Personal Injury Law

Over 2 Million Cribs Recalled Over Suffocation, Fall, and Entrapment Hazards

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling over 2 million cribs from seven manufacturers because they may pose a danger to children. While most of the affected products are drop-side, tens of thousands of stationary-side cribs are included in the mix.

Manufacturers and cribs involved in the recall:

? About 50,000 Simmons drop-drop side cribs
? Approximately 156,000 Million Dollar Baby drop-side cribs
? About 306,000 LaJobi drop-side cribs
? Approximately 130,000 Jardine drop-side cribs
? About 750,000 Jenny Lind Cribs by Evenflo
? All Delta cribs with wooden stabilizer bars and about 747,000 drop-side cribs
? Child Craft drop-side cribs and 40,000-50,000 "Crib ?N' Double Bed" stationary side cribs with dowel

You can view more specifics about each manufacturer?s recall by going to the CPSC Web site for more details. The federal agency is urging consumers to obtain their free repair kit. Do not fix the defect without it.

No child deaths have been linked to the recalled to the possibly defective products. However, there have been reports of drop-side issues, improper assembly, and mattress problems that have led to entrapment, suffocation, and fall accidents that have resulted in personal injuries to children.

It was just last month that the CPSC issued a warning about the dangers of drop-side cribs, of which more than 8 million have been recalled in the last five years. Since January 2000 at least 32 deaths have occurred as a result of crib suffocation and strangulation (often involving entrapment). Hundreds of incidents involving drop-side detachments and other problems have been reported.

Drop-side cribs tend to be less structurally solid than cribs with all fixed sides. If a crib?s drop-side detaches, a space can open up between the drop side and the mattress that a child can roll or fall into, increasing the risk of entrapment and suffocation.

Recalls and Product Safety Issues, CPSC

Recall: 2M cribs amid suffocation, entrapment hazards, Chicago Tribune, June 24, 2010

Government warns drop-side crib defects have killed at least 32 children, KMOV/AP, May 7, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Product Liability, Nolo

How to Avoid Dangerous Cribs, Good Housekeeping

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Attorney Blog on June 30, 2010 (boomark / email).