Disability Law

There have been hundreds of thousands of baby strollers recalled this week dues to injuries and even one death. Details are contained in an article in the Los Angeles Times:

Peg Perego recalled hundreds of thousands of strollers Tuesday because children can become trapped and strangled between trays on them. One death has already been reported.

A 6-month-old boy from Tarzana died of strangulation in a stroller in 2004, and a 7-month-old girl from New York was nearly strangled in 2006, according to Peg Perego USA Inc. The company said entrapment and strangulation can take place, particularly among those younger than a year old, when the child is not harnessed into the stroller. If unharnessed, children can pass through the opening between the tray and the seat bottom and the child's neck and head can become trapped by the tray.

Peg Perego is recalling about 223,000 strollers, which include Venezia and Pliko-P3 strollers in various colors, made from January 2004 to September 2007.

Only strollers with a child tray and one cup holder are part of the recall. Strollers with a bumper bar in front of the child or a tray with two cup holders are not included in this recall.

The company said the strollers were made before a voluntary industry standard was implemented in January 2008 that addresses the height of the opening between the stroller's tray and the seat bottom. The voluntary standard requires larger stroller openings that prevent infant entrapment and strangulation hazards.

The Pliko-P3 strollers sold for $270 to $330, while the Venezia strollers sold for $350 to $450. The strollers were sold at various retailers, including Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the strollers and contact Peg Perego for a free repair kit at http://www.PegPeregoUSA.com.

Separately, Kolcraft Enterprises Inc. is recalling some strollers because of potential falling and choking hazards.

The company is recalling about 5,600 of the Contours Options LT double strollers with model number ZT012 sold from February to July. However, no injuries have been reported.

The front wheel assembly can break, which could lead to a child's falling out of the stroller. And the nuts that hold the stroller's basket support screws in place can detach on strollers made in January and February. The detached nuts are a potential choking hazard.

Consumers should immediately stop using the strollers and contact Kolcraft for free replacement wheels. Those with strollers made in January and February will also receive replacement nuts. The company can be contacted online at http://www.kolcraft.com.