Gerry Clear Choice model 618 baby monitors

CPSC Recall #98-090 — April 7, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-090
Recall DateApril 7, 1998
Remedy TypeDispose
Units AffectedAbout 86,000

Where It Was Sold

Mass merchandise and baby stores throughout the United States sold the baby monitors from April 1996 to March 1998 for about $40.

Product

Gerry Clear Choice model 618 baby monitors

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gerry Baby Products of Denver, Colo., recalled about 86,000 rechargeable baby monitors sold under the Clear Choice brand name. When an electrical short occurs, the rechargeable battery can cause the monitor's "parent" unit to smoke and flame.Gerry has received one report of flames and four reports of smoke coming from the monitor's parent unit. No injuries or property damage have been reported.The Gerry Clear Choice rechargeable baby monitor being recalled is Model 618. The model number is found on a silver plate on the front of the monitor's AC adapter. The monitor consists of a "baby" unit, a parent unit, a recharging base for the parent unit and AC adapters. All of the units are white with a light blue accent color. Because it houses the battery, only the parent unit presents the hazard.Mass merchandise and baby stores throughout the United States sold the baby monitors from April 1996 to March 1998 for about $40.Consumers should disconnect and throw away the blue battery pack from the parent unit immediately. Consumers should contact Evenflo's Parent Link Consumer Resource Center at (800) 233-5921 for assistance (Gerry Baby Products is out of business, but the Evenflo Company has now taken over in responding to this recall).This recall is not related to the October 1996 recall of 990,000 Gerry model 602 baby monitors. Consumers with questions about the model 602 monitor can call Evenflo's Parent Link Consumer Resource Center at (800) 233-5921.

Hazard

When an electrical short occurs, the rechargeable battery can cause the monitor's "parent" unit to smoke and flame.

Incidents & Injuries

Gerry has received one report of flames and four reports of smoke coming from the monitor's parent unit. No injuries or property damage have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should disconnect and throw away the blue battery pack from the parent unit immediately. Consumers should contact Evenflo's Parent Link Consumer Resource Center at (800) 233-5921 for assistance (Gerry Baby Products is out of business, but the Evenflo Company has now taken over in responding to this recall).

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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 (Dispose) at no cost to you.

No — you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.

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.