a244  1609  22 Feb 90
AM-String Recall,0339
Spray Sting Recalled After Several People Burned
By DENISE CABRERA
Associated Press Writer
    WASHINGTON (AP) - The government recalled more than a million cans
of spray string confetti Thursday because the propellants are
flammable.
    The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled the spray string
''because of several terrifying accidents that occurred when this
type of product was sprayed near lit candles on birthday cakes and
burst into flames,'' said Jacqueline Jones-Smith, who heads the
panel.
    ''These accidents resulted in serious burn injuries, primarily to
children,'' she said.
    In a dramatic demonstration at a news conference, commission staff
members showed how a flash fire could result from spraying the string
near lit candles.
    They also showed a home video of a 6-year-old Clarksville, Tenn.,
boy who suffered severe burns when some of the string was sprayed
during his birthday celebration.
    The boy, Michael Sheppard, suffered first- and second-degree burns
to his face and body last November, said CPSC spokeswoman Amy Palman.
    At least eight people, three adults and five children, suffered
first- to third-degree burns from similar incidents, she said.
    Last month the CPSC recalled three million cans of another spray
string produced by a New Jersey-based manufacturer that has since
reformulated its propellant.
    ''The irony is that in an effort to be environmentally conscious
manufacturers substituted (for) propellants containing fluorocarbons
but went to others which are flammable,'' said Ken Giles, another
CPSC staffer.
    Environmentalists say fluorocarbons released into the atmosphere
contribute to a depletion of the earth's ozone layer.
    Thursday's recall involved 1.13 million cans of the streamers from
five manufacturers.
    The products are:
    -3.5-ounce cans of ''Streamer Spray,'' distributed by Northeast
Imports, Inc. of Central Falls, R.I.
    -150- gram cans of ''Masquerade Crazy Strings,'' distributed by
Masquerade, Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y.
    -3.5- ounce cans of ''Goofy Flying String,'' distributed by
Franco-American Novelty Co., Inc. of Glendale, N.Y.
    -3.5-ounce cans of ''Tricky Fun String,'' distributed by Topstone
Industries of Danbury, Conn.
    -3.5-ounce and 7-ounce cans of ''It's Fun Time String Confetti,''
distributed by Fun World Division of Carle Place, N.Y.
    
 
AP-NY-02-22-90 1900EST
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