1. Coby Electronics Recalls Boomboxes Due to Fire Hazard
2. Springtime Is the Right Time To Swing Into Playground Safety
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NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007
Release #07-165
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 524-9219
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Coby Electronics Recalls Boomboxes 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: Coby-Brand USB/MP3/CD Boomboxes
Units: About 13,800
Importer: Coby Electronics Corp., of Maspeth, N.Y.
Hazard: When left plugged into an electrical outlet and the off switch
is not firmly in place, these boomboxes can overheat, posing a fire
hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Coby Electronics Corp. has received 18 reports of
these boomboxes overheating resulting in three reports of minor property
damage. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recalled Coby boombox is a portable CD/MP3 player with
an AM/FM radio. The USB feature allows it to be connected to a computer.
The boombox is primarily white with silver-colored speakers. The word
"COBY" is written on the front and "DIGITAL" is written on the top. The
model number, "MP-CD475" also is written on the top. The recalled units
have serial numbers, located on the rear of the unit beneath the AC
power cord plug-in outlet, in the following range limits:
0736000001 through 0736005000
0816000001 through 0816005300
0826000001 through 0826003500
Sold at: Discount, toy and office supply stores nationwide from August
2006 through December 2006 for between $20 and $50.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should unplug these boomboxes immediately, and contact
the firm for information on returning the recalled units and receiving a
refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Coby Electronics
Corp. at (800) 524-9219 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through
Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.cobyusa.com
To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07165.html
********************************************************
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2007
Release #07-166
CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7908
Springtime Is the Right Time To Swing Into Playground Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Compare the playgrounds of 25 years ago to today's
modern playsets and the differences are striking - metal has been
overtaken by colorful plastics and wood, homemade rope swings have been
replaced by rope ladders anchored for safety, and single-level
structures have been dwarfed by multi-tier castles. Yet with all the
advances in playground designs, there are still far too many playground
related injuries involving children - about 200,000 each year. In
recognizing National Playground Safety Week, the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission is encouraging parents to make sure backyard,
childcare center and community playgrounds are safe and that children
are always supervised while at play.
To assist in building and maintaining a safe playground, designers,
inspectors and homeowners have been consulting CPSC's Handbook for
Public Playground Safety (pdf) for more than 25 years. The handbook
provides specifications for creating safe play zones; what materials to
use; and how to properly install climbing equipment, slides and swings.
CPSC staff is undertaking a major update of this publication to reflect
current safety standards and best practices. The new, updated Handbook
is targeted for re-release later this year.
To help prevent injuries from falls and other hazards on public and home
playgrounds, the following safety tips are recommended:
* Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to the
equipment. This can present a serious strangulation hazard to children.
* Make sure children remove their bike or other sports helmets before
playing on the playground. Helmets can become entrapped in playground
equipment, posing a strangulation hazard.
* Purchase play equipment that meets the latest safety standards.
* Smooth sharp points or edges, and close open "S" hooks and cover
protruding bolts.
* Check for openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. Spaces
should be either less than 3 1/2 inches or more than 9 inches so that
they don't present an entrapment hazard.
* Always supervise young children to make sure they are safe.
* Install and maintain at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, or
shredded rubber (for equipment up to 8 feet high) or sand or pea gravel
(for equipment no more than 5 feet high) as shock absorbing material
under the playground. (Dirt and grass, which are the most prevalent
surfaces under home playground equipment, do not adequately protect
children from serious head injuries.)
* Install protective surfacing at least six feet in all directions from
play equipment. For swings, the surface should extend, in back and
front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
In addition to the Public Playground Handbook, CPSC also has an Outdoor
Home Playground Handbook (pdf), a Home Playground Safety Checklist (pdf)
(available in Spanish - pdf), and a Neighborhood Safety Network poster
(pdf) on playground safety.
For more information about National Playground Safety Week, visit the
Web site for the National Program for Playground Safety at
www.playgroundsafety.org/safetyweek/index.htm
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