NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 30, 2007 Release #07-197

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 303-5631 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Fisher-Price Rainforest Infant Swings Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of product: Rainforest Open Top Take-Along™ Swings

Units: About 112,000 (an additional 15,000 were sold worldwide)

Importer: Fisher-Price, of East Aurora, NY

Hazard: Infants can shift to one side of the swing and become caught between the frame and seat, posing an entrapment hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Fisher-Price has received 60 reports of the infants becoming entrapped, resulting in cuts, bumps, bruises and red marks.

Description: This recall involves Portable Rainforest Take Along Swings with a palm tree mobile and two hanging plush toys. The swings are approximately 23-inches-high and have two carry handles on the left and right sides. Model numbers K7203, K7192 and K7195 are included in the recall. Model numbers are located under the right handle on the swing. No other collection of Rainforest swings or products are included in this recall.

Sold at: Discount department stores and toy stores nationwide from November 2006 to May 2007 for about $65.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the swing and contact Fisher-Price for instructions on how to return it to receive a voucher for a replacement product.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Fisher-Price toll-free at (888) 303-5631 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.service.mattel.com

Source http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07197.html

7 Baby Products that Can Kill Your Child

Here’s a list of the deadliest products that have been recalled. You may not be aware of these recalls, so it is very important to educate yourself for your families safety:

BUNK BEDS
Since 1991 almost 60 deaths have been reported to the CPSC due to bunk bed deaths. Some bunk beds have openings large enough for a child’s body to pass through, but small enough to trap the child’s head. In 1994 over 36 bed manufacturers had to recall over 645,000 wooden and metal bunk beds. . If your child’s bunk bed was made before 1999, you may want to get it checked out. Because it wasn’t until 1999 that the CPSC voted to institute mandatory bunk bed standards.

BATHTUB SEATS
Since 1983, over 100 child deaths have been caused by bathtub seats. These seats are a total nightmare because there so many issues with them. First, children can slip out of them and drowned. Second, the suction cups can become unstuck and the entire seat can tip over and third, should the seat tip over, you child is stuck underwater. Many companies have stopped making these seats and CPSC is fighting to get these seats banned completely.

CRIBS
Did you know that more infants die each year in cribs than any other nursery product? Almost 12,000 children are hospitalized with injuries and an average of 35 children die each year in unsafe cribs. Recalls have been made on numerous cribs for some of the following reasons: non-compliance with safety standards; strangulation hazards; risk of head entrapment when side rails, spindles, and slats in side rails become loose; risk of suffocation; choking hazards; risk of falling; and danger of laceration when fingers become trapped in folding drop gates. Why is this happening? Faulty cribs are manufactured to this day because although there are safety standards for crib producers, there’s NO TESTING REQUIREMENTS! So unfortunately, unless a child is injured, the crib is deemed safe and is sold.
IF YOUR CRIB WAS MANUFACTURED BEFORE 1990, it is probably NOT SAFE. Most cribs produced before 1990 do not meet current safety standards.

BABY GATES
In the year 2002, over 2,000 baby-gate related injuries occurred. NEVER USE accordian style gates because children can stick their heads in them. But accordian models are not the only recalls, in 1998, a new-plastic-style gate was recalled because plastic pieces can break off!

HIGHCHAIRS
Think you can trust the biggest name brands? Not always true! In 2001 Graco recalled over 860,000 highchairs! Many highchairs have been recalled because children can slide downward in the highchair seat and strangle when their heads are caught on the trays or waist belt and crotch strap.

PORTABLE CRIBS
Here’s another prime example of a major company producing deadly merchandise. In 1998, a portable crib manufactured by Playskool collapsed and killed one little boy. A few months later, the same thing happened and a second baby boy died. The similarities between the two deaths was that both children died from the same make and model of crib – this was a crib that happened to be recalled.
DO NOT ever place your child in a collapsible portable cribs or play yards with rotating top-rail hinges.

TOY CHESTS
Toy chests are another big no-no. Chests with lids have been known to cause brain injury and death. Children can also fall into the chest and become trapped. Oxygen deprivation leads to suffocation
IF YOU ALREADY OWN A TOY CHEST OR TRUNK CALL THE CPSC (800/638-CPSC) FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO FIX IT.