July
31, 2001
Safety
1st of Canton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million packages of
safety latches used to prevent children from opening cabinets and drawers. If
the safety latch breaks, a small spring could be released. Young children could
choke on the small spring or gain access to a cabinet or drawer where dangerous
items are stored.
Safety 1st is aware of 27 incidents with these latches breaking. There have
been two injuries reported. A 13-month-old girl placed the broken spring from
one of these latches in her mouth and suffered a minor abrasion inside her
mouth. Also, a 2-year-old girl was able to open a cabinet protected by a safety
latch, gained access to a bathroom cabinet and sprayed tile cleaner into her
mouth. She received chemical burns to her throat.
The latches are made of white plastic with a spring, which holds the latch
closed. "SAFETY 1 st" is written on the top of the latches. Their
packaging reads, in part, "SAFETY 1ST" and "CABINET & DRAWER
SPRING LATCHES." They were sold in a package of three or four latches. The
straight ends of the metal springs are uncovered on the recalled latches. The
replacement latches have a plastic tab over the short, straight end of the
metal spring. The springs are uncovered on the recalled latches. The
replacement latches have a plastic tab over the spring. Toy, hardware and department stores
nationwide sold the set of three or four latches from January 1993 through
December 1999 for about $7.
Consumers should contact Safety 1st for free replacement latches
immediately. For more information, call Safety 1st at (800) 366-1282 between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or go to he firm's web site at
www.safety1st.com.