The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced two major crib recalls
today over concerns that the infant sleepers can cause serious injuries
to children. To our child injury law firm, the latest recalls are yet
another reminder that there are crib manufacturers that continue to place
children’s safety at risk with their poorly designed and manufactured products.
In the first recall, the CPSC is recalling all Simplicity cribs that have
tubular metal mattress-support frames. Simplicity drop-side and fixed-side
cribs are both affected by the recall. Because Simplicity and SFCA Inc.,
its successor company, are no longer in operation, the CPSC is unsure
of how many cribs were sold.
Strangulation, entrapment, suffocation, and fall accidents might happen
if the frame detaches, bends, or causes a portion of the mattress to collapse
so that an opening is created that the infant can get stuck in or fall
through. The CPSC knows of at least 13 incidents where this crib defect
has led to the product failing.
One Massachusetts toddler, age 1, died from a crib entrapment accident
in April 2008 when he got stuck between the frame and mattress. Another
child sustained minor cuts to his head when the mattress collapsed and
he fell out of the crib. Another child was also involved in a crib entrapment
accident. Fortunately, he did not get hurt.
In the second crib recall, the CPSC is recalling approximately 217,000
Graco drop-side cribs that were manufactured by LaJobi Inc. The suffocation
and entrapment hazard can occur if the drop-side hardware fails or breaks,
causing the drop side to detach. This can create a dangerous opening between
the mattress and the drop-side that a child can get entrapped in or wedged
between. Also, in the event that the drop side detaches or doesn’t
lock properly, the crib then becomes a fall hazard.
There have been 99 reports so far of drop-sides detaching or breaking.
Luckily, two children who became entrapped were freed before they suffocated.
Six children fell from the crib. One of them sustained a mild concussion.
Recall: Simplicity cribs. One infant death reported, Chicago Tribune,
April 29, 2010
Simplicity and Graco crib recalls: Is your crib on the list?, Christian
Science Monitor, April 29, 2010
Related Web Resources:
CPSC
Check cribs for defects before placing babies back to sleep, APP News,
March 2009
Our crib defect law firm is offering free case evaluations to families whose children were injured or killed in a crib-related accident. Contact The Gilbert Law Group, P.C. today to find out whether you have grounds for a products liability case.
