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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today in a press release that Stokke LLC of Kennesaw, Georgia, is recalling approximately 2,000 Xplory® Baby Strollers due to the possibility of a bolt loosening and front wheel detachment, resulting in a fall hazard.

Description: Only Xplory® baby strollers with serial numbers between 1 and 28,097 and with grey handles are included in the recall. The serial number is located under the foot plate. Strollers with white handles are not included in this recall.

Manufactured in: The recalled front wheels were manufactured in China and the strollers were made in Norway.

Sold at: Stokke distributors, Web site and juvenile product retailers nationwide from September 2003 through December 2006 for about $770.

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled strollers immediately and contact Stokke to arrange for a free replacement of the front wheels. Stokke will contact all known purchasers by e-mail or regular mail. Stokke notified its retailers and posted a recall notice on its Web site in May 2007.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Stokke toll-free at (877) 978-6553 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.stokkeusa.com/recall.asp.

See the press release for more information.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a press release warning winter storm victims not to use portable generators indoors, due to the danger of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

The press release included the following important safety tips:

• Never use a portable generator inside a home, garage, shed or other partially enclosed space, even if doors and windows are open.
• Place portable generators outside only, far away from the home. And keep the generator away from openings to the home, including doors, windows and vents.
• Read the label on the generator and the owner�s manual, and follow the instructions.
• Install CO alarms with battery backup in the home outside each sleeping area.
• Get to fresh air immediately if you start to feel sick, weak or dizzy. CO poisoning from exposure to generator exhaust can quickly lead to incapacitation and death.

See the full press release.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today in a press release that FGX International of Smithfield, Rhode Island, is recalling approximately 260,000 pairs of children’s sunglasses, due to excessive levels of lead in violation of federal standards.

Description: The recall involves 15 styles of children’s sunglasses. The style name is printed on the product inside the left temple arm. The name “Foster Grant” may also appear on the temple arm of some styles. The styles included in the recall are:

• Balloon
• Bond
• Boom
• Bubble Gum
• Bullseye
• Buzz
• Conqueror Jr.
• Curly Q
• Encompass Jr. IK
• Fade IK
• Gadget IK
• Iceman
• Lily
• Outer Space
• Pluto

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the following product recalls related to child safety:

• TKS Children’s Pants Recalled by Sears; Drawstrings at Waist Pose
  Entrapment Hazard
• Basic Editions Girls’ Clothing Sets Recalled by Kmart; Drawstrings
  at Waist Pose Entrapment Hazard
• Personal Identity Children’s Sweaters with Drawstrings Recalled by
  Sears Due to Strangulation Hazard
• RC2 Recalls Potty Training Seats Due to Violation of Lead Paint
  Standard
• RC2 Recalls The First Years(tm) Children’s Feeding Seats Due to Fall
  Hazard
• Boys’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Scope Apparel
  Due to Strangulation Hazard

Click on the CPSC hyperlinks above for more information. See the CPSC web site for other product recalls unrelated to child safety.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today in a press release that Bell Racing of Santa Cruz, California, is recalling approximately 1,400 collectible miniature racing helmets, due to excessive levels of lead in violation of federal standards.

Description: The recalled products are six-inch tall, collectible, miniature helmets, modeled after helmets worn by several race car drivers. The follow models are included in the recall: Terry Borcheller helmet, part number 2005740; Kurt Busch helmet, part number 2001368; and Vitor Meira helmet, part number 2001381. The part number is located on the product’s packaging with the UPC.

Manufactured in: China

Sold at: Home improvement and discount department retailers nationwide from March 2007 through November 2007 for about $50.

Remedy: Consumers should take the recalled helmets away from young children immediately and contact Bell Racing to receive a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For further information, contact Bell Racing toll-free at (866) 892-6059 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, via e-mail at minireplicasrecall@bellracing.com, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.bellracing.com/.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today in a press release that Old Navy LLC of San Francisco, California, is recalling approximately 17,200 boys’ Performance fleece-lined jackets, due to an entrapment hazard with its waist drawstring.

Description: The performance fleece-lined shell jackets are hooded, zip in the front, and have a drawstring at the waist. The jackets were sold in black or blue in multiple children’s sizes. “Old Navy” is printed on a label at the neck. Style number 507907 is printed on a white label sewn into the side seam of the jacket.

Sold exclusively at: Old Navy stores nationwide and oldnavy.com from August 2007 through November 2007 for about $30.

Remedy:  Consumers should return the jackets to any Old Navy store or, if purchased online, contact Old Navy for instructions on returning the jacket to receive a full refund. Consumers who return the jacket before March 31, 2008 will also receive a $5 appreciation card. Consumers choosing to keep the jacket should immediately remove the drawstring to eliminate the hazard. Visit www.oldnavy.com for instructions on properly removing the drawstring.

See the press release for more information.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released its ABC’s of Toy Safety guidelines, including general warnings on certain toy categories, tips on age-appropriate gift selection, and advice for handling after the gifts are open.

According to a Gamasutra article, a group of U.S. senators is calling for tougher video game ratings standards from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The senators, led by Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh, also calls for more transparency in what comprises those standards and why a particular rating is given to a game title.

FOXNews.com reports that polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs, are commonplace in households today as flame retardant additives in various products, and may be dangerous to pets and humans. Deca-BDE (decabrominated diphenyl ether) is often found as an additive in electronic products like televisions, and may have long-term neurological impacts. A recent study did find a correlation between PBDE exposure and hyperthyroidism in cats, while other recent studies showed that deca-BDE exposure slowed neurological development.

This New York Times article explains that paints with heavier lead concentrations are cheaper than those with lower amounts of lead, and that a lack of regulation, coupled with a continuous drive to lower manufacturing costs, results in toys and other products with unsafe lead levels.