FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 1999
Release # 99-054
Company Phone Number: (800) 876-8077 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC, KMC USA Inc. Announce Recall of Flammable Spray String
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), KMC USA Inc., of Franklin
Park, Ill., is recalling more than 190,000 cans of Party
Time "Happy String." The product is hazardous if sprayed
near an open flame due to the flammability of the
propellant. Because it is a flammable product intended for
use by children, it is a banned hazardous substance. Use of
the spray string around flame sources, such as candles,
could result in serious burns.
CPSC is aware of two reports of burns resulting from
the use of this spray string. A 4-year-old boy that was
burned when some of the string ignited while he was blowing
out candles on his birthday cake. He suffered first- and
second-degree burns on his face and arm. A woman sustained
burns on her ear in another incident.
Party Time Happy String comes in round metal spray
containers about 5-inches high. The cans are mostly white,
with various color plastic caps, and contain 1.75 ounces of
liquid chemical. "PARTY TIME" is written on the can in
different colored block letters, and "Happy String" is
depicted as if it is being sprayed from a can of the spray
string. Additional writing on the cans include, "MADE IN
KOREA" . . . "IDEAL FOR DECORATING WALLS, TABLES, TREES,
PEOPLE, ANYTHING..."
"Dollar Tree," "Dollar Bills" and "Only $1" stores
nationwide sold the spray string between October 1998 and
January 1999 for about $1.
Consumers should take this spray string away from
children and stop using it immediately. It can be returned
to any Dollar Tree store for a refund. For more information,
call Dollar Tree Stores at (800) 876-8077 anytime.
Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (Transcript). It is about 6 megabytes long and the download time depends upon the speed of your Internet connection.