The Helmet Update
Volume 23, #5 - August 31, 2005
All issues index
Recall of Target Bike Helmets
Summary: Many Target youth and child helmets have been recalled.
CPSC and Target announced a recall today of 494,000 bicycle helmets.
At nearly a half million helmets, the recall was by far the largest announced by CPSC in recent years. It includes "Back
Trails" junior, toddler, youth and child models.
The helmets were imported by Target from the Chinese manufacturer UNA through Dynacraft BSC Inc., of San Rafael,
California. They sold for about $13.
The recall apparently does not affect the less expensive Back Trails models that Target procures through PTI. At only
$7.14 each, those helmets remain among the best values in the market. Also unaffected are the Schwinn/PTI helmets that
sell at $15 and up, and generally fit better than the less expensive models.
CPSC's press release (below) mentions only that the helmets did not pass the CPSC bicycle helmet standard, but gave no
details about what features failed. The failure could have been from inadequate impact protection, weak straps, lack of
coverage or other issues.
Sadly, few of the helmets will be returned, probably leaving more than 400,000 children riding in sub-standard helmets
for years.
The CPSC press release follows.
NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2005
Release #05-252
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 440-0680
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC, Target Announce Recall of Back Trails Jr. Bicycle Helmets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced
a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless
otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Back Trails Jr. Toddler, Youth and Child Bicycle Helmets
Units: About 494,000
Importer/Retailer: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.
Manufacturer: UNA International Limited, of China
Distributor: Dynacraft BSC Inc., of San Rafael, Calif.
Hazard: Some of these helmets do not meet CPSC safety standards for bicycle helmets, which poses a risk of riders
suffering head injuries.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recall includes Target's "Back Trails Jr." brand toddler, youth and child bicycle helmets sold in
various colors. They were manufactured after January 1, 2004. Helmet model numbers: 89888 or 88003 (toddler), 89951 or
88001 (girl's 8-vent youth), 89952 or 88002 (boy's 8-vent youth), or 89917 (14-vent child's) appear on a white label
inside the helmets, along with date of manufacture (YYYY/MM/DD) and the words "Made in China." Target product
identification numbers: 082-01-0520 (toddler), 082-01-0149 (girl's 8-vent youth), 082-01-0189 (boy's 8-vent youth), and
082-01-0334 (14-vent child's) and the brand name "back trails jr.," appear on the product packaging.
Sold at: Target stores nationwide from April 2004 through July 2005 for about $13.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should take the helmets away from children and return them to the nearest Target Store for a gift card
in the amount of a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET
Monday through Friday, or log on to the firm's website at
www.target.com
To see this recall on CPSC's website, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to
their site. We have a page up on
helmet recalls.
The Helmet Update - Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
Randy Swart, Editor
4611 Seventh Street South
Arlington, VA 22204-1419 USA
(703) 486-0100 (voice)
(703) 486-0576 (fax)
www.helmets.org