If you will recall, in November, our products liability law firm reported
that the Consumer Product Safety Commission had put out a warning for
people to be careful when using baby monitors that aren’t wireless
because the electrical cord can pose a strangulation hazard to kids. Now,
following the deaths of two babies from this very cause, the CPSC and
Summer Infant are recalling 1.7 million baby monitors so that better instructions
can be provided for how to properly use these devices so that children
remain safe.
Several deaths have been linked to corded baby monitors, including the
death last March of a 10-month old girl who died in a Washington DC strangulation
accident involving her Summer Infant’s electrical cord. The baby
monitor had been placed on top of her crib’s rail. In November,
the CPSC learned about a 6-month-old who died in a South Carolina strangulation
accident that also involved the electrical cord of his Summer Infant monitor.
Another boy, 20 months, almost died when his Summer Infant cord ended
up around his neck. Now, the CPSC is urging parents and guardians to make
sure that the baby monitors are kept far enough away from babies that
there is no way they can reach for or get close to the electrical cord.
Even if a product doesn’t malfunction or have some design flaw,
if it is causing serious injury or death, then it may be a dangerous product
that should be recalled. Inadequate operating instructions and warnings
can warrant a products liability case if inclusion of better warnings
and more complete directions could have prevented an injury or a death
from happening.
Over 40 different models of Summer Infant baby monitors, including those
with digital, handheld, and color monitors, are included in the recall.
Summer Infant is also recalling the rechargeable batteries found in another
58,000 baby video monitors that were sold only at Babies R Us in between
2009 and 2010 because they may cause burn injuries.
Two Strangulation Deaths Prompt Summer Infant to Recall Video Baby Monitors
with Cords; Firm to Provide New On-Product Label & Instructions, CPSC,
February 11, 2011
Video baby monitors recalled for strangulation hazard, Reuters/Yahoo,
February 11, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Summer Infant
Strangulation Hazards, Family Education
To schedule your free consultation, contact our child products liability law firm today.
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