Product Safety Recalls and Health Alerts

The consumer product safety commission’s (cpsc) web site has a monthly newsletter, which lists and describes the latest product recalls.
The current and all past newsletters can be accessed at:
http://datcp.state.wi.us/cp/consumerinfo/alerts-recalls/kids_safe.html

Some of the Most Current Recalls are as follows:
	DECEMBER 2004:  Swing-N-Slide® Corp., of Janesville, Wis. is recalling about 72,000 Extra-Duty and Heavy-Duty Swing Seats.  Included in this recall are extra-duty and heavy-duty plastic Swing-N-Slide® swing seats. Sold in either green (extra-duty) or yellow (heavy-duty), the seats are suspended from a crossbeam by two plastic-coated metal chains. On the bottom of each seat, in raised lettering, are the words, “Swing-N-Slide® Corp., 1212 Barberry Drive, Janesville, WI 53545, (800) 888-1232.”  Swings were sold at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace, DIBC, TruServ, Handy Hardware and Emery-Waterhouse stores nationwide from January 2004 through June 2004 for about $30.  A manufacturing defect can cause the metal grommet securing the seat to break. If this happens, the user can fall to the ground.  Swing-N-Slide® has received five reports of the swing’s seat breaking. No injuries have been reported.  Consumers should take down the extra-duty and heavy-duty seats and contact Swing-N-Slide® for information on how to return the swing for a replacement. The company will send consumers a postage-paid package to return the product. Consumer Contact: Consumers should contact Swing-N-Slide® toll-free at (800) 888-1232 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.swing-n-slide.com Consumers may also write to Extra/Heavy-Duty Swing Seat Recall, Swing-N-Slide®, 1212 Barberry Drive, Janesville, Wis. 53545.
	DECEMBER 2004:   About 155,000 metallic necklaces manufactured by Raymond Geddes Co. Inc., of Baltimore, Md. are being recalled.  Necklaces were sold through mail order catalogs nationwide and on the Internet from August 1998 through November 2004 for about $1.  The company has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injury.  The necklaces contain high levels of lead. CPSC regulations ban children's products from containing high levels of lead due to the risk of lead poisoning resulting from contact with these products. The necklaces also contain a sharp point, posing a laceration hazard to young children.  The recalled necklaces have medallions that came in four different designs depicting frogs, dolphins with a small bead on the tail, a sunshine smiley face and an alien face on a starburst. The medallion is on a black rope chain surrounded by a metallic bead with a coil section.  Consumers should immediately take these necklaces away from young children and contact the company to receive a refund.  Consumer Contact:  Call Raymond Geddes toll-free at (888) 431-1722 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday . Consumers also can contact the company via e-mail at: consumeraffairs@raymondgeddes.com
	DECEMBER 2004:  Norton McNaughton of Squire, Inc., of New York, N.Y. has recalled about 157,300 Energie Brand Hooded Sweaters. The recalled hooded drawstring sweaters were sold in a variety of colors and youth sizes S, M, L and XL. They were sold in either the pull-over hooded style or with a zipper. The RN Number 33364 and the word “energie,” together with a small red flower, are printed on the collar tags. Only sweaters with drawstrings are included in this recall.  They were sold at various retailers nationwide from July 2004 through November 2004 for between $15 and $25.  The hooded sweaters have drawstrings, posing a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings of upper garments such as jackets and sweatshirts. These garments were identified by the Wisconsin Bureau of Consumer Protection.  Consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard or return the hooded drawstring sweater to the store where purchased for a full refund. Consumer Contact: Call Norton McNaughton toll-free at (800) 258-5663 anytime or visit the Web site at www.nortonmcnaughton.com
	DECEMBER 2004:  International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J. has recalled about 1,600 Earlyears® Spirolly Rattle.  The recalled product is a rattle designed for children ages 3 months and up. It is approximately 5.5-inches long with a clear, spiral tube in the center containing eight yellow and purple balls inside that travel around the spiral. The ends of the rattle are green and purple and orange and yellow. The straight center tube is blue with a shaker inside. The item number E00148 is written on the packaging.  The rattle was sold at specialty toy stores nationwide from August 2004 through September 2004 for about $9.  The spiral section of the rattle can come apart, releasing small balls inside. This can pose a choking hazard to young children.  The firm has received one report of the spiral section of the toy coming apart. No injuries have been reported.  Consumers should immediately take the recalled rattle away from young children and contact International Playthings for a refund or replacement. Consumer Contact: Consumers should contact International Playthings at (800) 445-8347 anytime or visit the firm’s Web site at www.intplay.com/recall

ALERT:  2005 CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

Below is a news release on a policy statement appearing in the the January issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

CHICAGO - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued the recommended 2005 childhood immunization schedule for the United States. The statement represents unified recommendations from the AAP, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Compared to the 2004 schedule, no major changes have been made in this year's schedule. However, licensure applications have been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for a meningococcal (meningitis) vaccine and two new preparations of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DtaP) vaccine. The AAP is considering recommendations for use of these vaccines in adolescents. If new recommendations emerge, all three groups will release a revised midyear schedule.

In May 2004, the AAP officially expanded its recommendations for annual influenza (flu) immunizations to include children ages six through 23 months, as well as close contacts including household members and caregivers of children under age two and women pregnant during the flu season. Children six through 23 months of age and women pregnant during the flu season remain high-risk groups that should receive the flu vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

ALERT:  WHOOPING COUGH OUTBREAK

The Wisconsin Immunization Program wants to alert all child care center operators that a major outbreak of pertussis (or whooping cough) is occurring in Wisconsin and what child care operators should do.  To date over 1,700 cases have been reported from 53 counties in Wisconsin.  This is approximately 8 times higher than what is reported in a typical year.  

Pertussis is a bacterial disease that is spread through the air by direct face to face contact with a case of pertussis.  Pertussis begins with cold like symptoms and a cough that becomes much worse over a period of 1-2 weeks.  Symptoms usually include a long series of coughs ("coughing fits") followed by a whooping noise as the patient struggles to inhale air.  However, older children, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop.  There is generally no fever.  People with pertussis may have a series of coughs followed by vomiting, turning blue, or difficulty catching their breath.  The cough is often worse at night and cough medicines usually do not help alleviate the cough.

Report the illness to your local health department immediately.  Health department staff will assist with follow up and taking the steps necessary to prevent disease in exposed children and staff.  For more information, visit http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/immunization/pertussis.htm?ref=hp

ALERT:  LEAD IN MEXICAN CANDY 
MILWAUKEE HEALTH COMMISSIONER TO ISSUE ORDER FOR THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN
CANDY FROM STORE SHELVES
Dangerous lead levels found in Mexican candy sold in Southside stores
The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) will issue an order under the authority of Health Commissioner Bevan K. Baker, CHE for the removal of Lucas Limon brand candy from retail grocery stores.  This action is a result of a recent analysis by the City of Milwaukee Laboratory, which found that of 6 tests conducted of the Lucas Limon brand, 3 were found to be above the FDA limit of .5 ppm (parts per million).   Lucas Limon brand was detected to have as much as .85 ppm. MHD Lead and Food inspectors are scheduled to visit grocery stores known for selling the candy product starting July 30, 2004 and order the removal from store shelves and request that the product be shipped back to the distributor.  In addition, risk communication in both English and Spanish will be developed to provide guidance and information to parents regarding these popular but tainted candies.  

"This action taken is simply good public health practice to safeguard those individuals most vulnerable, the children of our community," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

The MHD continues to work closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection, local retailers and community health centers partners to build awareness of this newfound source of toxic lead levels in candy.  The FDA has  compiled information and issued an important alert on candies and related products that contain significant amounts of chili powder may contain higher lead levels than other types of candy, such as candy that contains predominantly sugar.  Examples of chili containing products include lollipops coated with chili and powdery mixtures of salt, lemon flavor and chili seasoning sold as a snack item.  

"Lead is a poison with no useful purpose in the human body," said Health Commissioner Bevan K. Baker.  "Lead poisoning in children is preventable, therefore we must take proactive measures to eliminate the sources of this toxic element from our environment."

Lead-based paint continues to be a source of lead poisoning in our community. Nationally, 2.2% of children have lead levels above the threshold of concerns of 10 ug/dL (micrograms per deciliter). In Milwaukee, the rate is 11.4% impacting 2,136 children.  

Impact of lead poisoning includes:
*       Deceased intelligence/ability to learn.
*       Increased behavior problems.
*       Increased childhood health problems, such as speech and language delays, hearing problems, kidney damage, seizure, and in rare cases, even death.
*       Decreased school performance.
*       Increased juvenile delinquency.
*       Decreased health and economic status of the future adult population.

There are often no signs or symptoms. Children can have lead poisoning and not look or act sick. Sometimes children feel sick to their stomachs and feel tired or irritable.  Screening is the only way to tell if your child is being affected by lead.

The Milwaukee Health Department recommends that all children be screened three times before age three, at around 12, 18, and 24 months of age.  For more information about lead poisoning, please visit the MHD's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention web site at www.milwaukee.gov/health or call the MHD at 414-225-LEAD.