WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Variflex Inc., of Moorpark, Calif.; NHS Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and First Team Sports Inc., of Anoka, Minn.; are voluntarily recalling about 243,000 bicycle helmets. These helmets fail impact testing required under CPSC's Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets, violating the Consumer Product Safety Act. Riders wearing these helmets are not adequately protected from falls, and could suffer severe head injuries or death. The recalls are the result of a CPSC investigation, test results provided by the Good Housekeeping Institute and a helmet company's report to CPSC.

CPSC and these firms are not aware of any injuries or incidents involving these helmets. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

Variflex Inc. is recalling about 240,000 "X-Games Aggressive" bicycle helmets, which are either black, white or chrome. They have a red "X-Games" insignia on the front and "X-Games" is written on the back. A large label inside these helmets reads "SGS CPSC CY50159." And "Variflex Inc." "Static" and "Made in Taiwan" are written on the packaging.

Sporting good and discount department stores nationwide sold these helmets from October 1999 through September 2000 for about $20. Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement helmet. For more information, call Variflex at (800)248-5327 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

NHS Inc. is recalling about 1,100 "TSG Metallic Gold," 1,000"TSG Gloss Black" and 500 "TSG Foundation Blue" helmets. The Metallic Gold and Gloss Black helmets have "TSG" written on the front and rear of the helmet. The Foundation Blue helmets have the word"Foundation" across the front and a star and moon on the side of the helmet. They have serial numbers beginning SN: 00170 or SN: 00171, and a date code of January, February and April 2000 written on the white label inside the helmets.

Sporting good stores nationwide sold these helmets from February 2000 through October 2000 for between $35.00 to $45.00

Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately and return them to NHS Inc., not to the store where purchased, for a refund. For more information and instructions on how to return the helmet, call NHS at (877) 743-7820 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday.

First Team Sports Inc. is recalling about 1,000 "Guardian Junior Helmets." They are slate blue, and have "Guardian" written on the front and rear of the helmets. They have model numbers 007471, 007958, 009437 or 009455, and date code "2000/04" written on a label inside the helmets.

Sporting goods stores in the eastern and North Eastern U.S. sold these helmets from February 2000 through October 2000 for about $25.

Consumers should stop using these helmets immediately, and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call First Team Sports at (800) 528-5872 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01032.html

Contact: Kim Dulic
(301) 504-0580 Ext.1183
November 17,2000
Release # 01-032

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov

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