Product Liability Law Blog

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, Consumer Product Safety Commission port investigators and US Customs Border Protection agents have stopped nearly 650,000 units (of approximately 240 different noncomplying products) from entering the country and reaching consumers. They screened over 2,900 shipments at ports of entry throughout the country and pulled the items that they determined were unsafe and/or violated US safety rules.

Most of the products that the agents and inspectors halted were for children (527,950 units). Some of the reasons they didn't make it through included lead paint violations, small parts, phthalates, which are banned from child products, tracking label violations, misbranding, and other violations involving art materials, battery-operated toys, baby walkers, magnets, baby rattles, clacker balls, and toys with sharp points or chemical hazards. Adult products (119,410) that were stopped included holiday lights, hair dryers, lighters, luminaries, fireworks, and bicycles.

In fiscal year 2011, the federal safety agency had examined over 9,900 product shipments at US ports. Nearly 4.5 million units of products considered hazardous or violative were stopped from reaching consumers.

Products Liability
At The Gilbert Law Group, our products liability lawyers have the skills and experience to represent children and adults injured by defective products, including dangerous or hazardous toys, appliances, furniture, electrical products, recreational equipment, and accessories. Even though the CPSC works hard to prevent manufacturers and distributors from producing and bringing unsafe products into the marketplace, it is obvious from the number of recalls that continue to be announced every month that there are many unsafe units that still manage to make their way in, posing a serious injury and health risk to consumers.

This month alone there have been over 10 products recalled already over fire dangers, fall hazards, fingertip amputation and laceration risks, and suffocation and entrapment dangers. Recalled items included approximately 16,700 Rockland Furniture Drop-side cribs for the usual strangulation, suffocation, and entrapment hazards posed by this type of design, about 40,000 Topeak Babyseat II Bicycle Carrier Seats (the grab bar's hinge mechanism can cause fingertip amputation and laceration injuries), around 2,000 Viking dishwashers due to an electrical issue that may cause them to overheat and start a fire, and more than 307,000 Office Depot® Brand Biella Leather Desk Chairs that can cause fall injuries should the chair to come off its base. Already there have been several reports of minor injuries.

Port Surveillance News: CPSC Investigators Find, Stop Nearly 650,000 Unsafe Products at the Start of Fiscal Year 2012, CPSC, April 5, 2012

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Consumer Reports

More Blog Posts:
Even as Number of Children's Product Recalls Went Down in 2011, Injuries Rose, Product Liability Law Blog, April 13, 2012

More Pourable Gel Fuel Recalled by Manufacturers, Product Liability Law Blog, September 30, 2011

CPSC Now Ready to Talk About Tougher Safety Regulations for Table Saws, Product Liability Law Blog, September 28, 2011

Continue reading "CPSC Stopped About 647,000 Unsafe Products from Entering the US During 1st Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012 " »

According to a report released by Kids In Danger (KID), although the number of children's products that were recalled last year declined by 24%, there was a 7% increase in the number injuries and incidents related to the recalls. The advocacy group says that because of the confidentiality involving the recall process, it can be hard to figure out the reason for the decrease in recalls. For example, could there really be less dangerous products in the marketplace now or was the Consumer Product Safety Commission unable to get companies to recall certain products?

The decline in recalls, however, does come just as new requirements for testing and standards have gone into effect as part of the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). That said, any child injuries caused by any products, whether recalled or not, is never a positive development. Our products liability lawyers at the Gilbert Law Group make it our business to help children and their families obtain the personal injury or wrongful death compensation that they are owed.

Per some of KID's findings in its report, in 2011:
• The CPSC recalled 121 children's products (39% of the total products it recalled).
• There were over 11.6 million units of kids products recalled.
• Three recalls involved at least a million units or more, respectively.
• The biggest recalls involved 1.7 million baby monitors (over concerns they posed a strangulation hazard) and 1.7 million toy tools and workbenches over worries that their parts might end up stuck in a child's throat.
• 30% of the children's products recalled were nursery products.
• 26% of the children's products recalled were toys.
• Little girl's KEDS shoes with decorative stars caused the most injuries with 27 laceration reports.
• 14 sleep environment products, including a bassinet, a crib, a canopy bed, and bunk beds were recalled.
• Prior to its recalled, the Adventure Playset Swingset was named in 500 incident reports.
• A remote control chopper, a swing set, and pogo sticks received over 100 reports before their recalls were announced.

Children and babies are vulnerable to serious injuries and even death when exposed to a product that is unsafe for use. It is unfortunate that there are still kids' products out there that continue to pose the hazards of choking, laceration, suffocation, strangulation, toxic poisoning, or other dangers.

You may be able to sue the manufacturer, distributor, seller, or retailer that allowed you to have access/purchase a dangerous/defective/malfunctioning product. Even when a product is used as intended, if it proves to be dangerous and causes serious harm, you still may have grounds for a products liability case.

A Measure of Safety: Children's Product Recalls in 2011, KIDS in Danger, KIDS, March 26, 2012

Read the Report (PDF)

Consumer Product Safety Commission

More Blog Posts:
Consumer Groups Coalition Ask CPSC to Recall Bumbo Baby Seat, Product Liability Law Blog, February 7, 2012

Clothing Defects: Apparel Industry Must Follow Standards for Children's Loungewear and Sleepwear, Says CPSC, Product Liability Law Blog, January 18, 2012

Can Loud Toys Impair Children's Hearing?, Product Liability Law Blog, January 12, 2012

Continue reading "Even as Number of Children's Product Recalls Went Down in 2011, Injuries Rose" »

U.S. PIRG, the Consumer Federation of America, Public Citizen, Kids in Danger, and Consumers Union have written a letter to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission asking it to recall the Bumbo Baby Seat. Used to prop babies in a sitting position before they can do so on their own, millions of parents have bought this infant product for their babies. However, the Bumbo Baby Seat has also been linked to many fall accident-related injuries. A number of child products liability lawsuits have been filed as a result. Baby ages 3-to-10 months were affected.

For example, one couple filed a Texas products liability lawsuit after their 9-month-old son sustained a skull fracture when he fell out of his seat. Lucy and Kevin Ferrell said that when their son arched his back, he ended up flipping sideways out of the seat, onto the table, and off it. Retail Toys R Us has even named a defendant for knowingly carrying an infant product linked to injuries.

While the CPSC is aware of the safety risks involved, they have not put out a recall since 2007 even though the number of infants injured from the Bumbo seats has continued to grow. At least 45 babies have fallen from the infant chairs when they'd been placed above ground level. Also, there are reports of at least 17 babies sustaining skull fractures since the 2007 recall. Another 50 got hurt while getting out of the Bumbo seats that had either been placed on the ground or at an undocumented height. It doesn't help that the Bumbo seats can tip over easily. Also, according to the CPSC, even when used according to the directions provided, there are babies still getting hurt because of their Bumbo seats.

The consumer groups are concerned that serious injuries are happening even when the product is used for the purpose intended and in the correct manner (on the ground, not on an elevated surface.) They also noted that while there are no testing requirements or safety standard for this kind of product, unlike Bumbo International other manufactures of similar infant products have changed their design to address the safety risks involved. Almost 4 million Bumbo baby seats have been sold in the US since the last 9 years.

Skull Fractures
A skull fracture is usually caused by a severe blow or impact. Depending on the type of fracture it is, brain injury may even result.

There is no reason why a product designed for babies shouldn't be safe for them to use. For skull fractures or other injuries to occur when the product is used as directed is inexcusable.

Feds Issue Warning on Bumbo Baby Seats as Injuries Mount, The Consumer Chronicle, November 23, 2011

Bumbo recall urged by consumer groups, Boston, February 7, 2012

Did Bumbo ignore child safety profits?, Reuters, December 14, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Registering Your Kid's Products Can Help You Find Out About Dangerous Defects, Product Liability Law Blog, December 12, 2011

New Crib Safety Standards Go Into Effect Today, Product Liability Law blog, June 28, 2011

Crib Bumpers: Are They Safe for Babies?, Product Liability Law blog, April 30, 2011

Continue reading "Consumer Groups Coalition Ask CPSC to Recall Bumbo Baby Seat" »

Under federal law, the manufacturers of toddler and infant products that are durable are supposed to include a pre-stamped postcard with each item. This gives parents the option to register the product via mail or online, which gives the product maker the ability to provide immediate notification in the event of a recall over a dangerous defect. Considering that millions of children's products are recalled each year, this mandatory registration system would seem like a good idea except that, according to a Consumer Federation of America survey, 61% of parents with kids younger than 12 didn't even know that this new notification system existed.

The law is called the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act and it is named after a 16-month old baby who died in his sleep in a child strangulation accident that occurred because the Playskool Trav'l Lite portable crib he was in collapsed. Although the portable crib was recalled five years before Keysar was born, no one notified the daycare center where the crib was located about the news. The crib had two collapsible rails that posed a strangulation hazard in the event that the infant sleeper to collapse while the baby was in it.

Keysar is not the only infant to die in one of these cribs. His parents filed a crib defect lawsuit against Kolcraft/Playskool-Hasbro. Their products liability complaint seeking wrongful death was settled for $3 million.

At the Gilbert Law Group, PC, our child injury lawyers are committed to helping kids and their families recover products liability compensation from manufacturers whose products caused serious personal injury or death.

It is a manufacturer's job to make sure that a product is free of harmful defects that could hurt users. Unfortunately, there are some companies that fail to fulfill this duty, which means that as parents and guardians, we must be extra vigilant in looking out for potential defects or hazards and take on the task of protecting our kids. Registering a product is one way to keep abreast of potential safety issues. You can also check the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Web site, which publishes a list of recalled products. It also is a good idea to check a product for potential safety hazards, such as easy to swallow parts, long drawstrings, sharp or protruding parts, small magnet pieces, and other dangers.

Registering new products could be a life saver, ABC Local, December 14, 2011

Are recalls reaching the right people?, Consumer Reports, January 4, 2011

Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act

More Blog Posts:
Prevent Child Injuries This Holiday Season By Avoiding Dangerous and Defective Toys, Product Liability Law Blog, November 23, 2011

Michigan Products Liability Lawsuit Seeks Wrongful Death Damages Against Nap Nanny Maker, Product Liability Law Blog, November 19, 2011

22,000 Dream on Me Drop-Side Cribs Recalled Because They Pose Laceration, Entrapment, Suffocation, and Fall Hazards, Product Liability Law Blog, May 24, 2011

Continue reading "Registering Your Kid's Products Can Help You Find Out About Dangerous Defects" »

The new federal rules updating the nation's crib safety standards are now in effect. Under the new rules, which the US Consumer Product Safety Commission established:

• Drop-side cribs can no longer be manufactured or sold. With at least 32 infants dying from strangulation or suffocation while in a drop-side crib, these child sleepers have proven too dangerous to use let alone make or sell.
• Slat strength and mattress support must meet tougher standards.
• Crib hardware must be more durable
• Safety testing has to be more rigorous

Any company that sells or makes cribs must meet the new standards beginning today. Crib rental companies, day care centers, and hotels, however, have until December 28, 2012 to be in compliance. Unfortunately, just because the new rules are in effect doesn't mean that there won't be children who may get hurt because of existing cribs with defects. If this does happen, you should speak with an experienced products liability law firm immediately.

Some crib hazards that have given cause for concern:

• Drop-sides detaching or dropping without warning


• Too big of an opening created between the side of a crib and the mattress


• Crib slats coming loose

This is the first time in almost three decades that the US government has updated its crib safety standards. The decision to make this change follows the recalls of some 11 million cribs since 2007 that posed strangulation, suffocation, entrapment, and/or fall hazards to infants and toddlers. Even the big manufacturers, such as Delta, Simplicity, and Evenflo have recalled cribs.

As a parent or guardian, there are proactive steps you can take to make sure that a crib is safe:

• Check the crib to make sure there are no parts missing or loose.


• Make sure that the mattress fits the crib correctly.


• If you are staying at a hotel or leaving your child at day care check to make sure that the cribs they use are not drop-side cribs or ones that have other crib defects.

Crib safety standards expanded, Crib Safety Standards, June 28, 2011

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008

More Blog Posts:
Toddler's Parents File Massachusetts Crib Defect Lawsuit Seeking Wrongful Death Damages, Product Liability Law Blog, January 14, 2011

CPSC Bans Drop-Side Cribs and Approves New Crib Safety Standards, Product Liability Law Blog, December 18, 2010

22,000 Dream on Me Drop-Side Cribs Recalled Because They Pose Laceration, Entrapment, Suffocation, and Fall Hazards, Product Liability Law Blog, May 24, 2011

Continue reading "New Crib Safety Standards Go Into Effect Today" »

Should you equip your child's crib with a bumper? According to USA Today, one mother, Laura Maxwell, intends to file a products liability lawsuit against a crib bumper manufacturer after Preston, her 7-week-old baby, died from asphyxiation when his face got caught between the mattress and crib bumper. Her son ended up against the bumper after rolling off a "sleep positioner," an accessory that is supposed to keep babies on their backs but has been linked to fatal suffocations. Maxwell and her husband also plan to sue the sleep positioner manufacturer for wrongful death.

While the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics are urging parents to not use "puffy" bumpers, both groups have yet to say "don't" use them. Some consumer and child safety groups, however, believe that the CPSC should take a tougher stance. They say that crib bumpers—the puffier ones, in particular—pose a child suffocation hazard.

Yet the information available at this time as to whether or not crib bumpers are truly a safety hazard appears to be conflicting and unclear. The CPSC says that in the 28 infant deaths that it investigated where bumpers were present it couldn't say for sure that the bumper caused the deaths. However, a 2007 report in the Journal of Pediatrics found that 27 babies had died because of crib bumpers. Still others have said that the crib bumpers may prevent head injuries and leg fractures.

This latest debate, as well as the recent recalls involving drop-side cribs and other infant products, can't help but raise questions regarding whether or not manufacturers are doing enough to make sure that the products they are making for babies and toddlers are safe enough. Why are so many baby accessories and furniture turning out to be possible choking or suffocation hazards?

When a Cuddly Crib Puts the Baby in Danger, The Wall Street Journal, April 19, 2011

Crib bumpers present risk and little likely benefit, safety advocates say, USA Today, April 26, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

American Academy of Pediatrics

Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association

More Blog Posts:
Choking, Entrapment, Fall, and Suffocation Hazards Prompt CPSC's Latest Recalls Involving Children and Infant Products, Product Liability Law Blog, April 5, 2011

CPSC Bans Drop-Side Cribs and Approves New Crib Safety Standards, Product Liability Law Blog, December 18, 2010

CPSC Warns About Infant Sleep Positioners and Baby Monitor Cords Following Several Deaths, Product Liability Law Blog, November 11, 2010

Continue reading "Crib Bumpers: Are They Safe for Babies?" »

It's only the 5th of the month and already the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled more than 140,000 products that pose a child injury risk. The first recall, issued voluntarily with Infantino LLC, involves approximately 40,500 Troy the Activity Trucks. The toy is a possible choking hazard.

The recall comes following 28 reports of the plastic beads detaching from the truck's bead runs. At least two young children have gagged on the beads. The toy should be taken away from the child immediately. Infantino will provide a free replacement toy to those who ask.

In the recall issued this morning, CPSC and Arm's Reach Concepts Inc. are recalling approximately 76,000 Infant Bed-Side Sleepers. The announcement about the sleepers comes following several reports of babies falling from the raised mattress onto the bottom of the sleeper or getting entrapped between the side of the sleeper and the edge of the mattress.

The sleeper can become a fall hazard if the fabric liner isn't securely attached or not in use because that's when the child is at risk of falling from the raised mattress. Should the baby get entrapped in the side of the sleeper, he/she could suffocate. CPSC wants consumers to stop download assembly instructions from the Arms Reach Web site and make sure that the sleeper is properly configured before allowing a child to use it again.

Also, today, the CPSC and Key Baby LLC recalled about 29,000 Pampers® Natural Stages Infant Ortho and Bulb Pacifiers. These pacifiers are a choking hazard to children. No injuries have been reported so far.

Entrapment, choking, falling, and suffocation are some of the more common causes of child injuries and deaths involving consumer products. Manufacturers are supposed to make sure that their products are free from any defects that could cause serious injuries—especially to infants and young children who usually don't know how to protect themselves from such hazards.

It is important that you speak with our child injury law firm and request your free consultation. You may have grounds for a products liability case against a negligent manufacturer, seller, or distributor.

Unfortunately sometimes a dangerous or defective product isn't recalled until after someone has already gotten hurt.

Toy Truck Recalled for Choking Hazard, Chesire Patch, April 4, 2011

Arm's Reach recalls infant bedside sleepers, ABC Local, April 5, 2011

Key Baby Pampers Natural Stages Infant Ortho and Bulb Stage 1 Pacifiers, Parenting.com, April 5, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

Product Hazards, Kids in Danger

Parenting

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Delta Enterprise Corp. are again announcing recall of over 985,000 drop-side cribs that come with "Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg" hardware. This re-announcement comes two months after the crib maker and CPSC learned that a baby girl, 7 months, died in a Colorado crib entrapment accident in 2009. The original recall was announced in October 2008.

The crib, which was bought secondhand, had been put together but without bottom track safety pegs. The baby suffocated after getting stuck between the crib mattress and its drop side, which had detached. The missing safety pegs contributed to the drop-side rail coming off its track.

The 2008 recall was issued after another infant, 8 months, died in a crib entrapment accident when the drop-side detached. That crib was also assembled without safety pegs. Missing pegs was also a factor in the 9 crib detachment and 2 entrapment incidents that had been reported.

It is important that a crib is properly assembled and all pieces are securely in place. Cribs should also be free of hardware defects that can cause dangerous malfunctions, such as when a drop-side becomes derailed, creating an opening between the mattress and the side of a crib that can lead to entrapment and, subsequently, suffocation, as well as other injuries. For example, if a child were to fall out of the crib because a drop-side had partially come off, he/she might sustain bruises, broken bones, cuts, or suffer a head injury.

Fortunately, the US government has now banned drop-side cribs in the US, which is linked to over 30 toddler and infant deaths over the last decade. Millions of drop-side cribs have had to be recalled because of the danger they pose to young kids. That said, there are still drop-side cribs that have already been bought or acquired secondhand that may cause injuries to children.

Our child injury lawyers are familiar with the crib defects that can cause serious injuries and we are not afraid to pursue recovery from a large manufacturer if their negligence played a role in causing the crib accident.

Second Infant Death Prompts Re-Announcement of Delta Enterprise "Safety Peg" Drop-Side Crib Recall to Repair, CPSC, March 22, 2011

After dozens of deaths, drop-side cribs outlawed, MSNBC/AP, December 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Delta Children's Products

Crib Safety, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association

More Blog Posts:
CPSC Bans Drop-Side Cribs and Approves New Crib Safety Standards, Product Liability Law Blog, December 18, 2010

Delta Enterprise, LaJobi, Evenflo, and Jardine Enterprises Among the More than 2 Million Cribs Recalled Over Drop-Side Issues and Other Hazards, Product Liability Law Blog, June 29, 2010

Deaths of Two Infants Lead to Recall of Nearly 1.6 Million Delta Cribs and 2 Thousand Playkids Convertible Cribs, Product Liability Law Blog, October 22, 2008

Continue reading "Colorado Infant Death Prompts CPSC to Re-Announce Recall of Delta Enterprise Drop-Side Crib Over Safety Peg Defect" »

If you will recall, in November, our products liability law firm reported that the Consumer Product Safety Commission had put out a warning for people to be careful when using baby monitors that aren't wireless because the electrical cord can pose a strangulation hazard to kids. Now, following the deaths of two babies from this very cause, the CPSC and Summer Infant are recalling 1.7 million baby monitors so that better instructions can be provided for how to properly use these devices so that children remain safe.

Several deaths have been linked to corded baby monitors, including the death last March of a 10-month old girl who died in a Washington DC strangulation accident involving her Summer Infant's electrical cord. The baby monitor had been placed on top of her crib's rail. In November, the CPSC learned about a 6-month-old who died in a South Carolina strangulation accident that also involved the electrical cord of his Summer Infant monitor. Another boy, 20 months, almost died when his Summer Infant cord ended up around his neck. Now, the CPSC is urging parents and guardians to make sure that the baby monitors are kept far enough away from babies that there is no way they can reach for or get close to the electrical cord.

Even if a product doesn't malfunction or have some design flaw, if it is causing serious injury or death, then it may be a dangerous product that should be recalled. Inadequate operating instructions and warnings can warrant a products liability case if inclusion of better warnings and more complete directions could have prevented an injury or a death from happening.

Over 40 different models of Summer Infant baby monitors, including those with digital, handheld, and color monitors, are included in the recall. Summer Infant is also recalling the rechargeable batteries found in another 58,000 baby video monitors that were sold only at Babies R Us in between 2009 and 2010 because they may cause burn injuries.

Two Strangulation Deaths Prompt Summer Infant to Recall Video Baby Monitors with Cords; Firm to Provide New On-Product Label & Instructions, CPSC, February 11, 2011

Video baby monitors recalled for strangulation hazard, Reuters/Yahoo, February 11, 2011

Related Web Resources:
Summer Infant

Strangulation Hazards, Family Education

Related Blog Posts:
CPSC Warns About Infant Sleep Positioners and Baby Monitor Cords Following Several Deaths, Product Liability Law Blog, November 11, 2010

Strangulation, Choking, and Fall Hazards Prompt Recall of Baby Walkers, Clothing, and Books, Product Liability Law Blog, April 17, 2010

1-Year-Old's Strangulation Death Leads to Recall of 670,000 IKEA Blinds, Product Liability Law Blog, November 21, 2008

Continue reading "1.7M Summer Infant Video Baby Monitors Recalled Following Two Child Deaths" »

When looking for children's gifts for the holiday season, it is important that you remain aware of the dangers that some of the toys in the marketplace pose. Granted, in an ideal world, it would be great if toy manufacturers only made toys that were safe for use and didn't pose choking, suffocation, aspiration, or strangulation hazards. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case, and every year, there are kids who end up with serious injuries because of a dangerous toy or another defective product.

Each year, World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH) issues its list of 10 Worst Toys List:

Pull Along Caterpillar: Comes with a breakaway pull string that can become a choking hazard.

Buzz Magnets: A child might choke if he/she swallows one of the small magnet pieces. Swallowing the magnets may cause internal injuries.

Ballzillion Tug Boat Play Center: Injuries or death can result if this toy is used as a flotation device.

Supasplat Splatblaster: This toy gun can cause injuries to the face, eyes, or other body parts.

Spy Gear Split-Blaster: Darts can be an eye injury hazard.

My First Mini Cycle: If a toddler falls off the cycle, head injuries are possible.

Kung Fu Panda Sword of Heroes: Although the sword is made of hard plastic, it can still cause serious impact injuries.

Walkaroo II Aluminum Stilts: Falling from the stilts can cause serious head injuries.

Big Bang Rocket: May cause hearing impairment.

Animal Alley Pony: The pony's fiber-like hair may cause ingestion problems or aspiration injuries.

U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups, recently issued its 2010 Trouble in Toyland Report. It offers safety guidelines of toy buyers and discusses some of the key hazards still found in kids' toys.

2010 Worst Toys List, WATCH

Top 6 Common Hazards, US PIRG

Related Web Resources:
Trouble in Toyland Report (PDF)

Consumer Reports

Continue reading "Stay Away from Dangerous Toys, Caution WATCH and PIRG" »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning parents and guardians to exercise caution when using a corded baby audio and video camera monitor. There have been reports of six baby strangulation deaths involving a baby monitor cord since 2004. It was just this March that a 10-month-old girl died in a Washington DC child injury accident after she became entangled in her camera monitor's cord. The monitor had been next to her crib. The CPSC says it has also obtained three other reports of babies that became entangled in a monitor cord and were fortunately rescued before suffering serious injuries.

Although the CPSC is not at this time recalling baby monitors with cords, to decrease the chances of strangulation, the agency is recommending that caregivers and parents:

• Use a baby monitor that is wireless.
• If you are going to use a corded baby monitor, then keep the cord out of your child's reach.

The CPSC is also continuing to recommend that you keep your son or daughter away from any type of cord and that you remove drawstrings and long ribbons from a child's clothing.

The agency, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is also warning consumers to stop using infant sleep positioners. Although long touted as a tool for helping babies stay on their backs while sleeping, over the last 13 years there have been reports of 12 baby suffocation deaths after the infants became entrapped between the positioner and the side of a bassinet or crib.

There have also been dozens of reports of babies who ended up in potentially dangerous positions while using the positioner even after they had been placed on their side or back. Although an infant sleep positioner is supposed to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the FDA and CPSC do not know of any scientific studies that can verify that this infant product prevents SIDS or suffocation.

Strangulation and Suffocation Accidents Involving Children
Over the years, too many kids and babies have died or sustained serious injuries, such as brain damage, due to suffocation or strangulation. While government and safety officials have taken steps to prevent products that pose such hazards to children from entering the marketplace, unfortunately there are still consumer items, including those that are made specifically for infants and young kids, that continue to make their way onto store shelves and into homes.

Infants can strangle in baby monitor cords, CPSC (PDF)

FDA & CPSC: Infant Sleep Positioners Pose Suffocation Risk, Parenting, September 29, 2010

Related Web Resources:
FDA

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Strangulation and Suffocation, Parents

Continue reading "CPSC Warns About Infant Sleep Positioners and Baby Monitor Cords Following Several Deaths" »

Toymaker Fisher-Price is recalling over 10 million products because of the injury hazard to children that they can pose. Parents and guardians should stop their kids from using the recalled items immediately and contact Fisher-Price.

RECALLED PRODUCTS:

Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles:

• V4270 Diego Tough Trike


• T6209 Thomas Tough Trike


• B8776 Barbie Tough Trike


• 72644 Girls Tough Trike


• 72639 Barbie Free Spirit Trike


• J72633 Hot Wheels Trike


• N6021 Kawasaki Tough Trike


• M5727 Barbie Tough Trike Princess Ride-On


• 72643 Boys Tough Trike


• 72642 Lil' Kawasaki Trike


• 72792 Kawasaki Trike


• K6672 Dora the Explorer Tough Trike

If a child sits, falls, or strikes the protruding plastic ignition key, serious injuries, such as genital bleeding, can result. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price know of 10 reports of injury incidents. Six of them involved girls (ages 2-3). About 7 million of the recalled units are in the US. Another 150,000 are in Canada.

Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Stand 'n Play Rampway:

• V6378 Little People¬Æ Wheelies™ Stand 'n Play™ Rampway Gift Set


• T4261 Little People¬Æ Wheelies™ Stand 'n Play™ Rampway

If the wheels on the cars come off, a child may choke on the small part. There have been two reports of a wheel detaching. To date, there are no injuries reported. 100,000 of these toys are being recalled in the US. 20,000 are in Canada.

Fisher-Price infant toys that come with inflatable balls:

• 73408 Baby Playzone™ Crawl & Cruise Playground™


• K0476 Bat & Score Goal™


• B2408 Baby Playzone™ Crawl & Slide Arcade™


• J0327 1-2-3 Tetherball™


• H8094 Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl™ Aquarium


• C3068 Ocean Wonders™ Kick & Crawl™ Aquarium


• H5704 Baby Gymtastics™ Play Wall

The inflatable balls come with a valve that can become a choking hazard if they come off. There have been reports of 46 incidents in the US involving such an incident. 14 of them involved a child putting the valve in his/her mouth. Three children started to choke. 2.8 million of these toys are in the US. Another 125,000 in Canada.

Fisher-Price High Chairs. Click on link below for a list of all the models
About 750,000 high chairs are being recalled in the US. Another 125,000 are being recalled in Canada. Already there have been seven reports of kids needing stitches and one child injuring a tooth. The high chair's rear legs have pegs that can pose an injury hazard to a child that falls on or against it.

Product manufacturers must make sure that the toys, furniture, accessories, decorative items, appliances, clothing, and other items that they make do not pose an injury risk to consumers. Children and babies are especially vulnerable to serious injuries from defective products. Over the years, there have been many injuries to children that could have been prevented were it not for a product defect or malfunction. The CPSC says that in 2008 alone, 82 children died and 63,700 were injured as a result of baby products. Choking hazards, suffocation hazards, lead paint hazards, fall hazards, and entrapment hazards are just some of the dangers kids and babies can face when dealing with a defective product.

The Fisher-Price Recall: More than 10 Million Products, CPSC, September 30, 2010

The most dangerous baby products?, KVUE, October 4, 2010

Recall Information, Fisher Price

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Reports

SafeKids USA

Continue reading "Fisher-Price Recalls Over 10 Million Toys, Tricycles, and High Chairs" »

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Albee Baby are recalling about 130 Sorelle brand "Prescott" fixed-sided cribs because they pose a possible hazard to children. Simplicity Inc., a manufacturer that is no longer in business, made the cribs.

This latest recall expands upon a crib recall that was announced last April involving Simplicity cribs. That recall was for both drop-side and fixed-side cribs. They too were recalled because they posed possible fall, entrapment, and suffocation hazards.

The approximately 130 cribs are re-labeled Simplicity cribs and come with the tubular metal mattress-support frames that were part of the original recall. In the event that the frames detach or bend, a space may be created that a toddler or infant can get entrapped in or fall out of the crib through.

Already there has been one Massachusetts crib death involving a one-year-old who got entrapped between the crib frame and mattress and suffocated. The CPSC says it has received at least 13 reports of incidents involving Simplicity cribs that collapsed because the metal mattress support frame became bent or detached.

Our child injury law firm wants to remind you that you can hold a crib manufacturer liable for products liability if your son or daughter sustains injuries or dies because of a crib defect or malfunction.

Baby Safety Month
The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association sponsors Baby Safety Month in September. This year, JPMA is placing special emphasis on teaching caregivers and parents about the importance of a safe sleeping environment for a baby.

JPMA offers a number of crib safety tips, including:

• If your child is in a drop-side crib, remember to keep the drop-side raised unless you need to lower it to pick up your child or lean into the crib.


• Don't place the crib close to windows, blinds, or draperies that come with long cords.


• Make sure the crib is properly installed and that there are no missing or loose parts, such as spindles or slats.


• Make sure that if there is a space between the crib side and mattress that it is no more than the width of two fingers wide.


• Don't use a crib that has any cutout areas on its footboard or headboard.

Albee Baby Recalls C & T International/Sorelle Brand "Prescott" Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards, CPSC, September 14, 2010

Crib recall expanded, News Channel 5, WPTV, September 15, 2010

Crib Safety, JPMA

Related Web Resources:
Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association

Crib safety tips, Consumer Reports

Continue reading "Sorelle Brand "Prescott" Cribs Recalled Over Fall, Suffocation, and Entrapment Concerns" »

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Baby Matters LLC are recalling 30,000 Nap Nanny® portable baby recliners because they pose fall, entrapment, and suffocation hazards. One baby, 4-months-old, reportedly died while in the recliner. She was in her harness but hanging over its side and stuck between the crib bumper and the recliner, which was in the crib. Another infant, who was also in the harness, suffered a forehead cut after falling over the side of the recliner. The baby ended up caught in between the crib side and the recliner. It is not recommended to use a Nap Nanny® inside a play yard, crib, another confined space, a countertop, a table, or any other space that is elevated.

To date, there have been 22 reports of infants, most of them under the age of 5 months, either falling out or hanging over the recliner's crib while harnessed. Failure to properly attach the velcro straps inside the recliner's cover or the "D"-rings inside the foam can make the recliner an even more serious hazard that can cause injuries to children. The first generation Nap Nanny® model did not come with "D" rings.

According to Forbes.com, Nap Nanny is designed to imitate the curves of a child safety seat. The recliner is supposed to keep the baby at a slightly raised level to decrease gas, reflux, stuffiness, and other issues.

Owners of first generation Nap Nanny® models should stop using the recliner right away and call Baby Matters LLC for a coupon. Second generation Nap Nanny® model should discontinue use of the recliner until they can get new warnings and product instructions from the company Web site.

Our child injury attorneys understand the devastation of losing a child because a product manufacturer was careless in designing a defective furniture product or did not provide proper instructions or warnings for safe use.

Baby Matters Recalls Nap Nanny® Recliners Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards; One Infant Death Reported, CPSC, July 26, 2010

Nap Nanny recliners recalled, Forbes.com, July 26, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Nap Nanny

Consumer Reports

Continue reading "CPSC Recalls 30,000 Baby Recliners After Death of 4-Month-Old Girl" »

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced several recalls in the past week geared toward preventing serious injuries to children. The most recent one comes today with the recall of approximately 1,160,000 Roman shades and 115,000 roller shades made by Smith + Noble. The shades pose a strangulation hazard that can occur in the event that the child's neck either gets ensnared in the shade cord or stuck between the Roman shade and the exposed inner cord. So far, there has been just one report of a child, a 5-year-old Washington boy, getting entangled in a roller shade's unsecured continuous loop bead cord. Fortunately, he did not require medical attention. Shade owners should request a free repair kit.

Just two days before, the CPSC recalled about 44,900 Kariño Baby Pacifiers distributed by Antonio Flores. The pacifier do not meet federal safety standard and poses an aspiration risk and choking hazard to young kids. The pacifier's mouth guard isn't large enough and lacks ventilation holes. Also, its handle is too long and the nipple is easy to separate from the base. It is important to take the pacifier away from your child right away and contact Antonio Flores to request your refund.

Last Thursday, the CPSC and Health Canada recalled approximately 20,000 Cozy Indoor Outdoor Portable Playard Tents Plus Cabana Kits. The playard can pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard if the clips attaching the tent to the playard break or come off. At that point, a child in the playard is at risk of becoming entrapped between the tent's metal base rod and the playard frame. One boy, age 2, died from injuries he sustained in the playard during a Maine entrapment accident. Consumers are being urged to stop using the playard tents and contact Tots in Mind Inc. to request a free replacement kit.

Our child injury lawyers are pleased to hear about the Consumer Product Safety Commission's increased efforts to clear the marketplace of products that can cause serious injuries to children. That said, there are still a lot of products with defects that continue to place kids' lives at risk, including poorly designed and manufactured clothing, shades, nursery products, furniture, child safety seats, toys, jewelry, playground rides, chests, and household décor.

Smith+Noble window shades recalled, UPI.com, July 22, 2010

Karino pacifiers recalled due to choking hazard, Bloomberg, BusinessWeek, July 20, 2010

Safety regulators have new urgency over baby products, USA Today, July 21, 2010

Play yard tents recalled after child's death, AP, July 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

Child Safety, Consumer Reports

Continue reading "CPSC Attempts to Prevent Injuries to Children with Recalls of Smith + Noble Roman and Roller Shades, Kari√±o Baby Pacifiers, and Tots in Mind Playards" »