To protect children from injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced two large recalls this week. Today, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the CPSC recalled 447,000 Dorel baby carriers following 77 reports of the carrying handle coming off. This creates a hazard that has hurt at least three infants. These injuries have included bumps, bruises, and one head injury.
The carrier can also be used as a stroller and a car seat. The CPSC says the hazard only exists when the handle is used on the carrier, which means it can still be used to secure infants in motor vehicles. Brands that use the Dorel carrier include Cosco, Safety First, Disney, and Eddie Bauer.
With so many parents taking such great care to ensure that they don't accidentally drop their babies or allow them to fall onto the ground unprotected, a child carrier with an improperly working carrier handle can be cause for concern--especially if the baby ends up striking his/head on a hard surface. An experienced Anaheim head injury attorney can help you determine whether you have grounds for filing a products liability claim because of a defective baby carrier.
Just three days ago, the CPSC announced the recall of 50 million roll-up and Roman shades because they can cause strangulation injuries if a child's neck gets tangled in the window covering's cord or becomes trapped between the cord and the blind or shade. At least 16 near strangulations and 8 deaths have been linked to these window coverings since 2001.
The CPSC and Window Covering Safety Council are reminding adults to keep the shade cords away from kids. If a cord does extend low enough for a child to reach, then it needs to be properly secured so the cord can't wrap around a child's neck. Furniture that toddlers and young kids can climb onto should be kept away from corded window coverings.
While recalling defective or hazardous products is a good way to prevent injury accidents from happening, it would be even better if manufacturers were to stop making dangerous and defective goods. Entrapment injuries, choking injuries, strangulation injuries, lead poisoning, and fall-related injuries are just some injuries to children that have been known to happen.
447,000 baby carriers recalled, CNN Money, December 18, 2009
Fall Hazard Prompts NHTSA, CPSC and Dorel Juvenile Group to Announce Recall of Infant Car Seat/Carriers, CPSC, December 18, 2009
Retailers Recall 50 Million Blinds on Choking Risk, Bloomberg, December 15, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Window Covering Safety Council
Baby Products, Consumer Reports
Contact our Orange County, California products liability lawyers to schedule your free case evaluation.
