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Note: telephone number and company out of business changes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Originally issued November 24, 1998, Last revised November 6, 2002
Release # 99-026 |
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063
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CPSC Announces Multiple Play Yard Recalls Due to Strangulation Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today the voluntary recall of more than 9.6 million play yards/playpens with protruding rivets because they pose a strangulation risk. The playpens being recalled carry the brand names Bilt-Rite, Evenflo, Gerry, Graco, Kolcraft, Playskool, Pride-Trimble and Strolee. Toddlers can strangle in these playpens if pacifier strings or loose (or loosely woven) clothing catches on the playpens' protruding rivets.
Since 1983, CPSC has received eight reports of toddlers who strangled in their playpens when pacifier strings or clothing they were wearing caught on the playpens' protruding rivets.
Consumers should check the outside top rails of their playpens for protruding metal rivets. The rivets are similar to nut and bolt fasteners, but the rivets cannot be removed. The rivets protrude about one-quarter to one-half inch from the outside top rails of the playpens. The shape of each playpen's rivets vary, so check the unit carefully.
If protruding rivets are found, consumers should stop using the playpens immediately. Five companies are offering remedies; consumers can call the following numbers to get the remedy being offered for these recalled playpens:
- Graco and Bilt-Rite play yards: (800) 345-4109
- Evenflo play yards: (800) 490-7549
- Gerry play yards: (888) 366-3828
- Kolcraft play yards: (800) 453-7673
Consumers with Pride Trimble Corp. play yards, Pride-Trimble Inc. play yards and Strolee play yards should destroy or discard these products. No remedy is available as these three companies are out of business.
CPSC reminds parents and caregivers that a pacifier should never be hung from a string around a child's neck.
The Bilt-Rite, Gerry, Graco, Kolcraft, Playskool, Pride-Trimble and Strolee playpens are drop-sided, mesh playpens that fold in half for storage.
Evenflo's Houdini playpen is a portable, mesh playpen that folds up for storage and travel. All Houdinis manufactured between 1994 and 1996 are subject to this recall even if they have plastic covers over the rivets. The rivet covers on these playpens must be replaced because they are defective and can crack, break or come off exposing the rivet and presenting a risk of strangulation.
The following table identifies playpens with protruding rivets that are being recalled.
Companies Participating in Recalls of Playpens with Protruding Rivets
(Playpens without protruding rivets are not part of this recall)
Manufacturer/
Remedy |
Brand Names/
Description |
How to
Identify |
Estimated Quantity
Made/Cost |
*Incidents |
Graco Children's
Products Inc.
Elverson, Pa.
$20 refund with
proof of destruction |
Graco
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Graco" is written on
floorboard or side rail |
2 million made
from 1976
through 11/90
Cost $35 to $55 |
Five deaths |
Bilt-Rite
Orangeburg, N.Y.
$20 refund with
proof of destruction |
Bilt-Rite
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Bilt-Rite" is written
on floorboard |
More than
409,000 made
through 1989
Cost $35 to $55 |
One death |
Kolcraft Enterprises
Inc.
Chicago, Ill.
Repair kit |
Kolcraft or Playskool
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Kolcraft" or "Playskool"
is written on floorboard
or side rail |
2.6 million made
from 1/86
through 5/98
Cost $40 to $70 |
One death |
Pride-Trimble Corp.
Burbank, Calif.
Gardena, Calif.
Southern Pines, N.C.
Out of Business
Destroy |
Pride-Trimble
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Pride-Trimble Corp."
is written on floorboard |
More than 4 million
made from 1960
through 9/91
Cost $35 to $55 |
None known |
Pride-Trimble Inc.
Weber City, Va.
Out of Business
Destroy |
Pride-Trimble
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Pride-Trimble Inc."
is written on floorboard |
100,000 made from
10/91 through 1993
Cost $35 to $55 |
None known |
Evenflo Co. Inc.
Piqua, Ohio
Repair kit |
Houdini
Portable, mesh
playpen that folds
up for storage
and travel |
"Evenflo" is written on
plastic hinge covers
All units made from
1994 through 1996
are recalled |
205,000 made from
1994 through 1996
Cost $45 |
None known |
Hufco-Delaware
Dayton, Ohio
Repair kit |
Gerry
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Gerry" is written
on floorboard |
100,000 made from
1986 through 1992
Cost $35 to $45 |
None known |
Strolee Co.
Compton, Calif.
Out of Business
Destroy |
Strolee
Drop-sided, mesh
playpen that folds
in half for storage |
"Strolee" is written
on side rail |
200,000 made
through 1983
Cost $35 to $55 |
None known |
Immediately stop using these playpens and call (800) 345-4109
for information about participating in any of these playpen recalls
*CPSC is aware of one toddler death from a playpen whose manufacturer is unknown.
Consumers should immediately stop using these playpens and call the manufacturers at the numbers given above (except for the three companies out of business) to participate in the recall. If you have a playpen made by one of the companies out of business, the playpen should be discarded or destroyed. If consumers have a playpen with protruding rivets made by a company not participating in the recall, they should stop using it immediately and report this information to CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772.
Once again, CPSC reminds parents and caregivers that a pacifier should never be hung from a string around a child's neck.
There are many different models of playpens without protruding rivets. Playpens without protruding rivets are not part of this recall.
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