March 2010:  Product Recalls and Related News

Part One of Two

An unusually high number of products posing choking and strangulation risks are noted in the March 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC’s) recall list.  Other referenced items can cause fire, burn, shock or laceration injuries, while still others pose a special threat to infants and young children. Several of the remaining recalled products put consumers at risk for excessive lead paint and cadmium poisoning.

These monthly government lists help protect the public by urging consumers to avoid using or purchasing various dangerous products. Our law firm recommends that you regularly review these lists before ever making a major purchase or buying anything for a child.

Part One of our March 2010 recalled products review focuses mainly on items posing choking and strangulation hazards. It also describes several goods that create fall risks for consumers.

Part Two of our March 2010 review looks at many other products, including those posing lead paint, carbon monoxide and cadmium poisoning risks. Other noted items can create fire, burn, gas leak, shock and laceration hazards. This second half of our review also notes recent CPSC news.

Products Posing Choking and Strangulation  Hazards

• Peachtree Playthings of Atlanta, Georgia, has agreed to recall 127,000 children’s Batman, Tweety and Scooby Doo fork and spoon sets since the middle prongs of the forks can break off, posing a choking hazard to children. (These items are sold at Dollar Tree and Deals).
• Since such a large number of companies have agreed to recall their hooded sweatshirts (with drawstrings) for boys and girls due to their strangulation hazards, they will only be listed here by company name and any special brand name on the jackets. These companies include: Ten West Apparel, Children’s Apparel Network, Burlington Coat Factory, Liberty Apparel Company, LELE & Company Inc., Haselson International Trading Inc., Byer California (DBA Amy Byer, Philly) and Brand Revolution. (The two companies’ coats sold by Burlington carry the names Bubblegum USA and Regaliti Inc.)  The following are some of the additional coat names included in this recall: Jewel Girls’ Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings, Girls’ Cargo Pocket Jackets, Locks All Over Boys’ Hoodies, All Over Skaters Boys’ Hoodies and Rock Mask Boys’ Hoodies.
• Also under recall are the Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds made by several companies, including: Ethan Allen Global Inc., Meijer and Lutron Electronics. Repair kits are available for some of these shades and blinds. (When young children play with these blinds, they can get their necks caught in them and even choke themselves).

Product Recalls Due to Fall Risks

• Cost Plus Inc., of Oakland, California, has agreed to voluntarily recall about 4,300 Konrad and Loft Office Chairs. When some of the chair backs become detached from the seats, consumers can fall.
• Graco Children’s Products Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, is voluntarily recalling approximately 1.2 million Graco Harmony™ High Chairs.  If the chair leg screws come loose and fall out (or if the rear leg bracket breaks), the high chair may become unsteady, putting children at risk of falling.
• BikeMine of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Quality Bicycle Parts of Bloomington, Minnesota; Security Bicycle Accessories of Hempstead, New York and Bicycle Technologies International (BTI) of Santa Fe, New Mexico, have all agreed to recall about 325 Ventus Ltd™ and Ventus Team™ Bicycle Aerobars. If the two rubber hand grips on these handle bars become loose while consumers are riding their bikes, they can fall off and injure themselves.
• Both the CPSC and Health Canada have asked Evenflo Co. Inc. of Miamisburg, Ohio to voluntarily recall about 150,000 (U. S.) and 33,000 (Canada) Evenflo Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood Gates. If the gate slats detach or break, children can fall and harm themselves.

Other products posing fire, burn, poisoning and shock risks are covered in Part Two of our review of the March 2010 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall list.  Part Two also briefly notes some recent CPSC news.   Readers interested in reviewing the complete March 2010 CPSC list can visit the following link: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelmar10.html)

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Demas & Rosenthal remains one of Sacramento’s most highly respected and accomplished personal injury law firms. We’ve been successfully representing clients since our firm first opened its doors back in 1993. Every Demas & Rosenthal attorney takes pride in obtaining the full compensation and complete justice owed to every client.

Products intended for use by and for infants tend to draw much attention from consumers, especially when a potential defect is discovered that could put children in positions of danger.  Several different products of this type have been recalled in the past year, and it now appears that another infant product could be joining that growing list – baby slings.  The reason appears to be risk of injury and even death.

According to the Examiner:

“According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they are preparing to issue a warning about baby slings before the end of the week.

Baby slings are carriers that allow parents to keep their infants strapped close to their chest. Although they may look safe – they may not be.

According to Associated Press, these cuddly slings will soon be the subject of a government safety warning due to the fact that infants carried in these slings could potentially be suffocated.

According to Inez Tannenbaum, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, they know of too many deaths in these slings and the hazard for very small babies is real.”

There have already been several recalls for these products by different companies, but if you are using one of them with your child, you should stop doing so immediately. If your child has suffered an injury because of one of these products and you need legal help, you need to contact the Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand what it takes to hold corporations of all sizes accountable for the harm they’ve caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

We’ve posted several times recently regarding the new dangers being reported in conjunction with products intended for children and infants.  One of the most recent involved thousands of baby swings, but now comes word of a much larger recall that’s being initiated by one of the world’s leaders in children’s products.  Graco has announced the recall of 1.5 million cribs.

According to the Sun-Sentinel in Florida:

“About 1.5 million strollers sold at Wal-Mart, Target and other major retailers are being recalled after some children’s fingertips were amputated by hinges on the products.

The recall by Graco Children’s Products Inc. includes certain model numbers of its Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. The Exton, Pa., company received seven reports of children placing their in a stroller’s canopy hinge as the canopy was being opened or closed. Five children had their fingertips severed and two children received cuts on their fingertips.

The strollers were made in China by Graco and sold at AAFES, Burlington Coat Factory, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Kmart, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Navy Exchange, Sears, Target, Wal-Mart and other retailers nationwide from October 2004 to December 2009.

In announcing the recall Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the strollers pose an amputation and laceration hazard to children when opening or closing the canopy. The government advised consumers to stop using the strollers and contact Graco to receive a free repair kit.

The recall involves strollers made between October 2004 and February 2008. The model numbers and manufacture dates are on the lower inside portion of the rear frame, just above the rear wheels.”

If you are using one of these models, stop doing so immediately until you can be sure of your child’s safety.  If your child has been injured by one of these or any other children’s products, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who have a track record of successfully holding large corporations accountable for the injuries they caused.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

For many years, the Chinese have been shipping consumer goods to the United States for many reasons.  On the consumer side, these products sold well because they did not cost as much as goods manufactured in the United States or in other countries.  However, that cost savings came with a risk – Chinese products were found to contain high amounts of lead that caused serious injuries.  One such product line that remains popular is children’s toys manufactured in China, and now comes word that in response to the lead concerns, Chinese manufacturers have allegedly replaced that toxin with another, that being cadmium.

According to an AP report published in the Sun-Sentinel in Florida:

“Federal and state watchdogs in the U.S. have opened a new front in the campaign to keep poisons out of Chinese imports, launching inquiries into high levels of cadmium in children’s jewelry while Walmart pulled many suspect items from its store shelves.

A day after The Associated Press documented the contamination in an investigative report, the top U.S. consumer safety regulator warned Asian manufacturers Monday not to substitute other toxins for lead in children’s charm bracelets and pendants.

Regulators and lawmakers reacted swiftly to the AP report, which found that some Chinese manufacturers have been using cadmium, sometimes at extraordinarily high levels. Congress clamped down on lead in those products in 2008, but cadmium is even more harmful.”

Direct exposure to cadmium can lead to cancer, kidney problems and brittle bones, and this could simply be the start of another drawn-out issue with China.  In the meantime, if you or someone you love has been harmed by exposure to this or any other toxic substance, you need the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand how to handle the complicated nature of these sorts of claims.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

One of the many reasons that we continue to cover the issue of dangerous products and recalls is because avoiding dangers is the best way to avoid unforeseen injuries.  It seems that lately there have been several product recalls involving baby products, and now comes word that another product intended to be used with infants is being pulled from the shelves.

According to the ABC affiliate in Fresno:

“The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling Amby Baby Motion Beds. It’s a hammock type swing seen in video provided by the manufacturer.

The problem: the swing poses a suffocation hazard because the design can cause infants to roll and become trapped against the fabric or mattress pad.

“The design of the bed and the age of the child being that young prohibited the child from correcting itself to a supine – face up – position … Where the airway was not obstructed,” said Medical Examiner’s Investigator Eddie Reeves.

More than 20,000 of these swings have been sold online since 2003.

The recall came up after a Georgia investigators said it led to the death of a four-month-old girl.”

If you are using this product, stop doing so immediately so that you do not put your child or children at risk unnecessarily. If you have suffered through an injury or worse to your child as a result of this or any other defective product, you need to seek the help of Sacramento defective products lawyers who understand how to work effectively towards a justifiable recovery of damages.  Contact Demas & Rosenthal today to schedule a free initial consultation.

Far too often, dogs previously thought well-behaved will attack both children and adults. In August 2009, two brothers in the Sacramento area had to fight hard to escape from their neighbor’s Rottweiler. The dog’s owner had just brought him out of her house on a leash before the attack occurred.

One minute the two boys, ages four and eight, were playing in their front yard with their mother standing nearby. The next minute, the dog attacked after the older boy innocently approached it. The younger boy received numerous wounds requiring 100 stitches and a three-day stay in the hospital. His older brother received deep wounds in right arm. The younger boy might not have fared as well as he did had his older brother not come to his rescue. Furthermore, the dog was about to attack the children’s mother when the older boy yelled out and leapt to her defense.

As frightening as such attacks are, it’s just to easy for all of us to forget how “man’s best friend” can suddenly become aggressive. Even “good dogs” can occasionally act completely out of character and harm those in their presence. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year. About twenty percent (20%) of those bitten require medical treatment. In 2006, thirty-one thousand people chose to undergo reconstructive surgery after being bitten by dogs.

Given these CDC statistics, everyone needs to be more careful when walking outside or visiting others who keep dogs in their home or outside. To protect ourselves, we each should:

• Bear in mind that neutering a dog will often help curb some of its more aggressive behaviors;
• Avoid leaving babies or young children alone with a dog, no matter how calm its temperament usually tends to be;
• Remember that children between the ages of five and nine are most likely to be bitten by dogs;
• Keep in mind that men are more likely to be bitten by dogs than women;
• Teach our dogs tricks or behaviors that reinforce the importance of being submissive;
• Reach out immediately for professional help if a dog (or other pet) begins to display hostile or threatening behavior toward anyone (or another pet) in the household;
• Avoid playing rough with a dog. Animals often find it hard to stop playing rough after their human master or friend has started the rowdy play. Men and boys seem to encourage this type of play far too often, despite the tragic consequences that can occur. This may be why men are more likely to be bitten by dogs than women.
• Remind children to never, ever approach a dog they don’t know or without an adult by their side. Even when accompanied by a parent or other caregiver, children should be taught to never initiate any physical contact with a dog;
• Remember that if we are attacked by a dog, we should roll into a ball to protect our most vulnerable body parts;
• Keep in mind that no one should ever disturb dogs that are eating, sleeping or caring for their puppies;
• Always report stray dogs or those acting in a strange manner to local authorities so they can act before the dogs possibly harm people or other animals. Children should also be taught to immediately notify an adult upon noticing such an animal.

If we each keep these basic rules in mind, we should be able to safely enjoy spending time (indoors and) outdoors with dogs in our midst.

Anyone who has been recently bitten or otherwise attacked by a dog should feel free to contact our office since we’re experienced in helping clients obtain the medical care they need, while pursuing legal action on their behalf. You deserve to regain your full health after a dog attack and not suffer long-term financial losses often associated with such injuries.

As most parents know, bringing a new baby into the world can be as challenging as it is exciting. Yet apart from the joys you’ll discover, it’s critical to remember your role as your child’s chief protector. For example, you’ll need to be very careful when furnishing your baby’s room so you can maximize your child’s health and safety. You’ll need to complete some serious research before purchasing a wide variety of items, including a safe crib, mattress, clothing and toys.

Your Baby’s Crib and Mattress

Far too often, attorneys are asked to represent parents of a child who’s suffered serious head trauma, or even death, due to a crib’s improper design. Just recently, more than one million cribs had to be recalled in both the United States and Canada. It seems the mattress supports in those cribs could malfunction and cause serious or deadly injuries to children.

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The impending danger was magnified by the fact that the cribs were being sold by some of the largest discount stores and best-known Web sites in Canada and the United States. A crib mattress should also be purchased cautiously. Long ago, parents just assumed that a firm yet comfortable mattress would fully meet their baby’s needs.

Nowadays, we’re become aware of how incredibly sensitive newborns are to their surroundings. We know we should choose a baby’s mattress that was made without any toxic substances, is fire-retardant and unlikely to provoke allergies and rashes.

Comfort remains important but should never be the sole consideration.

Many modern parents are investing in organic crib mattresses because they’re free of many chemical additives that have been linked to toxic poisoning and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Organic crib mattresses feature pure “grow wool” which comes from sheep and is naturally fire-retardant.

Clothing and Toys

Careful parents should choose clothing for their baby that’s fire retardant yet comfortable. Small buttons or others items that can be pulled off and cause choking should never be sewn on a baby’s daywear or night clothing.

Caution must also be exercised when attaching toys to a crib so that small parts cannot fall off and choke a child. Furthermore, all toys must be free of toxic paint or other harmful substances and be free of any small parts that might fall off and harm a child.

Other General Items

Parents must carefully research the safety of the bottles they’ll be using when feeding their babies and the formulas they’ll be placing in those bottles. During the past year, a number of news stories have discussed the dangerous chemical components of some plastic baby bottles.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/23/america/plastic.php

and http://a.abcnews.com/Health/Consumer/story?id=4657968&page=1

Baby formulas must also be carefully researched. You must be sure to only use those that are free of harmful additives. As it turns out, China was not the only country producing baby formula with the potentially dangerous additive melamine in it. That substance turned up in small quantities in the formula being produced by one American manufacturer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/26formula.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=melamine&st=cse

Parents should also purchase changing tables with proper side guards to prevent any falls; carpet that’s non-toxic and slightly padded to soften any unexpected falls; and fire retardant sheets, blankets and pillows.

Last, but most important of all, be sure to check with your baby’s doctor for the latest recommendations for safe baby products.