Recall: Garden Chairs Recalled by Kmart

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 1997 Release # 98-022

Company Phone Number: (800) 63KMART CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

CPSC, Kmart Announce Recall of Garden Chairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Kmart Corp. of Troy, Mich., is recalling about 205,000 Sling Garden Chairs. The chairs can unexpectedly collapse and injure consumers.

Kmart has received 10 reports of these chairs collapsing. Six reports involve finger tip amputations and crushed fingers when consumers' fingers were caught in the folding arm of the chairs as they collapsed. Two reports involve reports of back pain when consumers fell to the floor.

The chairs consist of a white metal frame with a seat made of a striped vinyl fabric. The striped seat is available in the following colors: royal blue/white, navy blue/white, orange/lime, lime/orange and hunter green/white. The arm rests of these chairs are colored to match the seats. The chairs measure about 34 inches high and 22 inches wide. A white label on the back of the chairs reads, "MADE IN CHINA." The chairs had a cardboard hang tag labeled, "SLING GARDEN CHAIR...KMART"

Kmart stores nationwide sold these chairs from February 1997 through September 1997 for about $13.

Consumers should stop using these chairs immediately and return them to the nearest Kmart store for a refund. For more information about this recall, consumers should contact Kmart at (800) 63KMART or access Kmart's web site at www.kmart.com.