SOIREE® and Soft n' Warm® Electric Blankets

CPSC Recall #03-152 — July 1, 2003

Recall Summary

Recall Number03-152
Recall DateJuly 1, 2003
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 18,000
ManufacturerPerfect Fit Industries, of Charlotte, N.C.
Manufactured InChina and United States

Where It Was Sold

K-mart and Belk stores nationwide sold the electric blankets from September 2002 through February 2003 for between $40 (twin size) and $200 (king size).

Product

SOIREE® and Soft n' Warm® Electric Blankets

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Perfect Fit Industries, of Charlotte, N.C. is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 SOIREE and Soft n' Warm Electric Blankets. These blankets can overheat, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers, especially when the blanket is folded or bunched.Name of product: SOIREE® and Soft n' Warm® Electric BlanketsUnits: About 18,000Manufacturer: Perfect Fit Industries, of Charlotte, N.C.Hazard: These blankets can overheat, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers, especially when the blanket is folded or bunched.Incidents/Injuries: Perfect Fit is aware of 44 reports of these blankets overheating, resulting in four reports of minor burn injuries. Damage to the blankets and bedding materials also have been reported.Description: The recalled electric blankets are the SOIREE® (only those sold at Belk stores) and Soft n' Warm® (only sold at K-mart), both of which were sold in king, queen, full and twin sizes. At Belk, the electric blankets were sold only in ivory color and at K-mart they were sold in ivory, light blue and hunter green colors. The model name appears on the packaging, but not on the blanket. Both models have a UL warning label and a permanent label that reads "Perfect Fit" and "Shell Made in China. Wired and Closed in U.S.A." The Soft n' Warm® model has a date code ranging from 02228 through 02305 printed on a warning label on the foot of the blanket.Sold at: K-mart and Belk stores nationwide sold the electric blankets from September 2002 through February 2003 for between $40 (twin size) and $200 (king size).Remedy: Firm is providing a free replacement blanket, but consumers should unplug the recalled units immediately.Consumer Contact: Call the company at (877) 882-9478 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Hazard

These blankets can overheat, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers, especially when the blanket is folded or bunched.

Incidents & Injuries

Perfect Fit is aware of 44 reports of these blankets overheating, resulting in four reports of minor burn injuries. Damage to the blankets and bedding materials also have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Firm is providing a free replacement blanket, but consumers should unplug the recalled units immediately.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.