Strollers, Crib Mattresses Recalled

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Strollers that can collapse and mattresses that can trap children in crib frames are being recalled by Cosco Inc., the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today.

More than 200 children have been injured in Cosco's Geoby Two Ways tandem strollers, which collapsed after locks on folding mechanisms failed. Children can be injured by the resulting fall, or suffer cuts to hands or fingers if they are touching the locking mechanism when the stroller collapses.

About 57,000 of the strollers, made over the last 12 months, have been sold. The recalled strollers are model numbers 01-644 and 01-645 (with car seat). Cosco is offering a free repair kit with two extra locking pins to fix the folding mechanism.

The commission said 12 children were trapped, including one who was killed, when mattresses on Cosco tubular metal cribs collapsed and children slipped through 5-inch slats in the platform.

The safety commission says about 62,000 of the mattresses were sold between 1994 and 1997. The company is giving consumers $25 checks to purchase new mattresses.

The CPSC said consumers should stop using the cribs or place a flat board approximately 27 inches wide and 51 inches long between the mattress and crib platform until they can get a replacement mattress.

Some of the company's infant car seats and infant car seat strollers have buckles that may release upon impact. The infant car seats, manufactured between September 12, 1995, and May 13, 1996, are model numbers 4525, 4535, 4560, 4565, 4575 and 4590. The infant car seat strollers involved are model numbers 11-570, 11-597, 11-600 and 11-650.

Owners should contact Century to obtain a free replacement buckle kit and installation instructions. they can do so by calling Century toll-free at 1-800-837-4044 or by writing to Century Products Company, 9600 Valley View Road, Macedonia, OH 44056.

Owners of Century infant seats who have questions about this or other recalls should call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393. In the Washington, D.C., area, the number to call is (202) 366-0123. Operators are on duty Mon. through Fri. from 9 am - 10 pm Eastern time, and request for information are recorded around the clock.

CPSC found that over time the plastic deteriorates from exposure to sunlight and heat to form lead dust on the surface of the blind. The amount of lead dust that formed from the deterioration varied from blind to blind.

In homes where children ages 6 and younger may be present, CPSC recommends that consumers remove these vinyl miniblinds. Young children can ingest lead by wiping their hands on the blinds and then putting their hands in their mouths. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems and growth retardation.

Manufacturers have made changes and new miniblinds without added lead appeared on store shelves in July 1996. Stores sell the new vinyl blinds packaged in cartons indicating that the blinds are made without added lead. CPSC recommends that consumers with young children remove old vinyl miniblinds from their homes and replace them with new miniblinds made without added lead. Washing the blinds does not prevent the vinyl blinds from deteriorating, which produces the lead dust on the surface.

The CPSC protects the public from unreasonable risk or injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or CPSC's tele-typewriter at 1-800-638-8270.