CPSC Press Release:
Bell Helmet Recall
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 1999
CONTACT: Kim Dulic
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1183
Release # 99-104
CPSC, Bell Sports Inc. Announce Recall of Bicycle Helmets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), Bell Sports Inc., of San Jose, Calif., is
voluntarily recalling about 5,800 bicycle helmets used for BMX and
downhill mountain biking and racing. A defect with the helmets' chin
strap rivets can result in the helmet coming off the rider's head in
the event of a fall or crash. If the helmet comes off, serious head
injury could result.
Bell Sports is aware of one incident where the chin strap assembly
became detached from a helmet during a crash. No injury was reported.
These bike helmets are red, green, black, white and "Tear Away,"
which is multicolored. They were sold under the model names Rhythm,
Bellistic and Qualifier, which is written on their packaging. The
recalled helmets have date stickers inside reading October 1998
through March 1999. "BELL" is written on the sides of these helmets
and on the visors.
Independent bicycle dealers nationwide sold these helmets from
October 1999 through April 1999 for between $90 and $125.
Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, until they are
repaired or replaced. For more information, consumers should call
Bell Sports at (800) 456-BELL between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT Monday
through Friday. For a free replacement helmet, including shipping
costs, consumers should mail their helmets to Bell Sports Inc., Route
136 East, Rantoul, IL 61866, ATTN: BMX Department. Consumers also can
contact Bell Sports through their website at www.bellsports.com.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from
unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer
products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous
product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's
fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or
CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release
through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax
machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this
release and recall information or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.
This page was last revised on: July 5, 2005.
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