malfunction, including one report of fire and smoke damage and two of carpet damage. There has been one report of a minor injury.
HOW MANY: About 142,000.
FOR MORE: Call 888-564-2066; visit www.hoover.com/windtunnelcanisterrecall .
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NIGHT LIGHTS
DETAILS: American Tack & Hardware Co. Inc. of Saddle River, N.J., has recalled three models of its LED Night Lights, made in China and sold in hardware stores and elsewhere from March 2009 through January 2011.
WHY: An electrical short-circuit in the night light can cause it to overheat and smolder or melt.
INCIDENTS: AmerTac has received 18 reports of the night lights smoking, burning, melting and/or charring, including three involving minor property damage and one involving a minor burn injury.
HOW MANY: About 261,000.
FOR MORE: Call 800-420-7511; visit www.recall-center.com .
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SPACE HEATERS
DETAILS: PD Sixty Distributor Inc. of Norcross, Ga., has recalled Creative Heating Solutions brand portable space heaters that were made in China and sold nationwide from October 2008 through March 2009.
WHY: The space heater can overheat due to loose electrical connections, posing a fire hazard.
INCIDENTS: The firm has received one report of the heater overheating, resulting in it catching fire and causing minor property damage.
HOW MANY: About 3,000.
FOR MORE: Call 866-367-4538; visit www.CHSrecall.com .
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ELECTRIC HEATERS
DETAILS: Lasko Products Inc. of West Chester, Pa., is recalling portable electric tower heaters made in China and sold at Sam's Club and other retailers from 2002 through 2004.
WHY: An electrical connection in the base of the unit can overheat, causing it to melt and expose the electrical connection, which poses a fire hazard.
INCIDENTS: Lasko received 36 reports of the electrical connection overheating, with 18 reports of minor burn damage to floors or carpets but no reports of injury.
HOW MANY: About 107,500.
FOR MORE: Call 800-363-8044; visit www.Laskoproducts.com .
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PLAY SETS
DETAILS: Escalade Sports of Evansville, Ind., has recalled four models of its Oasis Playsets, made in China and sold by Oasis distributions and dealers nationwide from April 2008 to December 2010.
WHY: The swing seats can crack and break in half, causing falls.
INCIDENTS: Escalade Sports has received 24 reports of the seats breaking, none involving injury.
HOW MANY: About 4,600.
FOR MORE: Call 800-742-6009; visit safetyinfo(at)escaladesports.com.
Online:
www.outeredgeindustries.com/safetynotice
www.summerinfant.com/Home/Product-Recall.aspx