FROM CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM

Dollar General is recalling about 200,000 toy speed boats because the batteries can overheat.

Dollar General has received two reports of the batteries overheating. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled toy speed boats are lightweight plastic toy boats supported by an inflatable hull with “outboard” motors on them. The motor uses two AA batteries. The toy boat measures about 12 inches long by 8 inches wide and comes in various colors and designs.

Dollar General stores nationwide sold the boats, which were made in China, from March 2008 through July 2008 for $3 each.

Consumers should take these toys away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement product.

For additional information, contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.dollargeneral.com/Pages/index.aspx.

LINK TO STORY:     http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2008/toy_boats.html

~Sandy G.

FROM CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM

Backyard Play Systems LLC is recalling about 500 outdoor playset gliders. Some of the gliders were shipped with assembly instructions that did not inform consumers to tighten all lock nuts during assembly, including those attached by the manufacturer. As a result, some lock nuts were not fully fastened during assembly which could cause the glider to detach, posing a fall hazard to children.

Backyard Play Systems has received one report of a lock nut falling off. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves outdoor play set gliders designed to hang from home play equipment. The green plastic gliders were sold as an accessory to home play equipment marketed under the brand names Heartland Play Systems, Yardline Play Systems and Backyard Play Systems.

The gliders, made in China, were sold by Backyard Buildings and More and Lowe’s stores nationwide, and online at Costco.com, BettyMills.com, and BackyardBuildings.com from February 2008 through July 2008 for about $100.

Consumers should immediately stop using the gliders until all lock nuts are securely fastened. Backyard Play Systems is notifying all customers directly and is providing written instructions indicating the location of all lock nuts that must be securely fastened.

For additional information, contact Backyard Play Systems at (866) 890-2211 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit the firm’s Web site at BackyardBuildings.com.

LINK TO STORY:     http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2008/backyard_gliders.html 

~Sandy G.

FROM CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM

Rack Room Shoes Inc. is recalling about 11,000 pairs of girls’ sandals. The ornamental flowers on the sandals can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The firm has received one report of a flower separating. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled girls’ sandals are leather with attached leather flowers and were sold under the Kids Feet name. The sandals are white or white with pink soles. The sandals were sold in girls’ sizes 5 through 12.

The sandals, made in China, were sold at Rack Room Shoes stores nationwide from February 2008 through June 2008 for about $25.

Consumers should take the recalled sandals away from children immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or store credit.

For additional information, contact Rack Room Shoes at (866) 344-1213 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit the firm’s Web site at http://www.rackroomshoes.com/.

LINK TO STORY:    http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls04/2008/rack_room.html

~Sandy G.

By TARA PARKER-POPE
New York Times

Sleeping in a room with a fan lowers a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 72 percent, a new study has found.

The finding, published Monday in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, is the latest evidence to suggest that a baby’s sleep environment is a critical factor in the risk of SIDS, which is diagnosed when an infant’s sudden death cannot be explained by other factors.

The study was not designed to identify why fans make a difference, but researchers said they thought that by circulating air, fans lowered the risk of “rebreathing” exhaled carbon dioxide. That risk has been suggested as a reason the rate of SIDS is higher when children sleep on their stomach, in a soft bed or without a pacifier.

Since 1992 the rate of SIDS deaths has dropped by more than half, to about one death per 2,000 live births from 2.4 per 1,000. The decline is linked to a national “Back to Sleep” campaign that promotes putting babies on their back instead of their stomach, which has been shown to lower the risk of sudden death.

FOR THE COMPLETE STORY:    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/health/research/07sids.html?th&emc=th    

~Sandy G.