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Hand Candle

CPSC Recall #97-019 - November 5, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-019
Recall DateNovember 5, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 95,900

Where It Was Sold

Walgreens retail stores sold the five finger
hand-shaped candle nationwide from August 1996 through October 1996 for $2.99.

Product

Hand Candle

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens of Deerfield, Ill., is recalling about 95,900 hand-shaped, five finger Decorative Novelty Candles made for Halloween. The hand-shaped wax candles generate high flames that may present a fire hazard. This recall is the third issued by CPSC and candle distributors concerning the potential fire hazard associated with certain brands of the five finger, hand shaped Halloween candles. Recalls of two similarly styled candles were issued by Russ Berrie and Company of Oakland, N.J., (for 17,600 Dem Bones and 67,600 Glowing Gore wax candles) and C.R. Seasons LTD of Farmingdale, N.Y., (for 47,100 Bleeding Hand wax candles). The Decorative Novelty Halloween Candle is hand shaped with five fingers each having individual wicks. The candle flames may reach 8 inches high as the candles melt down to the palm with the wicks of the five fingers burning together. East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens have received no reports of excess flames or injuries associated with the Bleeding Hand Halloween candles. This recall is being conducted to prevent injuries and fires. The hand-shaped wax candle is pink skin-toned color with a red band around the bottom of the wrist. The 7-inch high candle is packaged in a purple, red, and yellow-shaded cardboard box with a picture of the candle on the front. The name "Decorative Novelty Candle" is printed on the front of the box with the price of $2.99 in the upper right hand corner. Walgreens retail stores sold the five finger, hand-shaped candle nationwide from August 1996 through October 1996 for $2.99. Consumers should immediately stop using the hand-shaped candles and return remaining candles to Walgreens for a refund of the purchase price. For more information consumers should call East West Distributing Co. or Walgreens at (800)289-2273.

Hazard

The hand-shaped wax candles generate high flames that may present a fire hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

East West Distributing Co. and Walgreens have received no reports of excess flames or injuries associated with the Bleeding Hand Halloween candles. This recall is being conducted to prevent injuries and fires.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the hand-shaped candles and return remaining candles to Walgreens for a refund of the purchase price.

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.

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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.

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