Safety 1st Nursery Monitor Batteries

CPSC Recall #98-019 - October 27, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-019
Recall DateOctober 27, 1997
Remedy TypeNew Instructions
Units AffectedAbout 25,000

Where It Was Sold

Retail stores nationwide sold the monitors from June 1997 through August 1997 for between $35 and $45.

Product

Safety 1st Nursery Monitor Batteries

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Safety 1st of Chestnut Hill, Mass., is recalling about 25,000 batteries sold with their nursery monitors. The dry cell battery can rupture and irritate the skin.Safety 1st has received 76 reports of batteries rupturing. One consumer reported discomfort and swelling when the battery ruptured in her hand.The batteries are sold with the model 49226 Safety 1st nursery monitor. The monitor comes with a parent's unit (receiver) with charging stand, baby's unit (transmitter), AC adaptor and battery. The receiver holds the battery and displays the date codes for the units involved. These units have date codes between 00097 and 03097 imprinted on a white sticker on the back of the receivers. The monitor is made of hard white and gray plastic and both the receiver and transmitter are labeled "Safety 1st" and come with flexible antennas. The monitors are packaged in a cardboard display box labeled in part, "Safety 1st...Rechargeable Monitor...Cordless...Model No. 49226."Retail stores nationwide sold the monitors from June 1997 through August 1997 for between $35 and $45.Consumers should stop using the monitors immediately, and call Safety 1st at (800) 964-8489 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the recalled batteries and receiving replacement batteries. This recall does not involve model 226 or model 49226A Safety 1st nursery monitors.

Hazard

The dry cell battery can rupture and irritate the skin.

Incidents & Injuries

Safety 1st has received 76 reports of batteries rupturing. One consumer reported discomfort and swelling when the battery ruptured in her hand.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using the monitors immediately, and call Safety 1st at (800) 964-8489 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the recalled batteries and receiving replacement batteries.

What Should You Do?

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

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.