05/19/2010 // West Palm Beach, Florida, USA // Sandra Quinlan // Sandra Quinlan
Charlotte, NC—Family Dollar Stores Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), has voluntarily recalled approximately 1.8 million toy dart gun sets. The product safety recall was issued on Monday, May 17, 2010, with regard to an aspiration hazard they may pose.
There have been two child fatalities reported in association with the recalled toys. The two asphyxiation deaths occurred in Chicago, Illinois, in which a 9-year-old boy was killed, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where a 10-year-old boy died.
The tragic occurrences happened when the children accidentally inhaled one of the soft toy darts, consequently obstructing their airways.
The toy guns were manufactured in China and imported by Henry Gordy International Inc. The Plainfield, New Jersey-based importer, however, declined to recall the potentially dangerous toy guns.
In response to the company’s refusal to issue a recall, Family Dollar Stores Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina and the CPSC are working towards notifying consumers of the risks associated with the toy gun sets.
According to the CPSC, “The “Auto Fire” toy target set is sold with either an orange and yellow toy gun (item #P238) or a blue and yellow toy gun (item #9328), eight orange darts and a small target with numbers from 1 to 20. The gun’s item number is located on one side of the handle in raised lettering. The soft plastic darts measure just over one inch in length and have a small suction cup at one end with a diameter of about 1/2 inch. The target board is black, yellow, red and green, and measures five inches in diameter. “Gordy Toy” for “Ages 8+” is printed on the packaging.”
The toy dart gun sets were sold solely in Family Dollar stores throughout the nation from September 2005 through January 2009. They were valued at about $1.50.
Consumers have been urged to confiscate the toy gun sets from children and dispose of them. Consumers can also return the product to a Family Dollar store for a full reimbursement.
For more information concerning the product safety recall, consumers may contact Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Consumers may also visit the company’s Web site at www.FamilyDollar.com.
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