Sling Warning Public Service Announcement (PSA)
Press Release # 10-165
Transcript
The picture, text and audio sequence is as follows:
- Screen reading: CPSC Logo and 'CPSC Advises parents: "Use extra caution with infant carrier slings."'
- Picture of Patty Davis, CPSC Spokesperson, next to the CPSC logo: "When researching the past 20 years of sling use, CPSC identified at least 14 babies who died since 1998 inside their sling-style infant carriers."
- Picture of CPSC Spokesperson, next to a sling-style infant carrier: "Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age. We are warning parents and caregivers to be cautious when carrying babies younger than 4 months of age in a sling and to make sure that your infant's face is visible at all times when using these products."
- Video: Woman carrying a baby doll inside a sling carrier.
- CPSC Spokesperson: In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. When they are placed with their faces below the rim of a sling, they are not able to lift their heads to breathe.
- Diagram: Baby positioned too low in a sling carrier.
- CPSC Spokesperson: This leads to two hazardous situations.
- Video: Woman demonstrating the position of a baby with the head turned toward the adult.
- CPSC Spokesperson: First, one particular risk occurs when the baby's head is turned toward the adult. An infant's nose and mouth can be pressed against the carrier and become blocked, preventing the baby from breathing.
- Video: Another view of the position of a baby with the head turned toward the adult.
- CPSC Spokesperson: Suffocation can happen quickly, within a minute or two. Second, when a baby lies in a sling, the fabric can push the baby's head forward to its chest.
- Video: Woman showing how the baby's head can be pushed forward toward the chest.
- CPSC Spokesperson: Infants can't lift their heads and free themselves to breathe.
- Video: A view of the curled, chin-to-chest position.
- CPSC Spokesperson: This curled, chin-to-chest position can partially restrict a baby's airways, causing a baby to lose consciousness. The baby cannot cry out for help.
- Video: Woman showing a baby in a sling with face and nose fully visible.
- CPSC Spokesperson: We urge parents and caregivers to keep these dangers in mind when selecting wearable carriers for babies. If you use any type of wearable carrier, make sure your infant's face is not covered and you can see your baby's face at all times.
- Video: Another view of a baby in a sling carrier with face and nose fully visible.
- CPSC Spokesperson: Be vigilant about checking on your baby often when your baby is in a carrier.
- Video: Woman demonstrating the technique to check breathing.
- CPSC Spokesperson: To check breathing, some sling manufacturers tell you to make sure you can fit two fingers vertically under the baby's chin. Many of the babies who died in slings were low birth weight or premature babies, a twin or babies with other health issues, such as a cold. We urge parents of those children to use extra caution and talk with pediatricians about using slings. To prevent babies from falling out of wearable carriers, adults who use them should double check that latches and ties are tight and make sure that babies are secure before reaching for things.
- Screen reading: CPSC Logo and "For more information go to www.cpsc.gov"
- End