Manufacturers are constantly working to make their products safer for use by the public. Generally, the cost associated with making a product less dangerous is nominal compared to the danger certain products can present. Unfortunately, not all defects are identified and remedied in time. As a parent, I find it imperative to be proactive about recalls, especially when the safety of my child is at risk. Here is a list of recent recalls of children’s products that I have come across.
Baby Seats Recalled for Repair by Bumbo International Due to Fall Hazard Consumers should order free repair kit.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced on August 15, 2012 a voluntary recall of the Bumbo Baby Seat. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. According to the report, babies can maneuver out of or fall from the Bumbo seat, posing a risk of serious injuries.
CPSC and Bumbo International know of at least 50 incidents after the October 2007 voluntary recall in which babies fell from a Bumbo seat while it was being used on a raised surface. Nineteen of those incidents included reports of skull fractures. CPSC and Bumbo International are aware of an additional 34 post-recall reports of infants who fell out or maneuvered out of a Bumbo seat used on the floor or at an unknown elevation, resulting in injury. Two of these incidents involved reports of skull fractures, while others reported bumps, bruises and other minor injuries.
Consumers should immediately stop using the product until they order and install a free repair kit, which includes: a restraint belt with a warning label, installation instructions, safe use instructions and a new warning sticker. The belt should always be used when a child is placed in the seat. Even with the belt, the seat should never be used on any raised surface. Consumers should also immediately stop using Bumbo seat covers that interfere with the installation and use of the belt. A video demonstrating proper installation of the restraint belt and proper use of the Bumbo seat are available at www.BumboUSA.com
Trampolines Recalled by Panline USA Due to Fall Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on July 18, 2012 a voluntary recall of the Panline Tramoline. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. The product is a small, toddler-sized trampoline with a yellow and blue colored handlebar over the top of the trampoline for toddlers to hold on to while jumping. According to the report, the handlebar can break, causing a fall hazard.
Innovage Recalls Discovery Kids Lamps Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
On July 3, 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of the Discovery Kids?”? Animated Marine and Safari Lamps. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
This recall involves Discovery Kids Animated Marine and Safari Lamps that feature rotating films with marine or safari scenes. The placement of internal wires near the circuit board can cause electrical short-circuiting and sparking, posing a fire and a burn hazard to consumers, particularly young children. Consumers should immediately stop using the lamps and contact Innovage for instructions on how to obtain a full refund.
Peg Perego Recalls Strollers Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation; One Child Death Reported
On July 24, 2012, the CPSC, in cooperation with Peg Perego USA Inc., announced a voluntary recall of about 223,000 strollers due to a risk of entrapment and strangulation.
A 6-month-old baby boy from Tarzana, Calif. died of strangulation after his head was trapped between the seat and the tray of his Peg Perego stroller in 2004. Another baby, a 7-month-old girl from New York, N.Y., nearly strangled when her head became trapped between the seat and the tray of her stroller in 2006.
Entrapment and strangulation can occur, especially to infants younger than 12 months of age, when a child is not harnessed. An infant can pass through the opening between the stroller tray and seat bottom, but his/her head and neck can become entrapped by the tray. Infants who become entrapped at the neck are at risk of strangulation.
The recall involves two different older versions of the Peg Perego strollers, Venezia and Pliko-P3, manufactured between January 2004 and September 2007, in a variety of colors. They were manufactured prior to the existence of the January 2008 voluntary industry standard which addresses the height of the opening between the stroller’s tray and the seat bottom. The voluntary standard requires larger stroller openings that prevent infant entrapment and strangulation hazards. Only strollers that have a child tray with one cup holder are part of this recall. Strollers with a bumper bar in front of the child or a tray with two cup holders are not included in this recall.
CPSC and Peg Perego warn consumers that these strollers may be available on the secondhand market, in thrift stores or at yard sales. Consumers should not buy or sell these recalled strollers until the repair kit is installed.
NOTE: When using a stroller, parents and caregivers are encouraged to always secure children by using the safety harness and never leave them unattended. To learn more about the importance of stroller safety, see CPSC’s safety alert: www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5096.pdf
Chicco Polly High Chairs Recalled Due to Laceration Hazard
On July 12, 2012, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, announced a voluntary recall of the Chicco Polly High Chair, because children can fall on or against the pegs on the rear legs of the high chair, resulting in a bruising or laceration injury. The report acknowledges 21 reports of incidents in which a child fell against the peg and received injuries, including four laceration injuries requiring medical closure (stitches, tape or glue) and one scratched cornea.
This recall involves a range of Chicco Polly high chairs with pegs on the back legs intended for tray storage. The high chairs have a folding metal frame for storage and a reclining seat. The recalled high chairs can be identified by the model number and date code printed on a label on the underside of the seat, close to the footrest. Consumers should contact Chicco for a free peg cover kit which will be mailed to them. To help prevent injuries before repair, consumers should store the tray on the pegs when the high chair is not in use.
Children’s Pajamas Recalled by Ishtex Textile Products Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard
On June 28, 2012, the CPSC announced a voluntary recall of the Gabiano Collection of Boys and Girls Pajamas, Sets and Gowns. The pajamas fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear posing a risk of burn injury to children. The garments were advertised and sold as children’s sleepwear. Children should stop wearing the recalled sleepwear immediately, and consumers should return it for a refund, exchange or store credit.
For additional information regarding these recalls, as well as other recent recalls, please visit http://www.cpsc.gov. This list in no way is intended to represent a complete listing of recent recalls of children’s products. It is important to stay on top of recall alerts, which can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov. If you or a loved one has been injured by one of these products, or another defective product, please contact the attorneys of Zimmerman & Frachtman today.