Product Liability Law Blog

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning dads and moms that chic baby slings can be deadly. The commission says that it has investigated at least 13 child fatalities involving the sling-style carriers in 20 years. Three of the fatalities occurred last year. 12 of the babies that died were under the age of four months.

Baby slings wrap around the chest, keeping the baby close to the parent. They allow parents to “wear” their kids. Experts have promoted infant slings as a way to calm babies down or help moms breastfeed their children.

Now, the CPSC is warning caregivers and parents to be very careful when using the baby slings for infants in that vulnerable age group because the child carrier can pose a suffocation hazard in two ways:

• The sling can cause the baby to be cradled too close to the mom’s belly or under her chest in a curved position. This may push the baby’s head forward, limiting his/her ability to breathe and cry for help.

• The fabric of the sling can push itself against an infant’s nose and mouth. It takes just a minute for a suffocation accident to happen.

Many of the fatalities involved kids who were born prematurely, low birth weight twins, or suffering from a cold.

The CPSC is not the first to warn about hazards related to this popular carrier. In 2008, Consumer Reports noted that approximately two dozen serious injuries had been linked to the slings. Skull fractures were among the injuries sustained during fall accidents from the carrier.

Safety advocates again warned about the dangers the sling can pose last year after a 1-week-old baby died in an Oregon suffocation accident. His cause of death was positional asphyxia.

Currently, there are no rules or standards that govern baby slings. However, if your child fell out of a baby sling or was seriously injured/died in a suffocation accident, your son or daughter may be the victim of child products liability.

The CPSC is offering the following safety precautions to prevent sling suffocation accidents:

• Make sure that the baby’s head is faced up and away from the sling or the mom’s body
• Check the baby’s position on a regular basis
• Make sure that the sling’s fabric doesn’t cover the baby’s face

Baby slings to get warning after deaths, MSNBC/AP, March 9, 2010

Infant Deaths Prompt CPSC Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies, CPSC, March 12, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Strangulation and Suffocation, Parents.com

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Continue reading "At Least 13 Infant Deaths Linked to Baby Slings, Reports CPSC " »

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Posted In: Cribs and Infant Sleepers , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Suffocation Accidents

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The deaths of three infants has prompted the CPSC to recall all “ChildESIGNS” and Generation 2 Worldwide drop-side cribs. About 500,000 cribs are affected. Unlike other drop-side crib recalls, no repair kit will be issued.

It is imperative that kids are immediately removed from these cribs. Trying to fix the furniture defect will not make the cribs safer.

The three babies that died suffocated when they became entrapped between the mattress and a broken drop side. The incidents involve the 2007 Ohio suffocation accident of an infant, 8 mos., a 2003 Indiana crib suffocation accident involving another child, also 8 mo., and a fatal 2002 Virginia crib entrapment accident that happened when the drop side detached because the track was missing two of its screws.

The potential hazard can occur if the drop side’s plastic hardware breaks, leading the drop side to come off in at least one corner. This small space is large enough for a toddler or baby to move into and get caught in, posing a strangulation or suffocation risk. Entrapment and suffocation can also happen in the event that the mattress becomes separated from its support, creating the open space that toddlers can get trapped in.

The CPSC says consumers have filed an additional 20 drop-side accidents, which include two suffocation incidents and five fall accidents from the cribs, as well as a number of incidents involving the crib’s mattress.

Generation 2 is no longer in operation. Crib owners can contact the retailer that sold them the crib and ask for a replacement crib, a refund, or a store credit.

With the number of infant furniture recalls that the CPSC has announced in the last few years as a result of so many child injuries and deaths, there is no question that there are child furniture manufacturers out there who are failing to fulfill their responsibility to make products that are safe for use. The drop-side crib appears to be one product (for the most part) that is designed in such a way that makes it dangerous for kids. It is a tragedy to put your child to bed and later find that he or she sustained a traumatic brain injury or died because of a crib entrapment accident.

Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS” Drop Side Crib Brands Recalled; Three Infant Deaths Reported, Consumer Product Safety Commission, February 9, 2010

Generation 2 Worldwide Cribs Recalled, CBS News, February 9, 2010

Related Web Resources:
If your child was involved in a crib accident involving a drop-side crib, file a CPSC report today.

Crib Safety, Baby-Place

Continue reading "CPSC Urges Consumers to Stop Using Generation 2 Worldwide and “ChildESIGNS Drop-Side Cribs Immediately" »

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Posted In: Cribs and Infant Sleepers , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Ohio , Virginia

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it is recalling approximately 213,000 play yards with bassinets because of concern that the infant product posses a suffocation risk. The recall includes Eddie Bauer Complete Care Play Yards and Safety 1st Disney Care Center™ Play Yard.

There are no reports of any related injuries to date. Hover, the metal bars that support the sleeper’s floorboard can come out through the fabric sleeves. If this happens, the sleeping surface of the bassinet may become uneven. This can cause an infant to suffer from positional asphyxiation or suffocate.

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Dorel Juvenile Group will provide consumers with a free repair kit. Consumers should stop using the bassinet portion that attaches to the play yard until the fix can be made.

Just last week, the CPSC and IKEA Home Furnishings recalled approximately 600 LEOPARD Highchairs because they pose a potential fall hazard or suffocation danger. If the snap locks that secure the seat breaks, the child and the seat can fall through the highchair’s frame. There is also concern that a young child might choke on detached snap locks. To date, there is one report of a baby sustaining leg bruises after falling. Another child reportedly was able to chew off one of the locks.

In the wake of ongoing recalls involving child and infant products, federal regulators have approved a new rule mandating that manufacturers keep a list of customers so that it is easier to let parents know if a product is considered dangerous or defective.

The companies that make high chairs, cribs, strollers, gates, toddler beds, bath seats, booster chairs, play yards, hook-on chairs, infant carriers, children’s folding tables, bed rails, activity centers, walkers, bassinets, changing tables, cradles, bathtubs, slings, and bouncers will have to include a registration card with each product so that they can put together their consumer lists.

While quick notification will hopefully prevent more child injuries caused by defective infant products from happening, there are still children and babies who may be hurt before (and even after) a recall is issued.

Dorel Juvenile Group Voluntarily Recalls Bassinets on Select Play Yards, Offering Parents Free Bassinet Repair Kit, PR Newswire, December 30, 2009

CPSC approves final rule on registration card program for infant, toddler products, Kids Today, December 29, 2009

Recall: IKEA highchair, Chicago Tribune, December 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths, CPSC, November 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading "213,000 Dorel Juvenile Play Yards and 600 IKEA LEOPARD Highchairs are Among Latest Children’s Furniture Product Recalls by CPSC" »

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Posted In: Cribs and Infant Sleepers , Furniture and Accessories , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Strollers

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is once again warning parents and guardians about the dangers associated with Simplicity drop-side cribs. The CPSC began recalling these child sleepers, made by SFCA Inc. and Simplicity Inc., in December 2005. Over 2 million Simplicity drop-side cribs have been recalled because of the hazard they pose to children. CPSC’s other Simplicity recalls were announced on June and September 2007, September 2008, and July 2009. The agency says that at this point, all Simplicity drop-side cribs are recalled.

Defects with the crib’s plastic material can lead to deformity or breakage, which can cause the drop side of the crib to become detached. This can create a gap between the mattress and the drop side that babies can fall into, and they may suffocate while entrapped.

Last week, the CPSC announced that 11 babies have now died because of this crib defect. The latest child death was in September when a 7-month-old died from a Kentucky entrapment accident. The victim of another recent Simplicity crib death was an 8-month old baby in Texas. The CPSC says it also knows of about 25 other incidents involving Simplicity drop sides detaching.

Suffocation accidents involving defectively designed cribs continue to be a problem that doesn’t seem to be going away. Tragically, it is the babies and their families that suffer.

Earlier this month, our child injury lawyers posted a blog entry about the recall of 24,000 Amboy Baby Motion Beds and Hammocks. The CPSC announced the recall after two child suffocation deaths. Last month, the dangers involving drop-side cribs made the headlines once again when the CPSC recalled 2.1 million Stork Craft Drop-Side cribs following a series of entrapment, suffocation, and fall accidents, and at least four child deaths.

Crib manufacturers have no excuse for making sleepers that can cause suffocation, entrapment, or falls. They can be held liable for products liability if a child injury or infant fatality results.

CPSC sounds the alarm after another Simplicity crib death, Consumer Reports, December 18, 2009

CPSC Launches New Effort to Find Recalled Simplicity Cribs (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Simplicity for Children

CPSC

Continue reading "7-Month-Old Baby is 11th Child Fatality Involving Simplicity Drop-Side Cribs" »

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Posted In: Cribs and Infant Sleepers , Furniture and Accessories , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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At least two baby deaths have been linked to the Amby Baby Motion Beds and Hammocks, which is why Amby Baby USA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission are recalling about 24,000 of these child sleepers. One of the victims was a 4-month old Georgia baby who died in an Amby baby hammock in June. Another infant, a 5-month-old Oregon boy, died from suffocation last August.

If the baby gets wedged against or rolled into the fabric or stuck in the gap next to the mattress pad as the hammock tilts or shifts side-to-side, the child might suffocate to death. Consumers are asked to stop using this product immediately until they receive their free repair kit.

This latest child sleeper recall is the second one announced in December. Last week, the CPSC and LaJobi Inc. recalled about 400 “Betsy” and “Molly” cribs because of concerns that a child’s head might get caught in the crib’s end panel cut-outs, which are a potential strangulation hazard. One 1-year-old girl died this way in 2003.

Of course, there was the CPSC's largest recall in US history last month when it singled out 2.1 million drop-side cribs by Stork Craft following reports of infant suffocation, entrapment, and fall accidents. Our furniture product liability law firm reported on this recall in an earlier blog post.

Crib Injuries and Deaths
One of the few times that babies and toddlers are left unsupervised is when they are sleeping. This means that in the event of strangulation, suffocation, or entrapment, a parent, guardian, caregiver, or another adult may not be immediately available to rescue the child or call for help.

Crib makers and infant sleeper manufacturers are aware of this. Yet, every year there are toddlers and babies who sustain crib injuries and are hospitalized because of crib defects. Some of these children are not lucky enough to survive.

Infant Suffocation Deaths Prompt Recall of Amby Baby Motion Beds/Hammocks, CPSC, December 8, 2009

CPSC, LaJobi Reannounce 2001 Recall of Cribs Due to Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards, CPSC, December 2, 2009

Related Web Resources:
KidsHealth.org

KidsinDanger.org

Continue reading "24,000 Amboy Baby Motion Beds and Hammocks Recalled Following Two Infant Suffocation Deaths" »

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Posted In: Furniture and Accessories , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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The Consumer Product and Safety Commission and Maclaren USA are warning consumers to immediately stop using their Maclaren Strollers. Some 1 million strollers were recalled yesterday following reports that 12 children sustained fingertip amputation injuries. The injuries occurred when the kids put their fingers in the hinge mechanism of the stroller while it was being secured into place or opened up. The strollers can also cause laceration injuries.

Maclaren models affected included:

• Quest Sport
• Triumph
• Quest Mod
• Volo
• Techno XT,
• Twin Triumph
• TechnoXLR
• Easy Traveller
• Twin Techno

Single and double umbrella strollers are included in the recall. Consumers can ask the stroller manufacturer for a free repair kit. The strollers were made in China.

Fingertip amputation injuries can cause severe trauma and impair a child’s ability to perform certain tasks. Not only is it extremely painful for a child to amputate his or her fingertip, but it can take months to recover. Loss of feeling, infection, poor healing, and loss of motion can occur. There is also the possibility the fingertip cannot be reattached. Skin flaps, and skin grafts might be necessary to repair the damage. According to Encyclopedia.com, 2/3rds of child hand injuries in the US are fingertip injuries.

A product manufacturer must ensure that their products do not contain any defect or flaw that could cause serious injury or death. At Gilbert, Ollanik, & Komyatte, PC, our products liability lawyers have helped many families recover financial compensation for injuries caused by defective nursery products, child safety seats, playground products, clothing, furniture, toys, and other products made for kids and infants. Please contact our injuries to children law firm and ask for your free consultation about your personal injury or wrongful death case.

Maclaren USA Recalls to Repair Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations, CPSC, November 9, 2009

Maclaren's Stroller Recall: A Stumbling Response Online, Time, November 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Maclaren

Fingertip Injuries/Amputations, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors

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Two years after the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Connie Bergey is suing now defunct crib maker Simplicity for wrongful death. Her Florida furniture products liability lawsuit contends that a defect in the Simplicity 'Crib n Changer Combo, a drop side crib her daughter Serenity was using, is what caused her death.

Serenity’s head got caught in the crib’s frame. Two days after she died, a recall of over 1 million Simplicity cribs was issued that included the very same model that Serenity was using.

In her products liability lawsuit, Bergey is accusing Simplicty of knowingly selling cribs that were dangerously designed and endangering infants’ lives. She contends that the Simplicity crib recall should have been announced before her daughter died. Her Florida wrongful death complaint says that when the crib’s drop side came off, a gap was created, which caused the fatal entrapment accident. Bergey says she was devastated when she went to her daughter’s crib and, rather than finding her sleeping peacefully, discovered her daughter stuck in the side of the crib.

Simplicity is no longer in operation. The crib maker was forced out of business following dozens of child injuries and at least four kid deaths from entrapment accidents involving its defective cribs.

Even after Simplicity shut its doors, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission continued to issue more recalls. In August 2008, 900,000 bassinets were recalled. Another 600,000 drop side cribs were recalled in September 2008. Just this January, the CPSC recalled 200,000 portable play yards.

There is no loss for a parent greater than the loss of a child. It can be even more devastating to discover that your son or daughter suffocated or died in a crib that you thought would keep your child safe.

While issuing product recalls has been known to save lives, a crib recall cannot bring back the life of the children who died prior to the recall announcement.

Some other crib design defect that have been known to cause injury:

• The crib slats are spaced too far apart that an infant’s head or body can get stuck in between two slats.

• The crib’s corner posts are designed in a manner that entanglement accidents can occur.

• The mattress is made from hazardous material or its size does not fit the crib securely enough to prevent entrapment accidents from happening.

Ffamily files lawsuit after child dies in crib, WPTV, September 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Simplicity for Children

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Choosing a crib, American Academy of Pediatrics

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Posted In: Florida , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Wrongful Death

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According to EMS Magazine, some 475,000 US kids in the 14 and under age group suffer from traumatic brain injuries. While 90% of TBI kid patients are seen in emergency rooms and then released, there are still over 47,000 patients a year who end up hospitalized because of a TBI.

Fall accidents, car accidents, and incidents involving the victim getting hit by or struck against a hard object continue to be the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in the US. 2,685 children die each year because of TBIs while more than 30,000 kids with TBIs will sustain permanent disabilities.

Our injuries to children and minors lawyers represent the families of babies, toddlers, young children, adolescents, and teenagers who were seriously injured in personal injury accidents. Many of our injuries to minors cases involve children who were injured or killed because of a defective product. Gilbert, Ollanik, & Komyatte, PC is one of the most recognized products liability law firms in the US.

Traumatic brain injuries—whether sustained in a car crash, from a drowning accident, in a fall accident at the playground, because the child car safety seat or seatbelt restraint system was defective, during a suffocation accident that occurred because a crib was defectively designed, or from a choking accident that happened because a child swallowed a defective toy part—can drastically alter the life of the child victim and his or her family forever.

A TBI can result in impaired vision, hearing problems, speech difficulties, muscle spasticity, seizures, paralysis, memory deficiencies, communication problems, impaired writing and reading abilities, impaired judgment, mood swings, anxiety, agitation, depression, and problems relating to others.

A TBI's degree of severity will determine the problems that can result from this type of head injury. In many instances, a child with a TBI will need special services to cope with living with a traumatic brain injury, and the ongoing therapy and medical help can become very costly. There are also other damages that a TBI victim can suffer, including loss of the ability to live a normal life, loss of independence, or the inability to enjoy the normal activities that most kids without a traumatic brain injury get to experience.

If your child’s TBI occurred because a product manufacturer, a premise owner, a car driver, a trucker, a motorcyclist, or another party was negligent or careless, your son or daughter may be entitled to personal injury recovery.

Severe Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury, EMS Responder

Traumatic Brain Injury, Kidsource.com

Related Web Resources:
Traumatic Brain Injury Information Page, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

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Posted In: Catastrophic Injuries , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars , Motor Vehicle Safety , Nursery Products , Playground Products , Swimming Pools , Toys , Traumatic Brain Injuries

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While child car safety seats are a must for newborns riding in cars, the seats can also cause a baby to experience breathing problems. Infants have to be placed in an upright position when in a child safety seat. However, according to a new study published in Pediatrics, this can cause the baby’s chest wall to become compressed, decreasing airway size and lowering oxygen levels in the blood.

T. Bernard Kinane, Massachusetts General Hospital’s chief of pulmonary pediatrics, says that 20% of newborns that are placed in car beds and car seats may experience mild respiratory compromise. This can increase the chances that an infant will experience breathing problems.

The study examined 200 healthy newborns. Each baby was placed in a car bed for 60 minutes, a hospital crib for 30 minutes, and a car seat for 60 minutes. The infants' oxygen levels were lower when they were in the car beds and car seats than when they were in the hospital cribs. In a car seat, the babies’ average oxygen saturation level was 95.7%, 96.3% in a car bed, and 97.9% in a hospital crib.

This is important to note, as many parents will take the car seat out the vehicle and let their babies sleep in them. Researchers are now telling parents to only use car beds and car seats for travel and definitely not as a replacement for a child’s bed.

While some physicians have said that the side effects are relatively mild and long-term consequences are unlikely, Kinane is recommending that child safety seat makers redesign infant car seats so that chest compression doesn’t happen. He says that one way to do this is to install a new seat back and new buckles so that the baby’s head can fall back.

Selena Silva, of the Child Passenger Safety Program at Children’s Hospital, says that an infant car seat’s reclining angle should be at around 45 degrees to keep the baby’s airway open and prevent slumping. This angle has been crash-tested.

Child Safety Seats
The makers of child safety seats must make sure that their products are safe for use. This means that the seats will ensure the greatest amount of protection for babies and other young children during a car crash. A child car safety seat should also not be designed in a way that could cause a baby's health to suffer. Manufacturers also need to warn of any possible injuries or health issues that may result from use.

If you think your child was injured or became sick because of the way a child car safety seat was designed, a car seat defect, or because the child car safety seat malfunctioned, you may have grounds for filing a products liability lawsuit.

Infant car seats can trim babies' oxygen levels, CNN, August 24, 2009

nfant car seat no substitute for crib: study, CBC, August 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Pediatrics

Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009, American Academy of Pediatrics

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars

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In an effort to prevent child injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently recalled a number of products. Just today, the CPSC, along with Burley Design, LLC, recalled approximately 2,700 2009 d’lite ST and Solo ST Child Trailers.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, but the trailer’s internal sleeve on the axle assembly could loosen. If this happens, one of the wheels might separate from the trailer. This could cause the trailer or the bicycle pulling the trailer to tip over. The bicyclist or any children riding in the trailer could get hurt, even sustaining a head injury, cuts, bruises, a back injury, a neck injury, or another type of injury if they are involved in a fall accident. The child or adult could also get hurt in a car accident if the trailer’s wheel were to come off in the street and a motor vehicle were to strike the trailer and/or bike.

Last Thursday, the CPSC announced the recall of some 1.6 million Little Tikes™ Workshops Sets and Trucks. The CPSC and manufacturer Little Tikes are worried that the oversized, plastic nails that come with both products might pose a choking hazard. Already, one child was sent to the hospital for injuries but fortunately made a full recovery.

Another product that is causing the CPSC and its manufacturer, Graco Children’s Products Inc., choking hazard worries is the Jump ‘n Jive™ Doorway Jumper. Some 2,400 jumpers were recalled on August 6. The jumpers come with detachable toys that are attached to the straps of the jumper with hook and loop fabric strips. Because the toys can come off the jumper, there is concern that a baby seated in the jumper might put the toy in his or her mouth, try to swallow it, and choke.

Already, there has been a report of one child taking the fabric strip and putting it in the mouth. Fortunately, the child did not get hurt.

The risk of fall accidents and strangulation injuries played a key role in the CPSC recall of some 200 La Siesta Yayita Baby Hammocks, distributed by Kaplan Early Learning Company, and about 265 Yayita Baby Hammocks, distributed by Nova Natural Toys & Crafts LLC. If the baby hammock flips over while the infant is in it, the infant might fall or get caught in the restraint straps while upside down, risking strangulation. There are no reports of injuries.

If your son or daughter was injured because of a defective toy, defective furniture, defective clothing, a defective nursery product, or another type of faulty product, an experienced products liability law firm can help you file your injuries to children and minor lawsuit. Children are vulnerable and prone to serious injuries to begin with that they don’t need to increase that risk with a defective product.

Our products liability law firm believes it is important to hold the makers of toys and other kids products liable for your child’s injuries or death.

Recall: Burley Design bicycle child trailers, The Oregonian, August 19, 2009

Little Tikes recalls 1.6 million toys, CNNMoney, August 13, 2009

Jump ‘n Jive Doorway Jumpers Recalled by Graco Due to Choking Hazard, CPSC, August 6, 2009

Kaplan baby hammocks recalled, UPI, August 4, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

Child safety, Consumer Reports

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Toys

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently recalled a number of kids’ products over choking hazard concerns. Last Thursday, the CPSC recalled approximately 3,700 LeapFrog My Pal Scout Electronic Plush Toy Dogs because the paws’ decals could come off, making the pieces easy for a child to swallow.

So far, LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. has received two reports of children taking the decals off the toys. One child ingested a portion of the decal. The CPSC and LeapFrog are recommending that parents and guardians take My Pal Scout away from kids and get in touch with LeapFrog so that the toymaker can send them a replacement that has embroidered paws.

Also last week, the CPSC, Buster Brown and Co., and Pagoda International Footwear Ltd. recalled approximately 1.4 million Clog and Children’s Shoes. The reason for the recall is that the decorative wheels on the shoes can come off, posing a choking hazard. The shoes involved in the recall are designed to look like cars. 73,000 CARS Fleece Clog Children’s Shoes, also by Buster Brown and Co., were recalled in the US in April also over choking hazard worries.

Earlier in the month, the CPSC and Evenflo Company Inc. recalled about 25,000 Evenflo Switch-A-Roo Telephone Toys because a mirror decal on the toy might peel away and become a possible choking hazard. No injures have been reported, but the CPSC and the manufacturer are recommending that consumers stop using the product right away and remove the mirror decal as soon as possible.

Kids and Choking Hazards
Products that contain any pieces that are potential choking hazards can cause serious injuries to young kids. Choking is a leading cause of accidental deaths for kids younger than age 5.

Toddlers are especially inclined to want to touch, smell, and taste small objects, placing them in their mouths. The problem is that young kids have small airway passages and gastrointestinal tracts, which increases the likelihood that they could choke if they swallow or ingest small, foreign objects.

LeapFrog Recalls Electronic Plush Toys Due to Choking Hazard, CPSC, July 23, 2009

Buster Brown Clogs Recall, Wavy, July 22, 2009

Evenflo Recalls Telephone Toys Due to Choking Hazard, NewsInferno, July 17, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Choking Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics

CPSC

Continue reading "Choking Hazard Issues Prompts CPSC Recall of Kids’ Products, including LeapFrog Toys and Buster Brown Clogs" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Toys

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This month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled a number of infant products. On Wednesday, Kolcroft Enterprises Inc. recalled 1 million Play Yards because of concern that the furniture’s side rail might fail to latch correctly or unlatch suddenly, posing a potential fall hazard.

So far, there have been at least 374 reports of the play yard side rails collapsing. 21 kids sustained injuries, including scrapes, one concussion, bruises, and bumps.

Considering that play yards, play pens, cribs, mattresses, bathinettes, baby baths, and bath seats were the products most associated with nursery products-related deaths for children under age 5 between 2003 and 2005, it is important that this recall was issued. For a complete list of the play yards included in this recall, click on the link below.

Earlier this month, Simplicity recalled 400,000 Simplicity Drop Side Cribs. If the plastic hardware deforms or breaks, the drop side could detach, creating a space between the side and the mattress that a child can fall into. This can lead to an entrapment accident that could cause the child to suffocate.

There has been one child fatality reported in connection with this product defect—an 8-month-old baby from Texas. There also have been at least 25 reports of the drop sides detaching. 2 children fell into the gaps in their cribs and became entrapped. Fortunately, there have been no other reports of injuries.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says that in 2007, US emergency rooms treated 62,500 child injury cases involving children younger than age 5 that were hurt because of nursery products.

Falls were the number one cause of nursery products-related injuries that year, with the head area sustaining the most injuries. About 79 kids under age 5 die each year due to accidents involving nursery products.

Earlier this month, Gromex recalled 700 Jaloma Pacifiers. The reason for the recall is that the pacifier does not meant federal safety standards and may pose a choking hazard or aspiration risk to young kids.

Choking is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths involving kids younger than age 5. Pacifier manufacturers or the makers of other small items that young kids might end up using or putting in their mouths must make sure that their products are not too small that a toddler or infant could end up choking on an item.

Another common cause of accidental deaths involving kids under age 5 is drowning accidents. On July 2, the CPSC recalled 4 million Inflatable Baby Floats by Aqua-Leisure Industries because if the seat's leg straps tear, the child might fall into the water and drown. 31 incidents were reported involving the straps tearing. There have been no reports of injuries.

CPSC issues recall of Kolcraft play yards and Gromex Paloma pacifiers, Examiner.com, July 8, 2009

Kolcraft Recalls 1 Million Play Yards Due to Fall Hazard, CPSC.gov, July 8, 2009

Simplicity Drop Side Cribs Recalled by Retailers Due to Risk of Death from Suffocation, CPSC, July 2, 2009

Simplicity Drop-Side Cribs recalled by retailers due to risk of suffocation, Stamford Plus, July 9, 2009

Aqua-Leisure Industries recalls inflatable baby floats due to drowning hazard, Hawaii247.org

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths Among Children Under Age 5, CPSC, 2009 (PDF)

Continue reading "CPSC Recalls Play Yards, Pacifiers, Baby Floats, and Drop Side Cribs to Prevent Injuries to Young Children" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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The US Department of Transportation says that it is designing a consumer program to help parents and others select the child car seats that are the best fit for their motor vehicles. The new program will involve auto manufacturers recommending which child car safety seats should go with each vehicle. This initiative will go into effect at the start of the 2011 model year.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has also mandated that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration put together a new side impact safety standard for child safety seats. While the current standard mandating that a child car seat be able to withstand forces more severe than 99.5% of real-time crashes is effective, LaHood wants the NHTSA to improve the standards even more.

Car safety seat and child traffic accident facts:
• 1/3rd of all highway fatalities involving kids younger than 13 occur during side impact crashes.
• 50% of kids under age 8 killed in auto accidents were not using child safety seats.

The NHTSA task force charged with assessing current child safety regulations is recommending that research be conducted on ways to improve the current child safety seat standard for frontal impact crashes.

Some steps that you can take to make sure you are buying a good car seat:
• Check to make sure that the seat is compatible with the LATCH system, which allows you to securely and easily fasten your seat to many cars and trucks.

• Make sure the seat comes with side impact protection.

• Buy a car seat with a 5-point safety harness.

However, just because one child safety seat performs well in one car doesn’t mean it will fit properly in another vehicle—even if the seat is considered one of the “best” and “safest” in the marketplace. The DOT's new consumer program will help clear up a lot of confusion for parents who may not know whether a child seat is the right fit for their specific vehicles.

Child Safety and Auto Safety
Car makers and the manufacturers of child car seats are obligated to make sure that they manufacture products that are free from defects that could lead to personal injury or wrongful death. Product defects resulting in serious injury accidents can be grounds for a products liability lawsuit.

Child safety seats: Transportation chief pushes reform measures for vehicle manufacturers, Chicago Tribune, April 25, 2009

U.S. DOT Announces New Consumer Program for Child Safety Seats, NHTSA, April 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
How to Choose the Best Child Safety Car Seat, InfoBarrel.com

Top 10 Cars for Kids in Car Seats, Edmunds.com

Continue reading "New US Department of Transportation Consumer Program for Child Safety Seats Will Help Parents Choose the Products that Best Fits Their Cars" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars

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Already this month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of three nursery products. The recalls are an effort to prevent potentially catastrophic accidents from causing injury to or killing young kids.

On April 2, the CPSC, with the cooperation of SunTech Enterprises, let the public know that about 1,900 convertible cribs were being recalled and any returns would lead to full refunds. The danger they are trying to remove is one that could lead to suffocation or entrapment.

The expanding mesh material that make up the crib sides may create a gap between the mattress and the side of the crib. This could make it easy for a young child to fall into the gap and suffocate or become entrapped. Also, the crib’s drop side, if not fully latched, can drop down unexpectedly, creating a fall hazard. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. A five-month-old baby, however, did die last August from entrapment and suffocation in a nearly identical crib manufactured by the same company.

Just last week, the CPSC, along with Healthtex, announced that it was recalling about 40,000 Zoo Pacifiers because they failed to meet federal safety standards and are a choking hazard because the nipples can come off the base too easily. No injuries have been reported.

Also last week, Simplicity, along with the CPSC, announced the recall of about 25,000 Travel Tender Play Yards. An injury accident could result if even one of the rails collapses without warning, creating an entrapment hazard or a fall danger. To date, there have been at least five incidents involving a collapsed rail. No injuries have been reported.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
• In 2005, nearly 60,000 kids younger than age five were seen in US emergency rooms for injuries involving nursery products.
• Falls are the leading cause of nursery-related injuries.
• From 2001 to 2003, there were 182 nursery-related deaths.
• In 2006, nursery products caused injury to about 66,400 kids.

Simplicity Play Yards Recalled by Various Retailers Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards, CPSC, April 7, 2009

Pacifiers Recalled by Healthtex Due to Choking Hazard, CPSC, April 7, 2009

SunKids Convertible Cribs Recalled by Suntech Enterprises Due to Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC, April 2, 2009

Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths to Children Under Age 5, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Web Resources:
Nursery-related product injuries on the rise, CNN, February 28, 2008

Products Liability News, Justia

Continue reading "Recent Nursery Products Recalls of Play Yards, Pacifiers, and Cribs are Issued to Prevent Entrapment, Suffocation, Choking, and Fall Accidents" »

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing that Evenflo is recalling over 700,000 high chairs. The product manufacturer is concerned that faulty screws on the chairs could pose a choking or fall hazard for children.

Approximately 643,000 Evenflo Envision High Chairs and 90,000 Majestic High Chairs are being recalled. The Majestic recall is an expansion of an earlier recall of some 90,000 Evenflo chairs involving metal screws and plastic caps on both sides of the chairs coming loose and fall out, posing a choking hazard or a fall hazard to children if the seatbacks fell backward, reclined, or came off. The expanded recall includes additional models that reportedly have exhibited the same problems.

At the time of the Majestic recall last December, there were more than 1,000 reported incidents of the screws or caps coming out of the chairs, as well as over 140 reports of the seatbacks falling back, reclining, or coming off. There were more than 90 reports of injuries, including bruises to the head, broken bones, cuts, and abrasions. There were also incidents reported involving kids who would take the fallen screws or plastic caps and placed them in their mouths.

As for the Evenflo Envision chairs, there have been over 300 reports of the seatbacks reclining suddenly or detaching, which could result in fall accidents. There have also been reports of the screws coming out of the chairs, posing a choking hazard. 35 reports mentioned bruises, abrasions and other injuries, as well as one incident where a child was holding onto a screw but fortunately did not choke.

Just last month, Fisher-Price announced its own high chair recall. The danger that the seat could fall back or the booster seat detach while the child was in the chair prompted the manufacturer to recall approximately 24,000 3-in-1 High Chair to Booster. One child reportedly sustained a skull fracture after falling when the seat back detached.

High Chair Injuries
According to a 2001 Pediatric News article, most high chair injuries happen to kids younger than age one who fall from the chairs. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that from 1994 to 1998 there were about 40,650 high chair-related injuries that resulted in hospital emergency visits. Head injuries and facial injuries were among the most common kinds of injuries, with 94% of injuries involving fall accidents.

If your child was injured because of a defective high chair or another poorly designed infant product, you may be entitled to products liability compensation.

Injuries Prompt Evenflo High Chair Recall, WebMD, April 2, 2009

Evenflo Recalls Envision™ High Chairs Due to Fall and Choking Hazards, CPSC.gov, April 2, 2009

Evenflo Expands Recall of Majestic™ High Chairs Due to Fall and Choking Hazards, CPSC.gov, April 2, 2009

Evenflo Recalls Majestic™ High Chairs Due to Fall and Choking Hazards, CPSC.gov, December 18, 2008

Fisher-Price Recalls 3-in-1 High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard, CPSC.gov, March 24, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Infant Furniture Safety Guide, American Academy of Pediatrics

Safety and Your Baby's High Chair, About.com

Continue reading "Evenflo and CPSC Recall Over 700,000 High Chairs Because Faulty Screws Could Pose a Choking or a Fall Hazard " »

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An ASTM International committee comprised of major crib makers is pushing forward a proposal to ban drop-side cribs. Among the reasons for this is that there have been over three million cribs recalled since the fall of 2007 and a number of child injuries and deaths have occured because of cribs that were poorly designed, incorrectly assembled, or came with defective or missing crib parts.

Entrapment and strangulation have been known to occur when a drop-side crib has malfunctioned, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that over the past 18 months there have been at least three child deaths involving drop-side cribs. The CPSC also reports that there have been over two dozen incidents involving the drop-sides detaching from the cribs, which can lead to serious fall accidents injuries.

Drop-side cribs have one side that can be lifted and lowered. They are especially popular among parents and other adults who are shorter or have back issues. The cribs are known for their ease of use.

The ASTM consumer product committee has to approve any proposal regarding a drop-side crib ban and it might take a year for the order to become effective. The ban also would only be applicable to new cribs.

One committee manager said the group has also talked about dealing with the problem of “slat integrity,” referring to wooden slats and spindles on a crib that might break, causing an infant to become strangled or entrapped. ASTM International’s standards are established with feedback from crib makers, users, industry stakeholders, consumer advocacy groups, testing labs, and government regulators.

Last year, Delta Enterprises recalled 1.6 million drop-side cribs because of potential spring peg and safety peg failure. This was the fifth recall since the fall off 2007 involving cribs. Other brands of drop-side cribs that have been recalled include Simplicity, Jardine, Bassetbaby, and Graco.

Since the Delta recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been warning consumers to check their older cribs for potentially dangerous hazards. The CPSC also has been trying to determine how cribs can be better made and if mandatory crib safety standards need to be improved.

No More Drop-Side Cribs?, MSNBC, March 19, 2009

Crib Makers Propose Ban On Drop-Side Cribs, NPR, March 18, 2009

Major manufacturers propose ban on drop-side cribs, Chicago Tribune, March 22, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Consumer Product Safety Commission

ASTM International

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading causes of accidental child injuries and deaths are motor vehicle collisions and fall accidents. From 2001 to 2006, about 8 million child deaths occurred each year due to motor vehicle crashes, bicycle collisions, or pedestrian accidents, while some 2.8 million nonfatal injuries happened as a result of fall accidents. Overall, approximately 55 million teenagers and young children were treated for accidental injuries in US emergency rooms between 2001 and 2006—that's about 9.2 million kids a year.

More CDC findings:
• About 12,175 young people (under age 20) were killed each year in the US because they sustained accidental injuries.
• Motor vehicle crashes continued to be the leading cause of fatalities for kids, ages 5 to 19.
• For young children ages 1 to 4, drowning was a leading cause of death.
• For infants, the leading cause of death was suffocation.
• The leading causes of nonfatal injuries for kids ages 1 to 4 were fall accidents and accidental poisoning.
• About 20 kids are killed every day because of accidental injuries.
• Burn injuries were also a common cause of child injuries.

While there are steps that parents can take to prevent such injuries from happening, it is also important that product manufacturers make goods that are free from defects and are safe for use.

In recent years, there have been too many recalls of too many products because of the potential injuries they could cause to young children. Toys with excessive levels of lead paint, poorly constructed cribs and bassinets that pose a fall hazard or are a suffocation threat, household products that are fire hazards, defectively designed clothing that are a strangulation danger, poorly constructed child safety seats, and dangerous nursery furniture and playground rides, are just some of the millions of toys that the Consumer Product Safety Commission and manufacturers have recalled because a child was (or could get) injured or died.

Product manufacturers must be held liable when their negligence and carelessness leads to serious products liability-related injuries and deaths.

Childhood Injury Report, CDC

Recalls, US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Web Resources:
World report on child injury prevention, World Health Organization

Keeping Children Safe from Dangerous Products (PDF)

Continue reading "Motor Vehicle Accidents, Suffocation Injuries, and Fall Accidents Among Leading Causes of Injuries to Children, Says CDC" »

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Posted In: Clothing , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars , Nursery Products , Playground Products , Swimming Pools , Toys

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A new study appearing in the February 2009 issue of the American Journal of Public Health reports that securing small children and infants in the proper child car safety seats could save their lives. According to the study’s authors, use of child safety restraints dramatically lowers the chances that a child, three years of age or younger, will die in a serious traffic accident.

The study found that the odds of a baby dying in an auto crash dropped by 75% with use of a child safety seat, while the mortality rate for older children dropped by 60%. These findings are important considering that motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of accidental deaths among kids older than 1.

The new study also reported that child safety seats helped prevent deaths in rollover accidents, as well as in collisions involving light trucks. The report, however, was quick to emphasize that while securing 2- and 3-year-olds in seat belts proved just as effective at preventing deaths as placing these young children in child car safety seats, the latter is still better at protecting small children from serious injuries.

Choosing the Right Child Car Seat
While it is important to use an age appropriate child car safety seat for your son or daughter, not all child safety seats are the made same in terms of quality and the kinds of safety features that they offer. The American Academy of Pediatrics Web site offers a number of suggestions for helping you ensure that you are picking the best product for your child, including:

• The best seat for your son or daughter is the one that is age and size appropriate, properly installed, and used correctly.
• Make sure that your child does not use the seat beyond the manufacturer’s recommended date for length of use.
• Make sure there are no visible flaws on the child safety seat and that none of its parts are missing.
• Check the car safety seat’s model number and manufacture date to make sure the product hasn’t been recalled.
• If the car safety seat is one that has been used in the past, make sure it was never involved in a moderate or serious auto accident.

It is also important to pay attention to product recalls that can occur in the event that the particular child car safety seat you have chosen proves defective and the flaw needs to be fixed or the seat replaced. If your son or daughter sustained an injury in a car accident because of a defective child car seat, you may have grounds for filing a products liability lawsuit to sue for damages.

Car Seats Save Young Lives, Washington Post, January 21, 2009

Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2009, AAP.org

Related Web Resources:
American Journal of Public Health

Car Seats, ConsumerReports.org

Continue reading "Child Car Seats Save Lives of Babies and Young Children, Confirms New Study" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars

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The deaths of two infants that were caused by defective cribs have led to two nationwide crib recalls this month. Last week, Playkids USA recalled 2,000 portable convertible cribs following the death of a 5-month-old baby who suffocated after becoming entrapped between the crib’s mattress and drop side rail.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the mesh that the sides of the convertible crib are made of can expand and create a space that a baby could slip into and become entrapped in and/or suffocate.

The second recall, which the CPSC announced on Monday, involves 1,585,000 Delta Enterprise drop side cribs. The voluntary recall comes after reports that an 8-month-old baby suffocated to death and another baby survived an entrapment accident.

The Delta drop side crib recall involves 985,000 drop side cribs that are missing safety pegs. The remaining 600,000 cribs are being recalled because of a spring peg failure. Both defects can cause a crib’s drop side to disengage and detach, which could leave a dangerous gap for kids to fall into.

The two recalls come on the heels of last month’s massive recall of 600,000 Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs following reports of nine incidents involving the drop sides detaching. No one was injured.

The recalls have spurred the CPSC to warn parents that they must closely inspect a crib’s hardware and stability. The CPSC says that drop side cribs are the infant beds that are most likely to experience hardware issues.

Safety Tips that the CPSC Offers Include:

• Do not use a crib that has broken, loose, or missing pieces.
• Regularly inspect crib hardware and make sure that the crib continues to stay sturdy.
• If you have a drop side crib, check to see that the drop side is working properly.
• Make sure that there are no gaps in or around the crib that a child can fall into.
• Do not try to fix a defective crib without following manufacturer-directed repair instructions.
• If the side of a crib is broken, leaning the crib against the wall will not fix the problem.

The last couple of years have seen an increase in the number of defective infant product recalls. Product manufacturers should be held accountable for any personal injuries or wrongful deaths caused by their products.

Latest crib recall broadens CPSC's focus, ChicagoTribune.com, October 22, 2008

Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta Enterprise Drop Side Cribs; Missing Safety Pegs Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 21, 2008

Infant Death Prompts Recall To Repair 600,000 Drop Side Cribs By Delta Enterprise; Spring Peg Failure Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 21, 2008

Infant Death Prompts Recall of Convertible Cribs by Playkids USA; Crib Poses Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards, CPSC.gov, October 16, 2008

Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs Recalled By Various Retailers Due To Serious Entrapment And Suffocation Hazard To Infants and Toddlers, CPSC.gov, September 17, 2008

Related Web Resources:

US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Delta Children's Products

Continue reading "Deaths of Two Infants Lead to Recall of Nearly 1.6 Million Delta Cribs and 2 Thousand Playkids Convertible Cribs " »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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The Consumer Product Safety Commission is telling parents to stop letting their babies sleep in the “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets that are made by Simplicity, Inc. The warning comes following two deaths linked to the sleepers and the refusal of SFCA Inc., the company that purchased Simplicity Inc.’s assets, to issue a recall. SFCA says it is not responsible for the products that Simplicity made in the past.

The CPSC says that the 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars that are spaced too far apart and do not meet federal standards. The bars have a fabric flap covering that is attached using velcro. If the flap is not properly secured, a baby could become trapped between the bars and get seriously hurt or die. SFCA Inc., however, says it is not responsible for products that Simplicity made prior to the acquisition.

Last week, a 5-month-old baby was strangled to death after she got caught between the metal bars of a Simplicity bassinet. Another baby died in a similar accident in a Simplicity bassinet last September.

The CPSC has compiled data related to infant bassinet-related deaths between 1990 and 2004, including:

• There were 53 infant deaths in bassinets.
• 85% of the deaths happened because the infant was not getting enough oxygen.
• Asphyxiation and suffocation are two common bassinet-related injuries that can lead to death.
• Many personal injuries and wrongful deaths that occur in bassinets and cribs are preventable.

Popular bassinet linked to at least 2 babies' deaths, ChicagoTribune.com, August 28, 2008

Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Models, CPSC, August 27, 2008

Ensuring Babies' Safety in Bassinets, KidsHealth.org

CPSC Issues Warning Against Dangerous Simplicity Bassinets, ConsumerAffairs.com, August 28, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Simplicity Inc

SFCA, Inc. Acquires Assets of Simplicity, Inc., Reuters.com, May 20, 2008

Continue reading "CPSC Warns Parents Not to Use Simplicity Bassinets Following Two Infant Deaths" »

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Posted In: Furniture and Accessories , Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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On Thursday, US President Bush signed a consumer safety bill that prohibits lead—except for the smallest levels—in products made for kids 12 years of age and under. The measure, formally called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, also bans chemical phthalates from children’s products.

The bill, which received overwhelming support in both the US House and Senate, addresses the concern that toys and other kids' products can be dangerous. This worry reached new heights last year when over 45 million children's products, many of them made in China, were recalled. High levels of lead in the paint used on many of the products was one of the reasons for many of the recalls.

The new law will allow for widespread reforms that will force product manufacturers and retailers to exercise greater safety precautions when making and selling products—especially those that are for children. The legislation mandates that infant products and toys undergo testing before they are sold, authorizes the creation of the first public consumer complaint database, increases civil penalties for those that violate Consumer Product Safety Commission laws, and offers protection to whistleblowers.

The CPSC, which came under fire last year over its failure to monitor toys imported into the country from abroad, will have an opportunity to do a more thorough job. The new legislation double’s the CPSC’s budget to $136 million by 2014 and gives it new authorities for supervising testing procedures and punishing violators.

According to the CPSC, over 33 million people sustained injuries last year because of contact with an unsafe product. Some 28,000 million people die each year in the United States alone because of products that are defective or unsafe for use.

Throughout the United States, our children’s products liability law firm represents families whose sons and daughters have been injured or killed because a toy or another product was defective or hazardous. Our defective products lawyers are committed to protecting our clients’ legal rights and making sure that they receive compensation for all damages that they are owed. Our product safety law firm has gone up against some of the largest manufacturers in the world and won.

Bush Signs Consumer Safety Bill, ConsumerAffairs.com, August 14, 2008

Not toying around: Congress OKs bill to ban chemicals in some products, USA Today, August 1, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, CPSC.gov (PDF)

Recalls

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products , Toys

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Another crib line made the news headlines this month, as Jardine Enterprises and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the voluntary recall of 320,000 Jardine cribs because they pose a potential hazard for strangulation or entrapment.

The recall was announced following 42 incidents involving the cribs and broken spindles and crib slats. Four children got trapped in the spaces left by the broken pieces and two of them sustained bruises and abrasions. The cribs were manufactured in China and sold at Geoffrey Stores, Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, Geoffrey Stores, and Kids World.

In an unrelated recall, Stanley Furniture has also recalled about 1,200 2nd Nature Built to Grow Cribs cribs over worries that the space between the crib and the mattress, when the latter’s support is in the middle setting, might be wide enough that an infant could get trapped in the gap.

Our product safety law firm represents families whose children have suffered serious crib injuries or other injuries a result of a defective product. Unfortunately, parents cannot always trust that a manufacturer will design nursery products that are safe for use.

Regardless, there are steps you can take to secure your child’s crib, including:

• Using a mattress that is firm and fits tightly in the crib.
• Making sure the crib is assembled properly.
• Ensuring that there are no loose, broken, or missing crib pieces.
• Checking that the crib’s slats are narrow enough that your child cannot fall through.
• Making sure that there is nothing in the crib that your baby’s clothing can get caught on.

Despite one’s best efforts, accidents can happen, and our experienced products liability lawyers have helped many families obtain financial recovery from negligent product manufacturers, designers, distributors, and retailers.

Our products liability law firm can help you assess whether you have grounds to file an injury lawsuit.

Cribs recalled after four children trapped, Boston.com, June 30, 2008

Recalls, CPSC.gov

Crib Safety Tips, CPSC.gov

Related Web Resources:

Kids in Danger

How to Avoid Dangerous Cribs, Good Housekeeping

Continue reading "320,000 Jardine Cribs Recalled After Four Entrapment Accidents" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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This month, a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee met to examine the way the government handles phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), two chemicals that have been used for over half a century on numerous consumer products. Phthalates is often used to soften plastics, and Bisphenol A is often applied when manufacturing shatterproof containers. One issue of concern is whether these chemicals should be banned from children’s products.

BPA can be found in baby toys, baby bottles, pacifiers, food cans, the linings of milk containers, and other products. While the US Food and Drug Administration says that baby bottles made with BPA are safe for use, government scientists are worried about how these two chemical may be affecting babies.

Recent findings in animal experiments link BPA to changes in the brain and hormones, as well as precancerous growths in the breast and prostate. In the US Senate, Democrats recently introduced a bill to ban Bisphenol A in toys and food products.

Phthalates is often found in teething rings, soft baby books, baby bottles, and other kids’ products, such as dolls and rubber ducks. While the US Consumer Product Safety Commission says that use of this softening chemical does not show any health risks, scientists claim phthalates can cause health problems, including reproductive defects and triggering early puberty in girls, which places them at higher risk for liver cancer and breast cancer.

In response to the growing concerns, Wal-Mart, Lego, Toys"R"Us, Gerber, and Evenflo say they will phase out or stop using phthalates in their products. California and Washington have instituted their own phthalate bans, while other states are considering similar bans. Although the US Senate passed a bill to ban phthalates in products made for children and infants, the House of Representatives has yet to discuss this chemical. The European Union and at least 14 other countries have also banned the phthalates.

Our defective toy litigation lawyers represent families whose children were seriously injured because of a defective or dangerous toy. We are a product safety law firm committed to getting injured clients the financial recovery they are owed.

Congress wary of plastics used in toys, bottles, Forbes.com, June 10, 2008

FDA official says baby bottles with bisphenol A safe, AP, June 10, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Toxic Baby Bottles, Environment California

Bisphenol A

Phthalates

Continue reading "US Congress Examines Use of Phthalates and Bisphenol A In Children’s Toys, Bottles, and Thousands of Other Products" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Toys

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is reporting an increase in nursery-related injuries and deaths affecting kids younger than 5. According to the CPSC’s annual report, there were 66,400 injuries involving nursery products that required emergency room attention in 2006. In 2005, there were 59,800 injuries.

High on the list of products involving serious injury accidents were play yard and cribs. 12,400 injuries and 43 deaths involving these products occur annually.

In 2007, 1.7 million play yards and cribs were recalled following reports of three deaths and a number of entrapment incidents. Graco and Simplicity products made up approximately 1 million of the products recalled.

Just last week, the CPSC and Munire Furniture Inc. recalled 24,000 cribs, including Majestic Curved Top and Flat Top Cribs, Essex Cribs, Brighton/Sussex Cribs and Captiva Cribs, because they did not meet federal safety standards. The failure of the four support brackets on the mattress to prevent the spring from going down to its minimum height can allow children to fall over the railing. The cribs were manufactured in Indonesia.

Suffocation, and entrapment caused by defective parts and too much bedding are among the leading causes of crib injures and deaths. Gas poisoning because of substances found in the mattresses can also lead to crib deaths. Fall injuries are also a common concern.

In its report, the CPSC’ nursery products-related injury list also included the following products:

• Infant Carriers
• Car Seats
• Mattresses
• Changing Tables
• High Chairs
• Strollers
• Carriages
• Baby Walkers
• Exercisers
• Jumpers
• Baby Gates and Barriers
• Baby Bouncer Seats
• Portable Swings
• Baby Baths
• Bathinettes
• Bath Seats
• Cradles
• Bassinets

Our products liability attorneys represent families throughout the United States whose children have been injured or killed by a defective toy or nursery products. We would be happy to discuss your case during a free consultation.

CPSC report on nursery-related deaths highlights crib and play yard dangers, ConsumerReports.org, February 28, 2008

Nursery Product-Related Injuries and Deaths Among Children Under Age Five, CPSC.gov (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

Recalls

Munire Furniture

Continue reading "CPSC Reports 66,400 Nursery-Related Injuries in 2006" »

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Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Nursery Products

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Baby product manufacturer Evenflo Company Inc. is voluntarily recalling 1 million Discovery Infant Car seats. The recall comes after Evenflo and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tested the child safety seats. They discovered that during high impact side collisions, the car seat can come off or break apart,which could cause serious injuries or death if either were to occur in real life.

So far, there are no reported injuries related to this recall. Evenflo says it will provide a dual-hook fastener to registered owners so the child car seat will stay intact in the event of a similar collision. The Discovery Infant Car seats that are part of the recall were manufactured between April 2005 and January 2008. They include models 552, 534, 391, and 390.

Evenflo has voluntarily recalled other infant car seats before. Last year, the baby product manufacturer recalled over 450,000 Embrace Infant car seats following 679 reported incidents that involved seat handles on car seats releasing suddenly without warning. 160 injuries were reported, including two concussions and a skull fracture.

Last week, the NHTSA announced it will set up a new child seat rating system for parents shopping for child car seats. The new system will include an assessment for “ease of use,” in terms of how easy the seat is to install and use, the clarity of instruction manuals, and product labeling.

When used properly, the NHTSA says that child car safety seat systems reduce fatal injuries for toddlers and infants by more than 50% in cars and by nearly 60% in SUVs.

When child car safety seats are defective, however, those safety numbers can go down. In the last 7 years, millions of child car seats have been recalled because of defects, including:

• Defective seat handles
• Defective shoulder straps
• Weakly constructed car seats
• Flammable product pieces
• Defective harnesses
• Defective seatbelt slots

Our products liability law firm represents the families of children who have been injured or killed while using a defective product. Our product safety lawyers have successfully handled many injury cases involving auto accidents, defective motor vehicle-related products, and injuries to minors.

One million Evenflo car seats recalled, CNN.com, February 1, 2008

Read the NHTSA Recall, Office of Defects Investigation, January 31, 2008

New child seat ratings system announced, Sun-Sentinel.com, January 30, 2008

Fall Hazard Prompts NHTSA, CPSC and Evenflo to Announce Recall of Embrace™ Infant Car Seat/Carriers, CPSC.gov, May 10, 2007

Related Web Resources:

Evenflo

List of Recalls and Replacement Parts for Child Restraints, Carseats.org, February 1, 2008 (PDF)

Continue reading "Evenflo Recalls 1 Million Discovery Infant Car Seats" »

Posted by Gilbert, Ollanik, & Komyatte, P.C. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Infant Products , Injuries to Children & Minors , Kids in Cars

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