CPSC

Recalled Robes, Cribs, and Hooded Sweatshirts: Top Safety Concerns You Should Know About

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:59:14 +0000

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about recalls. Sadly, they seem to pop up every day – either an indication of our products getting junkier, or a sign that the government is becoming better aware of safety concerns, in general. These alerts top my list of “recalls you really should know about.” If Grandma wears a robe, you must read this!

I always like when a company takes the initiative and puts out a voluntary recall before any accidents occur. To me, it is a sign that they are being proactive, hoping to avoid lawsuit, and taking responsibility for their own product lines (instead of waiting for the government to tell them what to do.) Many of these product recalls occurred BEFORE any accidents occurred. Sadly, however, many of the affected consumer groups aren’t the type to read emails or check the CPSC website for updates. Do you know anyone who would be affected by these recalls?

Blair Chenille Robes – There have been six reported deaths of consumers by catching on fire while wearing these $20-40 robes. The reports indicate that five of them were women, all of them were cooking at the time, and a few were in their 80’s. This just makes me sad, as many of the customers who order from Blair do so over the phone or through catalog orders. (They are not likely to be reading emails or checking Snopes to see if reports are real.) Internet-savvy customers can to to www.blair.com/recall for the full details of the recall, or they can call (877) 392-7095 to file a claim and get their $50 Blair gift card.

LaJobi Drop Side Cribs – Two separate recalls have been issued for models of this crib, sold at retailers like USA Baby, Buy Buy Baby, and Beautiful Beginnings. Retailing at between $299 and $450, you would expect (and hope) that the slats on the side of the crib would NOT break or fall out. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, there have been over 40 reports of slat or side failure, and one case of a baby falling out of the crib and getting bruised. Read the details of the recalls at LaJobi’s website, and share this info with people you know. (Check out past crib and bassinet recalls at CPSC’s website – just do a search for “crib” or “bassinet.”)

Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts – I can’t even count the number of hooded sweatshirt recalls I’ve seen in the last year. The brands include Red Envelope, Ocean Pacific, Karl Kani, and Gildan Activewear and include everything in between. Unfortunately, recalls date back to before 2007 and warn of strangulation hazards from the drawstrings in the hoods of the sweatshirts. Despite industry standards, there are new recalls every month, and even more companies settling lawsuits as a result of injury or death. Even if you were aware of every recall and avoided purchasing new garments under these brands, many parents buy gently used clothing from garage sales and consignment outlets – making it difficult to stay on top of the news. I would suggest reading up on many of the recalls, but to be absolutely certain you are not affected – avoid buying kids’ clothing with drawstrings. Period.

Baby/Toddler Play yards (playpens) – I can’t imagine living without my Graco Pack N’ Play. I also cannot imagine living without any of my four children. When this press release went out in 2001, parents cringed at the thought that a play yard could be responsible for 4 infant deaths and several injuries. Recalls dating back to 1993 revealed weaknesses in various brands’ models, including Kolcraft, Century, and EvenFlo. Just when we thought play pens were getting safer, a new round of recalls got parents worrying again. Brands involved in this recent rash of recalls include Eddie Bauer and Fisher-Price/Simplicity. Parents are encouraged to follow recall alerts from CPSC’s website and subscribe to updates via email. (This recent article involving the safety of motel/hotel cribs and playpens is also very informative reading!)

I recently reported a defect in a new toy my son was playing with. Even when used properly, his little finger kept getting pinched in a moving part and it caused him to lose part of his fingernail. We took the toy away, and I contacted the company – with no results. (I couldn’t believe that this wasn’t also happening to other kids.) Unfortunately, if there are only one or two reports of failure or injury, it may not be enough to prompt a recall. I encourage everyone to be vigilant in reporting product defects to both the manufacturer and the CPSC – especially if it is something you feel other consumers could benefit from knowing about.

What recalls are most alarming to you? Do you follow them carefully, or do you think recalls are mostly hype? We’d love to hear your feedback!

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Books Get Recalled, Too (The Shocking Truth)

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:10:40 +0000

Just when you thought the world of consumer product recalls was largely limited to lead-based toys, laceration hazards, and the phenomenon of exploding laptop batteries, we can now add reading materials to the potential list of “harmful products.” And while paper cuts are nasty things to experience, we’re referring instead to the possibility of electrical shock with this most recent alert.

This may be the first time I’ve seen a book recall in my lifetime. There may have been others, but not since Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 have I seen such government reaction to the possible hazards of any particular edition. The books at the cause of the attention are Wiring a House, 3rd Edition and Wiring Complete, Expert Advice from Start to Finish and are published by Taunton Press.

The books are how-to manuals with the promise of being “builder tested, code approved.” The problem lies in some of the instructions, however, as they have been found to be no good. (Several technical diagrams are inaccurate.)

With the risk of electrical shock to those who don’t know better and blindly follow the book for guidance (which would be most anyone who bought it), there is the real possibility of harm and liability. As a result, they are recalling the book, and insist that any book owners return it to their retailer for a full refund. (If you’re not sure where you bought it, or you managed to snag a copy on Ebay, contact Taunton directly at www.taunton.com or (800) 477-8727. They should be able to help you out.)

At the time of the recall, there have been no reported injuries. For the full scoop on this CPSC recall, visit the official government website at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09078.html.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

In Search of Safety: A Mom's 8-Step Guide to Toy Selection and Everyday Use

Julie Rains — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:06:23 +0000

As the mom of two boys, I can tell you that there are two kinds of toys: 1) those that are inherently dangerous (such as ATVs, BB guns, and lead-tainted toys) and 2) those made dangerous in the hands of children (nearly everything). This 8-step guide to toy selection and everyday use includes tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, information about the kit used by Marilyn Furer to detect lead on her grandchild’s bib (resulting in Wal-Mart's recall), and personal accounts of my adventures in child safety.

1. Choose Carefully

Follow guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics for Toy Safety and its Holiday Safety Tips:

Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don't give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

2. Respect Age Restrictions

I made the mistake of dismissing age restrictions – once. At 3½, my son had well-developed fine motor skills and, unlike other children his age, never put objects (toy parts, coins) in his mouth. He loved manipulating small items so I thought that Lite Brites would be a great Christmas gift for him, despite its age 4 and up recommendation.

On a Sunday afternoon in February, my son had wiggled his way under a bed, fussing about a Lite Brite in his nose. I coaxed him out and attempted to remove the offending object, which he had tried to use as a tool to clean his nose. Having had earlier success with the removal of an un-popped popcorn kernel, I thought that I could quickly take care of the toy. Instead of removing it, however, I moved it further from reach. After conferring with the on-call physician at our doctor’s office, I took him to a urgent care facility.

My son seemed to grasp that he should be still and not disturb the toy lodged in his nasal cavity while we waited (approximately 3 hours) to see a physician. I relaxed about his predicament but began to be concerned about perceptions of my parenting abilities. In the examining/procedure room, a young, energetic male physician questioned me with “what happened here?” and smiled when I responded “flawed logic,” recalling, it seemed, adolescent fun gone awry. He quickly retrieved the Lite Brite and offered it to me as a souvenir before I headed home, clear-nosed child in tow.

Here’s a resource for detecting the presence of objects in the nose from WebMD.

3. Modify Toys if Needed

If you happen to receive blatantly or potentially unsafe items as gifts and/or a toy is slightly different than what you expected based on its packaging, discard the obviously unsafe or modify the item to make it safe. For example, I have removed beads from a cloth book that was an infant gift. The beads were firmly attached (my tugging did not dislodge them) but I felt much more comfortable allowing my child to play with the book sans beads.

Warning and tantrum-avoidance tip: do not remove parts or make modifications in the presence of your child.

4. Read Instructions

Instructions apply not only to toys but other children's products. For example, I bought a Happy Camper playpen/sleeping area for short overnight trips to grandparents' homes. This product had hinge covers that allowed you to lock railings in place so that the sides would not come up randomly (at night, when everyone was sleeping). These play yards were recalled because of hazards associated with improper set-up.

5. Calculate Safety Windows

Since nearly any toy can be made dangerous by an imaginative child, you can assign times that you think your child could play safely with a toy without your direct supervision. The time is not measured in minutes but rather in tasks such as taking a shower; going to the bathroom; fixing a sandwich; or preparing dinner (typically broken into separate tasks such as defrosting chicken, boiling water, etc.)

For example, small objects may be embedded safely in a toy when purchased but can become dislodged and accessible after hours of play. Likewise, parts of a toy may be broken, leaving sharp edges exposed.

Checking toys periodically and children much of the time minimizes the chance that toys will be made hazardous and the child is harmed.

6. Consider These Playthings

Blocks
Blocks are great for sparking a child’s imagination and big ones, though bulky, are pretty easy to pick up and put away. Their danger lies primarily in the throwing of or tripping over; for example, a child may injure another child or himself/herself by hurling a wooden block or said toy may ricochet off a wall and back onto the child. Nevertheless, here are some block options:

Wooden Blocks
Large Red Blocks (corrugated cardboard)
DUPLOS® (created by The LEGO Group)

Balls
Soft balls made of sturdy materials that won’t come apart are ideal. I like the round but easy-grip, squeezable balls (purchased years ago by me from Discovery Toys but just like these at GertieBall.com).

Books
Technically books aren’t toys but infants/toddlers haven’t learned that yet. A child can be occupied for 15 minutes or more with a book. You can buy cloth books that are nearly indestructible or board books with the same pictures and content as traditional favorites such as Good Night Moon or The Runaway Bunny.

7. Check Recalls

Carrie did a great post on recalls and offered resources such as Recalls.gov for products that have caused or could cause safety problems. You can also visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website and do searches on specific products and toy companies at both sites.

You may want to review the safety practices of toy companies (manufacturers, distributors, marketers, retailers). All claim to have children’s safety in mind; however, they should:

Set standards or refer to industry standards that they adhere to
Have a formal testing process that checks raw materials (components, inks, paint) and finished products
Engage a third-party testing laboratory or have an operation dedicated to testing (independent of sales and merchandising groups)
Reject products that don’t meet standards
Design toys with standards in mind, not tested after container loads or truck loads have arrived at the distribution center.

The LEGO Group, for example, complies with the European Toy Directive and ASTM standard F963 (U.S.A).

Warning: please don’t let your children put Legos in their mouths, noses, or other orifices.

8. Test for lead if you'd like.

My children are beyond the slobbery, put-everything-into-the-mouth stage but if they weren’t I’d keep an eye on the reports of lead-laden toys and children’s accessories. Not being able to discern danger through a visual inspection makes me uneasy. It disturbed Marilyn Furer: she used a home lead testing kit to detect danger in her grandson's bib, resulting in a recall by Wal-Mart. (See Andrea's post on faulty, dangerous products from China.)

But are home testing kits any good?

Consumer Products Safety Commission recently issued a report that stated that home lead testing kits were not reliable.
Consumer Reports has also evaluated home testing kits and indicates that the CPSC does not mention the brand names of kits tested.
According to the Homax Products website, Marilyn Furer used its LeadCheck® product.
Home testing kits test surface or accessible lead rather than lead embedded in products.
Consumer Reports mentions Homax LeadCheck product as one of the best performing do-it-yourself lead test kits.

BOTTOM LINE: Watch child's play or read recall lists to learn of hazards based on real-life product usage, intended or otherwise. Then use your intellect and imagination to play it safe.

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: