Some extremely dangerous toy dart gun sets sold at Family Dollar Stores are being recalled today. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), these toys have already killed a 9-year-old boy in Chicago and a 10-year-old boy in Milwaukee. Both were chewing on the one-inch, soft-plastic darts, which slipped into their throats. The small suction cup part of the dart cut off their breathing.
Consumers should immediately take the toy dart gun sets from children and discard them. Consumers can also return the guns and darts to a Family Dollar store for a full refund.
The recall involves 1.8 million toy dart gun sets sold exclusively at Family Dollar stores nationwide from September 2005 through January 2009 for about $1.50. The toy dart guns were imported from China by Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J. Family Dollar is working cooperatively with the CPSC to announce this recall because Henry Gordy International has refused to recall the toy dart gun sets.
The “Auto Fire” toy target set is sold with either an orange and yellow toy gun (item #P238) or a blue and yellow toy gun (item #9328), eight orange darts and a small target with numbers from 1 to 20. The gun’s item number is located on one side of the handle in raised lettering.
The soft plastic darts measure just over one inch in length and have a small suction cup at one end with a diameter of about ½ inch. The target board is black, yellow, red and green, and measures five inches in diameter. “Gordy Toy” for “Ages 8+” is printed on the packaging.
For additional information, contact Family Dollar at (800) 547-0359 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.familydollar.com.
