BACKYARD gym swings recalled for repair

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ A Pennsylvania company is recalling about 190,000 of its backyard swings to repair seats that can fall off, causing children to drop to the ground. <br><br>Hedstrom Corp., of Bedford,

Tuesday, June 5th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A Pennsylvania company is recalling about 190,000 of its backyard swings to repair seats that can fall off, causing children to drop to the ground.

Hedstrom Corp., of Bedford, Pa., has received 291 reports of seats separating, including 19 cases of children suffering cuts, scrapes and bruises, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday.

The recalled Star Cruiser and Rocket Rider swings have screws that can fall out, releasing the seats. The swings, which come with separate pieces for the seat and handle bars, were sold with Hedstrom metal and wood gym sets, wood kits and as accessories.

Department, toy, discount, lumber, and hardware stores nationwide, including Toys R Us, Wal-Mart and Kmart, sold the gyms from September 2000 through April 2001 for $150 to $400.

The safety commission advises consumers to stop using the swings immediately and detach them from the gym set. To order a free repair kit, consumers should call Hedstrom toll-free at 1-800-642-9193 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.

The Star Cruiser has a one-piece seat, with a white plastic circle and the words, ``Star Cruiser'' and ``Hedstrom'' on the front of the handle bars.

The Rocket Rider is a seesaw swing, with a white seat on which two children can sit back-to-back. The words, ``Rocket Rider'' are printed on the front of each of the two handle bars.