Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Name of product: MagneBlocksâ„¢ Magnetic Construction Toys

Units: About 40,000 sets

Distributor: Geometix International LLC, of Brookfield, Conn.

Hazard: Tiny magnets inside the building pieces can fall out. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforation or blockage, which can be fatal.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm is aware of one incident where a magnet became loose. No injuries have been reported.

Description: All types of MagneBlocks™ construction sets are included in this recall. The sets contain six or more plastic building pieces and six or more 1/2-inch diameter steel balls. Some sets include steel rods. The building pieces are various colors and are shaped in 1 1/2-inch cubes and three-, four-, and five-sided pyramids. The plastic building pieces have “MagneBlocks™” imprinted on them.

Sold at: Discount department and toy stores and Web sites, and other toy and arts and crafts stores nationwide. The MagneBlocksâ„¢ magnetic building sets were sold from January 2004 through November 2006 for between $20 and $120, depending on the size of the set. Sets currently for sale have improved warning labels.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Name of Product: Plush Baby Rattles and Photo Frame Ornaments

Units: About 460,000

Manufacturer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: Small parts on the plush rattles and frame ornaments can break or detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Additionally, the rattles’ plastic ring can break and expose sharp points.

Incidents/Injuries: Target has received 11 reports of the pompoms, eyes, nose and bows detaching from rattles and frame ornaments, including one report of a baby mouthing a detached part. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves plush rattles and frame ornaments sold in the "See. Spot. Save." department of Target stores. The two styles of rattles include a pink bear and a green moose. The plush animals either have a rattle inside or a plastic ring attached. The photo frame ornaments are a pink bear or green moose holding either a square or heart-shaped frame.

Sold at: Target stores exclusively nationwide from November 2006 through December 2006 for $1.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Name of product: Bright Starts Star Teether Beads and Bright Starts Teether Beads

Units: About 375,000

Distributor: Kids II Inc., of Alpharetta, Ga.

Hazard: The flexible plastic ring that holds the teether beads in place can crack or break, and the beads can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants.

Incidents/Injuries: Kids II has received 24 reports of the plastic ring cracking or breaking and the beads becoming detached from the ring. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The Bright Starts Star Teether Beads (model 8483) has textured soft plastic beads in bright colors and various shapes connected to a flexible plastic ring. The beads on this model are shaped as stars, spirals and ovals. The Bright Starts Teether Beads (model 8549) has plastic beads in bright colors that are shaped as an oval and are connected to a flexible plastic ring.

Sold at: Discount department and juvenile specialty stores nationwide from June 2006 through January 2007 for between $1 and $3.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

WASHINGTON , D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Hoover Company Inc., of North Canton, Ohio, has agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted, settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC the sale of vacuum cleaners with defective on-off switches that can overheat and cause the vacuum cleaner to catch fire.

In April 2005, Hoover conducted a recall of 636,000 Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners because of defective on-off switches.

In June 2004, after CPSC received notice of several vacuum cleaner incidents, the Commission staff requested Hoover provide a full report of incident information. In July 2004, when Hoover submitted a full report, it had notice of 260 consumer incidents, of which 141 involved reports of fire. Additionally, there was one report of a minor burn injury.

Hoover first learned of a vacuum cleaner switch on one of these units overheating and melting in April 1999.

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.

These Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners are plastic, upright vacuums with the brand name “Hoover” and words “Self Propelled” printed on the front of the product. Only those Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners manufactured between May 1998 and November 1999 are included in the recall that is the subject of this penalty.

For additional information, contact Hoover toll-free at (800) 250-6075 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hoover.com.

Cite: www.cpsc.gov

Name of product: Inflator Air Pumps

Units: About 11,000

Importer: Sportsstuff Inc., of Omaha, Neb.

Hazard: These air pumps can overheat and explode during use, posing a risk of lacerations to the user and nearby consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Sportsstuff has received 52 reports of pumps exploding, 13 of which resulted in lacerations. Six of these incidents involved facial lacerations and one consumer reported an eye injury.

Description: The recalled products are 2.5 PSI pumps with model numbers 57-1504-A and 57-1504 that are used to inflate low pressure inflatable items such as rafts and toys. The Model No. 57-1504-A pump was sold separately with an assortment of interlocking nozzles to adapt to a number of needs. The Model 57-1504 pump was sold with the Sportsstuff Launch Pod, an inflatable water trampoline sold under Sportsstuff number 58-1002. The model number and the date code "0104" are located on the Underwriters’ Laboratories label on the top of each pump. "2.5 PSI" was not written on the air pump, but was written on the packaging.

Sold through: Marine distributors, mail order catalogs, and sporting good and various other stores nationwide from January 2004 through January 2005 for about $50. The Launch Pod water trampolines that included recalled pumps were sold at Sam’s Club from January 2004 through August 2004 for about $375.