"Ideal" and "Brighter Child" Brand Science Kits
CPSC Recall #06-240 — August 21, 2006
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 06-240 |
| Recall Date | August 21, 2006 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 43,000 |
| Manufactured In | South Africa |
Where It Was Sold
| Educational stores and bookstores nationwide |
| and the schoolspecialty.com Web site |
| from July 2004 through May 2006 for between $16 and $24. |
Product
"Ideal" and "Brighter Child" Brand Science Kits
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), School Specialty Publishing, of Columbus, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 43,000 "Ideal" and "Brighter Child" Brand Science Kits. The battery case in the science kit can overheat, posing a thermal burn hazard.Name of Product: "Ideal" and "Brighter Child" Brand Science KitsUnits: About 43,000Distributor: School Specialty Publishing, of Columbus, OhioHazard: The battery case in the science kit can overheat, posing a thermal burn hazard.Incidents/Injuries: School Specialty has received one report of the battery case overheating, which resulted in a young boy receiving minor burns to his fingers.Description and Models: This recall involves Ideal and Brighter Child-brand science kits. Models included are "All About Electricity," "All About Magnets," "The Science Search Lab: Electricity," and "The Science Search Lab: Light." The kits were sold in brightly colored 11 3/4-inch by 12-inch boxes with a plastic window and door flap on the front.Sold at: Educational stores and bookstores nationwide, and the schoolspecialty.com Web site, from July 2004 through May 2006 for between $16 and $24.Manufactured In: South AfricaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the science kits and return them to the place of purchase or School Specialty for a refund.Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact School Specialty toll-free at (800) 253-5469 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.schoolspecialtypublishing.com.
Hazard
The battery case in the science kit can overheat, posing a thermal burn hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
School Specialty has received one report of the battery case overheating, which resulted in a young boy receiving minor burns to his fingers.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the science kits and return them to the place of purchase or School Specialty for a refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.