Recall: Backpack Child Carriers Recalled by L.L. Bean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 19, 1999 Release # 99-098

Company Phone Number: (800) 555-9717 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Nychelle Fleming, (301) 504-7063

CPSC, L.L. Bean Inc. Announce Recall of Second Model of Backpack Child Carriers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), L.L. Bean Inc., of Freeport, Maine, is recalling about 13,000 backpack child carriers, model number W695. Small children can work their way out of the harness and fall through a leg opening or topple out of the top of the carrier, which can cause head and body injuries. On December 10, 1998, L.L. Bean recalled another backpack child carrier, model number AC25, with a similar problem.

L.L. Bean has received 24* reports of children falling out of the harnesses of the model W695 carriers by slipping through a leg opening or toppling out of the top of the carrier. It was reported that three* of these children received injuries, including head bumps, a fractured wrist, bruises, abrasions and contusions.

The model number of these backpack carriers, W695, is written on a tag inside the rear storage compartment in the upper left side. They are teal and have gray harness straps. These backpack carriers have kickstands for loading the child into the carriers. The "L.L. Bean " label is on the back of the carrier.

The L.L. Bean website and catalogs, and L.L. Bean retail stores in Maine, Oregon, New Hampshire and Delaware sold the carriers between January 1993 and March 1995 for about $95.

In December 1998, CPSC and L.L. Bean recalled 10,000 backpack child carriers, model number AC25. Small children can become entangled in the carrier's harness, which poses a strangulation risk. Also, like the second model carrier being recalled, small children can work their way out of the harness and fall through a leg opening or topple out of the top of the carrier, which can cause head and body injuries.

L.L. Bean received 23 reports of children falling out of the harnesses of the model AC25 carriers by slipping through a leg opening or toppling out of the top of the carrier. It was reported that 10 of these children received injuries, including head bumps, bruises, abrasions and contusions. Four of these children became entangled by the harness straps around their necks.

These forest green L.L. Bean Child Carriers have gray harness straps, and model number AC25, which is written on a tag inside the rear storage compartment. These backpack carriers have kickstands for loading the child into the carriers. The "L.L. Bean " label is on the back of the carrier.

The L.L. Bean website and catalogs, and L.L. Bean retail stores in Maine, Oregon, New Hampshire and Delaware sold these carriers between January 1997 and October 1998 for about $99.

Consumers should stop using both of these carriers immediately and call L.L. Bean at (800) 555-9717 anytime or visit its website at www.llbean.com/recall to receive instructions for returning the carrier for a refund or for any other information about these recalls.




*Updated 8/29/00