[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 19, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CPSC LAUNCHES ``RECALL ROUND-UP DAY''

  Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President, unintentional injuries are the leading 
cause of death to persons under 35, and the fifth leading cause of 
death in the Nation overall. Unintentional injuries kill more children 
over age one than any disease.
  It is astounding that there are an average 21,400 deaths and 29.4 
million injuries each year related to consumer products under the 
jurisdiction of a small, but effective, Federal agency--the U.S. 
Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC]. The CPSC finds that deaths, 
injuries, and property damage associated with consumer products cost 
the Nation $200 billion annually.
  In 1996, the CPSC negotiated 375 recalls involving over 85 million 
products that presented a significant risk of injury to the public. 
However, despite recall notices and public warnings, many old hazardous 
products such as bean bag chairs, wooden bunk beds, mini-hammocks and 
cribs--with the potential to seriously injure or kill a child--remain 
in homes, flea markets, garage sales or in second hand stores.
  To rid consumers' homes of hazardous products, the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission under the leadership of Chairman Ann Brown, on April 
16 of this year, will launch ``Recall Round-Up Day'' by broadcasting a 
video to television stations across the country. The video will have 
examples of hazardous products that might be in consumers homes, such 
as the following:
  Bean bag chairs that can present a choking or suffocation hazard to 
children. Some bean bag chairs can be unzipped and children can then 
inhale the small pellets of foam filling. The CPSC is aware of at least 
five deaths and at least 23 other incidents in which children inhaled 
or ingested bean bag filling. In the past 2 years, CPSC obtained the 
recall of more than 10 million bean bag chairs.
  Wooden bunk beds that can strangle young children. Since 1990, CPSC 
has received reports of 32 children who died after becoming caught in 
bunk beds with improper openings in the top bunk structure. Since 1995, 
CPSC has obtained the recall of approximately half a million hazardous 
bunk beds.
  Mini-hammocks that can strangle children. CPSC has received reports 
of 12 children, ages 5 to 17 years, who became entangled and died when 
using mini-hammocks without spreader bars. Last year, CPSC obtained the 
recall of over three million minihammocks.
  Old cribs that can choke or suffocate a small child. Cribs having 
more than 2\3/8\ inches between crib slats, corner posts, or cut outs 
on the headboard or footboard present suffocation and strangulation 
hazard to babies. Each year, 50 babies die when they become trapped 
between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.

  CPSC is enlisting the help of State and local officials, as well as 
national and State health and safety organizations, in connection with 
State and local governments throughout the Nation, to publicize a 
safety campaign, distribute information about these and other hazardous 
products in the home. In some States, recalled products will be rounded 
up and brought to a central location for disposal.
  I commend Chairman Ann Brown and the CPSC for taking this bold 
action. My State Office in Las Vegas is working with the State chapter 
of the National SafeKids Campaign, Sunrise Children's Hospital, and the 
Clark County Health Dept. to organize local events throughout the State 
for Recall Roundup. We will publicize the campaign through the media to 
reach the general public. Special efforts will be directed to reach 
child care providers and especially new parents. The sellers of used 
articles that could include recalled products will also be alerted to 
the hazards that used cribs, bunk beds, minihammocks and bean bag 
chairs could present to prevent the resale of these items.
  I encourage my colleagues to join with me in this effort and to 
encourage organizations in your State to take an active role in this 
lifesaving effort on April 16. For this reason, I ask unanimous consent 
to have printed in the Record a ``Suggested List of Local Activities'' 
recommended by the CPSC for this important Recall Round-Up Day on April 
16.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

          Recall Roundup Suggested State and Local Activities

       1. Organize a news conference. Contact medical 
     professionals in pediatrics, children's hospitals, injury and 
     disease prevention, medical examiners offices, etc., for 
     participation in news conference.
       2. Issue state and local news release in conjunction with 
     CPSC video news release.
       3. Distribute printed news release information through 
     established networks.
       4. Have State Governor, Secretary of Health, or other 
     prominent figures issue a Proclamation to kick off the event.
       5. Offer to participate in TV/radio interviews.
       6. Prepare media outlets in advance for release and use of 
     the CPSC video news release.
       7. Organize local Recall Roundups using list of recalled 
     products.
       8. Monitor flea markets and secondhand stores for recalled 
     products and provide recall information.
       9. Provide recall lists to community and homeowner 
     associations that sponsor yard sales or that issue local news 
     letters.
       10. Work with school systems and PTA groups to promote 
     community service/community awareness activities.

       Safety poster campaign
       Neighborhood roundups
       Display information at schools

       11. Distribute recall information to family day care/group 
     day care agencies.
       12. Seek involvement of youth clubs, YM and WCA, Scouts, 
     etc.
       13. Provide recall information packages to the public upon 
     request.

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