Not-So-Happy Meal: McDonald's Step-it Wristbands can Burn Your Child

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — What seemed like a great idea for kids going back to school and McDonald's health-conscious meal additions ended up bombing out. The Happy Meal prize Step-it, a colorful wristband that promised to count steps and light up, has been recalled to the tune of 29 million units due to possible burn or skin irritation injury, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

"This recall involves Step-iT activity wristbands, which come in two styles —Activity Counter and a motion-activated Light-up Band," U.S. Consumer Product Safety officials stated in their recall report. "McDonald’s has received more than 70 reports of incidents, including seven reports of blisters, after wearing the wristbands."

The product was made exclusively for McDonald's restaurants and manufactured in China. The restaurant chain distributed the Step-it wristband nationwide from Aug. 9 to Aug. 17 with Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals.

"The Activity Counter comes in translucent plastic orange, blue or green and features a digital screen that tracks a child’s steps or other movement," the Consumer Product Safety report explained. "The Light-up Band comes in translucent plastic red, purple, or orange and blinks light with the child’s movement."

Both styles of activity wristbands have a square face with the words “STEP-iT” printed on them and a button to depress and activate the wristband. The back of the square face contains the etched words “Made for McDonald’s.” All of the McDonald's activity wristbands across the United States have been recalled.

Approximately 29 million wristbands are being recalled in the United States due to possible burn or skin irritation injury, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. And about 3.6 million units in Canada have also been recalled.

"Consumers should immediately take the recalled wristbands from children and return them to any McDonald’s for a free replacement toy and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices," McDonald's representatives have shared through the Consumer Product Safety website.

HOW TO HANDLE THE RECALL:

Do you have a Step-it wristband in your car, in your child's drawer or in your home? All you have to do is take it back to any McDonald's restaurant for a free exchange. Trade it in for:

• A new Happy Meal toy
• Yogurt tube
• Bag of apple slices

WHY ARE RECALLS IMPORTANT?

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission's website states that "Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually."

Earlier this year, Patch.com reported on a recall of several styles of hoverboards which potentially could cause fire or explode.

Their mission is to protect all consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard.

"CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years," the commission said.

Find out more on how to monitor and protect your family from potential dangers: www.cpsc.gov

Photos courtesy Patch Staff Renee Schiavone, US Consumer Product Safety