Recall: Lithium-Ion Batteries Used in HP, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers - Fire & Burn Hazards
Name of Product: Lithium-Ion Batteries used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers
Units: About 35,000 batteries (an additional 65,000 batteries were sold worldwide)
Battery Cell Manufacturer: Sony Energy Devices Corporation, of Japan
Hazard: These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been 19 reports of the batteries overheating, including 17 reports of flames/fire (10 resulting in minor property damage). Two consumers experienced minor burns.
Travel Warning: Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of traveling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa), and recommends against all travel to North Kivu province. This replaces the Travel Warning dated July 23, 2008 to note the deterioration in the security situation in North Kivu.
Conditions within certain regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the east, remain dangerous. Official personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa are restricted from travel to North Kivu unless the travel is for official business and has been specifically authorized by the Embassy. On October 29, 2008, all U.S. Government personnel who had been present in the city of Goma relocated temporarily to the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, directly across the border. American citizens should avoid travel to Goma and surrounding areas, and those who are there are urged to depart. Fighting between armed rebels, Congolese military forces, and U.N. peacekeeping troops has increased in the province of North Kivu and continues in the provinces of South Kivu, Orientale, northern Katanga, and sporadically in Bas Congo. Armed groups as well as active duty and demobilized Congolese troops in parts of the country are known to pillage, carjack, and steal vehicles, kill extra-judicially, rape, kidnap, and carry out military or paramilitary operations. Government soldiers, as well as rebel fighters expected to be demobilized as a result of ongoing peace processes, remain a security concern. Travelers are frequently detained and questioned by poorly disciplined security forces at numerous roadblocks and border crossings throughout the country.
Recall: DYMO LabelWriter Power Adapters - Burn Hazard
Name of Product: DYMO® LabelWriter® Power Adapters used with printers
Units: About 17,000
Manufacturer: DYMO, of Stamford, Conn.
Hazard: The power adapters can fail, causing the printer to overheat. This can pose a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: DYMO has received 11 reports of printers overheating and emitting smoke and/or a burnt smell. No injuries have been reported.
Recall: Fit & Fresh Smooth Blend Mixers - Laceration Hazard
Name of Product: Fit & Fresh™ Smooth Blend Mixers
Units: About 54,500
Importer: MEDport LLC, of Providence, R.I.
Hazard: While placing the cup on or off the base of the mixer, the mixer can unexpectedly turn on, activating the blade. This can pose a serious laceration hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: MEDport has received one report of finger lacerations that required medical treatment.
Recall: Chain Saws - Homelite - Chain Brake Failure
Name of Product: Homelite Chain Saws
Units: About 370,000
Importer: Homelite Consumer Products Inc., of Anderson, S.C.
Hazard: The chain brake can fail to stop the chain on its first application, posing a risk of laceration to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Recall: Wooden Toys - Earth Friendly LLC - Choking Hazard
Name of Product: Wooden Toys
Units: About 1,000
Importer: Earth Friendly LLC, of Beaverton, Ore.
Hazard: Small parts can detach and break from the toy, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, the size of the rattle handle violates voluntary rattle standards.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Lead Paint Recall: Halloween Mini-Figurines - Coyne’s & Company
Name of Product: Casper the Friendly Ghost® Halloween Mini-Figurines
Units: About 14,000
Importer: Coyne’s & Company Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn.
Hazard: The recalled Halloween figurines contain high levels of lead in the paint.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Recall: Ghost Tealight Holders - Crate & Barrel - Fire & Burn Hazards
Name of Product: Ghost Tealight Holders
Units: About 30,000
Importer: Trade Associates Group Ltd., of Chicago, Ill.
Retailers: Crate & Barrel, of Northbrook, Ill., and other retailers
Hazard: The recalled tealight holder can ignite posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been five reports of the tealight holders igniting and one report of the holder becoming excessively hot. Two consumers suffered burns to the hand. Minor property damage to furniture has also been reported.
Recall: Treadmills - Cybex Intl. - Fall Hazard
Name of Product: Cybex Treadmills
Units: About 19,000
Manufacturer: Cybex International Inc., of Medway, Mass.
Hazard: The treadmills can speed up unexpectedly while in use due to a malfunction with the lower control board, posing a fall hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Cybex International has received 24 reports of incidents involving the treadmill unexpectedly increasing speed, including six reports of consumers falling. Three of those incidents resulted in minor injuries.
Tire Recall: Firestone FR380/P235/75R15
BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICA TIRE, LLC (BFNT) IS RECALLING 135,310 FIRESTONE FR380 TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4, 2006 AND SEPTEMBER 8, 2007, AND 26,941 LEMANS CHAMPION SE TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4, 2006 AND SEPTEMBER 2, 2006. THESE TIRES WERE PRODUCED WITH INSUFFICIENT TREAD BASE GUAGE.