The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced that it has accepted a Consent Agreement from nine manufacturers of drop side mesh-sided cribs and playpens in the case of In re Bilt-Rite et al., CPSC No. 83-4 to settle a complaint which alleged that the cribs and playpens are hazardous when used with a side down.
The Commission is aware of the deaths of 15 young children who asphyxiated or suffocated in mesh-sided cribs and playpens when left in these products with a side down. The victims range in age from two weeks to six months.
The companies signing the Agreement are Bilt-Rite Juvenile Products, Inc., Century Products, Inc.; Collier-Keyworth Co., Inc.: Cosco, Inc.; Grace Metal Products, Inc., Pride-Trimble Corporation; Spading & Even-F10 Companies, Inc. (successor to Questor Corporation); Strolee of California; and Welsch Company Inc.
Under the Consent Agreement and a Commission Order, the firms will give notice to the public that dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens are hazardous if a child is left in one of these products with a side down. The child may asphyxiate or suffocate in the loose mesh of the lowered side.
The companies will mail a warning letter to all households in the U.S. identified as having children nine months of age or younger, send warning posters to obstetricians, state health officials (through central state wide offices), and armed forces installations (through central offices). The companies will also mail letters and posters to certain retailers. Other efforts to reach retailers include asking the firms' sales personnel to inform retailers of the hazard and participation in a consumer forum.
The firms have also agreed in the Consent Order to undertake a second round of public notices one year after the first public notice. The second publicity effort will include mailing posters to pediatricians, obstetricians, and health officials; placing a paid advertisement in Parents magazine; seeking space in other magazines aimed at families with young children; and issuing a news release.
The notice given will inform the public of the asphyxiation hazards and will include the following information:
Dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens are hazardous when a child is left in them with a side down. Fifteen young children have died in dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens when left in them with a side down--nine children in playpens and six children in cribs. Seven of the victims were six weeks old or younger. The victims rolled off the floor of the crib or playpen into the loose mesh pocket formed by the lowered side and suffocated. Children could also suffer other injuries such as brain damage as a result of becoming caught in the mesh pocket of a lowered side. Children may be unable to cry out when caught in the mash pocket because they cannot breathe. IX not leave children in dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens with a side down. |
Further information can be obtained by calling the Consumer Product Safety Commission on its toll-free Hotline: 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
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