Consumers urged to heed product recalls

Curtains draped over halogen lamps have caused 11 known deaths and 260 fires over the past few years

April 16, 1998
Web posted at: 5:22 p.m. EDT (2122 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission wants consumers to take note: Dangerous products that have been recalled may still be a threat in your home.

"People may not see all of our recalls during the year of really hazardous products, so (the recalled products) may still be lurking in people's homes," CPSC chairwoman Ann Brown said.

For the second year in a row, the CPSC is spearheading a recall roundup to urge consumers to purge potentially dangerous products from belongings.

Spring cleaning could save a life.

Among the items to look out for:

• Collapsible playpens

  If the top rail on your child's playpen does not automatically lock into place when the playpen is fully set up, the playpen could collapse and entrap your child.

• Bunk beds with inadequate spacing

  Since 1990, the CPSC has received reports of more than 50 children who were strangled in bunk beds.

  "Take your old trusty ruler and measure the spaces (in the beds)," Brown said. "If you have a bunk bed with spaces more than three-and-a-half inches, stop using it."

• Halogen torchiere floor lamps made before February 1997

  Halogen bulbs can burn very hot, and could start a fire if a flammable object comes in contact with an unprotected bulb. Call 800-985-2220 for information about obtaining a free wire guard for your floor lamp.

• Hand-held hair dryers

  Old hand-held dryers electrocute about two people a year, down from 20. New hairdryers are required to have shock-protection devices built into large rectangular shaped plugs.

• Lawn darts

  The CPSC banned lawn darts in 1988, but the agency still gets reports of injuries caused by the items intended for outdoor play. The agency says parents who find these darts should destroy them immediately.

Correspondent Kyoko Altman contributed to this report.

Related sites:

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• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
  • CPSC Announces Recall Round-up to Get Hazardous Products Out of Consumers' Homes

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