Recall Alert: Toys, Outdoor Grills, Notebook Computers, Baby Cribs - July 2007

RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Products: Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys

Units: About 1.5 millionImporter/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Illinois

Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled products contain lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The recall involves wooden vehicles, buildings and other train set components for young children listed in the chart below. The front of the packaging has the logo “Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway” on the upper left-hand corner. A manufacturing code may be located on the bottom of the product or inside the battery cover. Toys marked with codes containing “WJ” or “AZ” are not included in this recall.

The following product names were recalled:

• Red James Engine & Red James’ #5 Coal Tender
• Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James’ #5 Lights & Sounds Coal Tender
• James with Team Colors Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender
• Red Skarloey Engine
• Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach
• Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck
• Red Musical Caboose
• Red Sodor Line Caboose
• Red Coal Car labeled “2006 Day Out With Thomas” on the Side
• Red Baggage Car
• Red Holiday Caboose
• Red “Sodor Mail” Car
• Red Fire Brigade Truck
• Red Fire Brigade Train
• Deluxe Sodor Fire Station
• Red Coal Car
• Yellow Box Car
• Red Stop Sign
• Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign
• Yellow “Sodor Cargo Company” Cargo Piece
• Smelting Yard
• Ice Cream Factory

Sold at: Toy stores and various retailers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2007 for between $10 and $70.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled toys away from young children immediately and contact RC2 Corp. for a replacement toy.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact RC2 Corp. toll-free at (866) 725-4407 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. CT Friday, or visit the firm’s website at recalls.rc2.com

Sagittarius Sporting Goods Recalls Gas Grills Sold at Lowe’s Stores for Fire, Burn Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Perfect Flame Four-Burner Gas Grills

Units: About 36,500

Manufacturer: Sagittarius Sporting Goods, of China

Importer: L G Sourcing, Inc., of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Hazard: Some of these grills could be missing a hose that connects the grill manifold to the side burner, which poses a risk of fires and burn injuries to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: About 30,000 of these grills in inventory have already been inspected, and 17 units were found to have missing hoses and repaired. No injuries or consumer incidents have been reported.

Description: The recall involves 25-inch by 18-inch Perfect Flame brand, four-burner, stainless steel gas grills with date codes JU, JV, JW, JX, JY, or JZ. The name “Perfect Flame” is on the grill hood. The model number, 2518SL, and the date code are located on a label inside the left front door of the grill.

Sold at: Lowe’s retail outlets nationwide from September 2006 through February 2007 for about $400.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should inspect their grills before initial use to determine whether the hose that attaches to the side burner is missing. If it is, do not use the grill and contact Sagittarius. Sagittarius will inspect the grill and install a free replacement hose.

Consumer Contact: Call Sagittarius toll-free at (888) 804-7455 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday.

Gateway Inc. Recalls Notebook Computer Batteries Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Gateway Lithium Ion Battery Packs

Units: About 14,000

Battery Distributor: Gateway Inc., of Irvine, California

Hazard: These lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. This is not an internal battery cell defect.

Incidents/Injuries: Gateway has received four reports of battery packs overheating, including minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled battery packs were shipped as the primary or spare battery pack for some Gateway 400VTX and 450ROG series notebooks, and are identified by part numbers: 6500760 or 6500761. The part number and “made by SMP” are printed on a label on the underside of the battery pack.

Sold through: Gateway’s professional and direct distributors and Gateway Country stores nationwide from May 2003 through August 2003. The computers with these batteries sold for between $1,200 and $2,400 and individual batteries sold for between $60 and $90.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these recalled batteries immediately and contact Gateway to receive a replacement battery. Consumers can continue to use the notebook computers safely by turning the system off, removing the battery pack, and using the AC adapter and power cord to power the system until the replacement battery is received.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Gateway at (800) 292-6813 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT seven days a week or visit the company’s Web site at www.gateway.com/battery

Simplicity Recalls Cribs Due to Fall, Entrapment and Choking Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Nursery-in-a-Box CribsUnits: About 40,000

Manufacturer: Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pennsylvania

Hazard: The assembly instructions provided with the cribs incorrectly instruct consumers how to attach the crib’s drop side. If improperly installed, the drop side can disengage from the crib, posing fall and entrapment hazards for the child. Additionally, the metal locking pins on the drop side can pop off, presenting a choking hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of an incident in which the crib’s drop side, which was installed upside down, fell from its upright position and the metal locking pins became dislodged. Simplicity received a report of wrong instructions being packaged with the crib.

Description: The recalled cribs are part of the Nursery-in-a-Box furniture set which also includes a changing table and clothing organizer. The cribs are cherry, white or natural in color. Only model numbers 8910 and 8050 with serial numbers 3005 HY through 0806 HY are included in this recall. The model and serial numbers are printed on an envelope permanently attached to the mattress support. “Simplicity,” model and serial numbers are also printed on a label on the bottom rail of the headboard.

Sold at: Department stores and children’s product stores from August 2005 through May 2007 for about $200.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately check the crib to make sure the drop side is securely fastened and correctly installed. Contact Simplicity to receive correct assembly instructions, or consumers can download the assembly instructions at the firm’s Web site, www.simplicityforchildren.com. Consumers can view a video on the firm’s Web site showing the proper assembly of the drop side. If the drop side is not properly installed, consumers should stop using the crib until it is assembled correctly.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Simplicity at (800) 784-1982 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.simplicityforchildren.com

This page only lists some of the recent recalls of potentially dangerous products. To find out about other product recalls, visit the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission website at www.cpsc.gov.