Dart Drug Stores Inc. Recalls Nine Inch Oscillating "Snow" Fan

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dart Drug Stores Inc., Landover, Maryland, is recalling 3,000 Model CYHD-103 "Snow" brand nine inch oscillating fans it sold in 1983. Though no incidents of fire or injury have been reported, Dart Drug Stores, Inc. is recalling the fans in the interest of consumer safety. The Commission staff believes that some of the fans may have a defective 2-speed control switch which could result in overheating of the motor and ignition of the plastic parts of the fan, and that some fans could present a fire hazard.

The fans were sold to consumers from approximately 68 Dart Drug stores in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and in approximately 5 Total Plus stores located in the Richmond, Virginia area. The fans were imported from Taiwan in 1983 and sold for $15.99. The fans are no longer being sold in Dart Drug or Total Plus stores.

Consumers can determine if they own the recalled oscillating fan by checking for the "Snow" brand name or label in the center of the metal grill on the front of the fan, and for a 2-speed control switch at the base of the fan. The control switch moves-vertically (up and down). The original shipping carton is labeled in part as "2 speed sliding switch...self lubricating motor for Kent Co., Landover, Maryland 20785..." The plate at the bottom of the fan may be labeled in part as "Model CYHD-103...Chin Yung Ho Enterprises Co., Ltd., Taichung, Taiwan." The fan is listed by Underwriters Laboratories.

Consumers identifying their nine inch oscillating fan as a recalled "Snow" fan should stop using it and return it to the nearest Dart Drug or Total Plus store. Owners will be given a full refund of their purchase price. If inconvenient due to the distance involved, owners may still get a refund by calling Dart Drug Stores Inc. at 301-341-0729 for instructions on shipping their fan back to the firm.

Since similar "Snow" Chin Yung Ho nine inch fans have been sold by other retailers nationwide, Dart Drug Stores Inc. request that consumers return only those fans purchased from its stores. Dart Drugs advises owners who have purchased Snow brand nine inch fans from other retailers to contact those retailers or the CPSC to deter-mine if the product has been recalled or is hazardous.

Information concerning this matter is also available to consumers on CPSC's toll free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is 800-638-8270.