New York Firm Recalls Toy Police Car And Dumper

PRODUCT: The "My First Buddys Police Car" and "My First Buddys Dumper" toys. The toy cars and trucks were imported from China by SLM, Inc. and were sold nationwide in retail stores from January 1990 through December 1992. The police car is red, white and blue and the dumper is red, white and yellow. The toys also came in gift packs with either one or both of the vehicles.

PROBLEM: Small parts may separate from the vehicles, presenting a potential choking and aspiration hazard to young children.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers are urged to take the toys away from young children immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers may call SLM at 1-800-260-1398.

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), SLM, Inc., Gloversville, NY, is voluntarily recalling approximately 125,000 "My First Buddys Police Cars" model 4505 and approximately 184,000 "My First Buddys Dumpers" model 4500. During routine CPSC testing, small components separated from the vehicles, presenting a potential choking and aspiration hazard to young children. SLM, Inc. is also recalling two four-piece gift packs that include either one or both of the vehicles; gift pack model 4538 includes one police car and one dumper, and gift pack model 4539 includes one dumper. The other toys packaged in the gift packs, but are not involved in this recall, may include a pumper, a scooper, a helicopter or a wrecker. About 13,000 gift packs, model 4538, and about 4,000 gift packs, model 4539 are being recalled. The police car and dumper are the only products in the gift packs that are affected by this recall.

The "My First Buddys Police Car" measures 7 inches long, 3 3/4 inches wide, and 4 inches high. The police car is blue and white and has a handle that extends from the top of the car's front window to its trunk. A plastic flasher with a red rectangular block inside moves from side to side when the car is pushed. A clicking sound is made when the rear wheels are moved. The car's interior consists of a front seat and a center raised platform in the back. The interior, bumper guards, and hub caps are white and the wheels are red. A gold sticker with the word "POLICE" printed in black is on the front window. The word "POLICE" is printed in white on both sides of the car. The "BUDDY L" insignia serves as the front and rear license plates. A police badge printed in white on the car's hood reads "My First Buddys Police Patrol." The embossed label underneath the car reads in part: " . . . BUDDY L CORP, MADE IN CHINA."

The "My First Buddys Dumper" measures 7 inches long, 3 3/4 inches wide, and 4 inches high. The dumper is yellow and has a white handle that extends from the front bumper guard to the cab of the truck. The "BUDDY L" insignia serves as the front license plate. The dumper has a yellow dumper bed that can be lifted and and lowered and the word "DUMPER" is printed in red on both sides of the bed. The wheels are red with white hub caps. A clicking sound is made when the front wheels are moved. The embossed label on the floor of the dumper bed reads in part: " . . . BUDDY L CORP, MADE IN CHINA."

The police car, model 4505, and dumper, model 4500 were sold for an average retail price of $4.99 each. The gift packs, models 4538 and 4539, were sold for an average retail price of $16.99 each. The police car and dumper were imported by SLM, Inc. from China and were sold nationwide in retail stores from January 1990 through December 1992.

Consumers are urged to take the toys away from young children immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers may call SLM, Inc. at 1-800-260-1398.

Neither CPSC nor the firm is aware of any injuries involving these products. This voluntary recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury. The potentially hazardous toys were identified at the U.S. Customs Container Station in Atlanta, GA during a joint CPSC/U.S. Customs surveillance program.

CPSC is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.