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Health

Defective products may lurk at home

The following products, distributed nationwide and in Florida, were recalled between June 17 and 23:

* 61,000 packages of Thunderstick rocket fireworks by BJ Alan Co. These rockets are overloaded with flash powder, which violates the regulations for this product. During use, they could explode with a greater force than expected and cause burns and injury harm to nearby users. The products are a stick-type rocket with a 4-inch-long, ½-inch-in-diameter engine mounted on a wooden stick approximately 16 inches long. The engine is wrapped in blue or purple paper with a picture of a rocket, and the words "Phantom Fireworks Thunder Stick Rocket." They were sold at Phantom Fireworks showrooms nationwide from December 2005 through June 2006 for about $10 for a package of six rockets. For a replacement product, call toll-free 1-800-777-1691 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays; www.fireworks.com.

* 6,300 Suzuki 2006 model year QuadRacer ATVs by American Suzuki Motor Corp. The cushion lever mounting bracket on the ATV frame can break. If this occurs the rider could lose control of the ATV and crash. Only 2006 Suzuki LTR450K6 model Quad Racer ATVs with vehicle identification numbers that end with 00089 through 11626 are included in this recall. The vehicle identification number is located on the lower left side of the ATV frame. QuadRacer, printed in white letters, and R450 and Suzuki are written on the side of the ATV. These ATVs were sold in yellow or white. They were sold by Suzuki ATV dealers nationwide from January 2006 through May 2006 for about $7,300. Contact a local Suzuki ATV dealer to schedule an appointment for a free repair. Call toll-free 1-800-444-5077 between 11:30 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. weekdays; www.suzukicycles.com.

* Triaminic Vapor Patches by Novartis Consumer Health. Serious health effects, including seizures, can occur if a child removes the patch and chews on it. All lots are being recalled in both product lines of mentholated cherry scent and menthol scent. Triaminic Vapor Patch contains camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol and is labeled as a cough suppressant for children 2 years old and older. The label instructions state that the patch should be applied to throat or chest to allow its vapors to reach the nose and mouth. Multiple patches can be applied. Once applied, the patch is easy for children to remove and place in their mouth, but it is not for oral consumption. The product is sold nationwide over the counter at pharmacies and retail stores. This recall affects only the Vapor Patch. Discard the product or return it to place of purchase for a full refund. Call toll-free 1-800-452-0051; www.triaminic.com.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should also be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm, by phone (1-800-FDA-1088), or by returning the postage-paid FDA form 3500 (which may be downloaded from www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm) by mail (to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787) or fax (1-800-FDA-0178).

Sources: Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or toll-free 1-800-638-2772; Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov; USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline, toll-free 1-800-535-4555; government food safety information at www. foodsafety.gov; and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

Action solves problems and gets answers for you. If you have a question, or your own attempts to resolve a consumer complaint have failed, write Times Action, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or call your Action number, (727) 893-8171, or, outside of Pinellas, toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 8171, to leave a recorded request. Requests will be accepted only by mail or voice mail; calls cannot be returned. We will not be responsible for personal documents, so please send only photocopies. If your complaint concerns merchandise ordered by mail, we need copies of both sides of your canceled check. We may require additional information or prefer to reply by mail; therefore, readers must provide a full mailing address, including ZIP code. Names of letter writers will not be omitted except in unusual circumstances. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

[Last modified June 27, 2006, 06:52:49]