Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Hazard: The helicopter battery can overheat and catch fire, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: ThinkGeek has received five reports of the battery overheating. No fires or injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled toy helicopters are remote-controlled lightweight plastic toy helicopters. The helicopter is sold with a control unit, a charger and rechargeable batteries in the body of the toy. The body of the helicopter measures about 13 inches in length and the rotor diameter is about 10 inches. The helicopter is yellow and red with green rotors. The helicopter has a label on the front that reads “Champion HX242 Electric Power Helicopter.”

Sold Exclusively: ThinkGeek.com Web site during November 2006 for about $40.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Issue: If consumers swing the hand-held “Wii Remote” game controllers using excessive force and accidentally let go, the cord connecting the controller to the wrist strap can break, potentially causing the controller to strike bystanders or objects.

Incidents/Injuries: Nintendo has received reports of cords on wrist straps breaking, including three reports of minor injuries not requiring medical attention. All of these incidents occurred when consumers were playing the game, “Wii Sports.”

Description: The wrist straps are sold with Nintendo's Wii video game system (pronounced "we"). Its controller, called the Wii Remote, is shaped like a TV remote. Sensors determine the Wii Remote's position in 3-D space, which means that a tennis swing, for example, is done through movement of a consumer’s hand rather than by just fingers and thumbs. The cords on the wrist straps included in this program are 0.6mm in diameter. The replacement cords are 1.0 mm in diameter (see photo below).

Sold by: The Wii video game systems have been sold since November 19, 2006 for approximately $249. The Wii Remote has separately been sold from November 19, 2006 for approximately $39. All Wii video game systems purchased after December 11, 2006 should have the new 1.0 mm cord. All individually sold Wii Remotes purchased after December 18, 2006, should have the new 1.0 mm cord.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Black Dog Tavern Company Fined for Failing to Report Sales of Previously Recalled Children’s Sweatshirts
Recall Expanded to Include Additional Sweatshirts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Black Dog Tavern Company Inc., of Vineyard Haven, Mass., has agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted, settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC the sale of children’s hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings after the product was recalled for a strangulation hazard.

In February 2006, Black Dog announced the recall of 9,700 children’s sweatshirts. The recall program included the requirement that the firm stop selling the recalled items. CPSC investigators later discovered that Black Dog stores continued to sell recalled sweatshirts after the recall was announced.

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.

The expanded recall includes additional sweatshirts sold since the February 2006 recall announcement. No incidents or injuries have been reported relating to these sweatshirts. Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard.

The recalled sweatshirts have a black dog on the front and are sold in youth sizes up to size 12 with drawstrings through the hood. Sweatshirt colors include navy blue, gray, red, pink, black or oatmeal. “The Black Dog,” “Est. 71,” or “The Black Dog/Martha’s Vineyard” are printed on the back of some of the sweatshirts. A tag sewn on the inside of the garment reads “The Black Dog.” Style numbers K086, K088, K090, K062, or K063 are printed on the garments’ hang tags.

For additional information, contact Black Dog at (800) 626-1991 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.theblackdog.com

In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Hazard: The snaps on the legs of the coveralls can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled knit coveralls are off-white with long sleeves. There are pastel stripes on the sleeves and legs, and a floral motif on the right-hand side of the chest. It was sold with a matching striped cap. The coveralls were sold in sizes 0-12 months. Style number 1053EGR410 is printed on the hang tag.

Sold exclusively at: Macy’s stores nationwide from August 2006 through October 2006 for about $30.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Hazard: The lights have undersized wires which can separate from the plugs and/or the light sockets, posing an electric shock and fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received one report of a minor shock when a consumer touched a light string. Hobby Lobby has received one report of melting wires.

Description: The light sets listed in the chart below are included in the recall:

Sold at: Hobby Lobby stores nationwide from June 2006 through early December 2006 for between $2.50 and $10.