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Four child-related recalls announced

Bikes, latches, bassinets, toys

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Four recalls of products that can hurt children were announced Tuesday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

One recall involves safety latches used on cabinets or drawers which break, while another involves 2.6 million toys distributed in Burger King kids' meals earlier this year. The third recall is for Fisher Price bassinets with a folding mechanism that has resulted in fingers getting caught or pinched. And the fourth recall involves 38,000 bicycles with frames that can break.

Latches a double hazard

Safety 1st of Canton, Massachusetts, is recalling 1.7 million packages of the safety latches because a spring in the mechanism can break, causing either a choking hazard or allowing children to gain access to cabinets or drawers, the CPSC announced.

CPSC and Safety 1st are aware of 27 incidents where the latch failed. They report two injuries related to latch failures: a 13-month-old girl suffered minor abrasions when she put the spring inside her mouth, while a 2-year-old girl received chemical burns to her throat after a faulty latch allowed her to gain access to a cabinet containing tile cleaner.

The latches are white plastic with "Safety 1st" written on the top of the latch. The packaging says "Safety 1st" and "cabinet and drawer spring latches." The latches were sold at hardware, toy and department stores from January 1993 through February 2001 for about $7. The latches were sold in sets of three or four.

Toy a choking threat

Burger King has recalled the 2.6 million toddler toys because children could choke on small parts if the toys break, the CPSC announced.

Included in the recall are the Hourglass Space Sprout and Look for Me Bumblebee toys, which were distributed in meals for children younger than 3 beginning in January. The toys contain small beads or balls that could pose a choking hazard.

There have been 18 reports of toys breaking, with children found with beads in their mouth in six cases. No children were injured.

The Hourglass Space Sprout is multi-colored with a green, smiling head, a clear hourglass body filled with beads and two red balls with yellow spots as arms. Look for Me Bumblebee has a purple base with a green leaf, a yellow head and three rings that fit over the head. The beads in the toys rattle.

Bassinets sold under 3 names

Fisher Price has voluntarily recalled 569,000 portable bassinets because of a problem with a folding mechanism that has resulted in fingers getting caught or pinched, the CPSC announced.

The bassinets were sold under the names Sit & Smoothe Portable Bassinet, Soothing Sounds Bassinet and Soothing Sounds Portable Bassinet. The model numbers can be found on a white nylon label on the underside of the bassinet. Model numbers included in the recall are 79338, 79334, 79336.

The bassinet converts into an infant seat, and a white metal frame makes the seat portable. The bassinet is covered in blue and white print fabric with stars, swirls and hearts. The name "Fisher Price" is molded into the white plastic side of the vibrating unit.

Fisher Price received 24 reports of fingers getting caught or pinched in the bassinet.

The bassinets were sold at stores nationwide from November 1997 through March 2001. Only bassinets manufactured before April 2000 are part of the recall.

All three recalls were voluntary, the CPSC said.

Recall of 38,000 bikes

The agency also said a Taiwanese firm is recalling 38,000 children's sidewalk bicycles because the frames of the bikes can break, causing the riders to fall and get hurt, said the CPSC.

Acetrike Bicycle Co. and its distributor, Huffy Bicycle Co., have received four reports of the bike frames snapping. Three young boys suffered cuts and bruises. A fourth child was not injured.

The following models are involved:

-- Cool Taz, 12-inch boy's style -- Sweet Tweety, 12-inch girl's style -- Mudslinger, 16-inch boy's -- Secret Treasures, 16-inch girl's -- Rugrats, 16-inch boy's -- Best Friends, 16-inch girl's -- Space Racer, 12-inch boy's -- Fairy Magic, 12-inch boy's -- MX1200, 12-inch boy's -- High Gear, 12-inch boy's -- MX 1800, 16-inch boy's.

Discount department, toy hardware and sporting goods stores -- including Ace Hardware, Ames, Blain Supply, Kay Bee Toys, Meijers, Tru-Serv and Wal-Mart -- sold these bikes nationwide from October 1999 through March 2001. The prices range from $35 to $70.

The recall includes bicycles having date codes of April 2000 and earlier. The date code is molded on the bicycles' left rear frame, at the point of attachment of the rear wheel. The model name is written on the bike's frame.

Take action immediately

The CPSC says consumers should stop riding the bicycles immediately and call 888-366-3828 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. EDT Monday to Friday or go to the firm's Web site at www.huffybikes.com to determine if their bicycle is part of the recall. Consumers with a recalled bicycle will receive a replacement bicycle free of charge.

Regarding the Burger King recall, parents are advised to take the toys away from children and contact Burger King at 1-800-661-9173 for instructions on how to receive a free replacement toy. Consumers can also go to the Burger King Web site for more information.

Regarding the Safety 1st recall, consumers can call 1-800-366-1282 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, for a free replacement set of latches. Consumers can also log on to the company's Web site for more information.

Consumers are being told to stop using the bassinets and contact Fisher Price at 1-800-285-0324 for a free repair kit. The kit will prevent the frame from folding.






RELATED STORIES:
RELATED SITES:
• Safety 1st Website
• Burger King Website
• Fisher-Price Website
• CPSC Home Page

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