tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40584930426568282212024-03-13T10:56:34.313-05:00Kids In DangerKids In Danger is dedicated to protecting children by improving children's product safety. Our mission is to promote the development of safer products, advocate for children and educate parents and caregivers about dangerous products.Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-68304954005859827972011-04-25T09:20:00.001-05:002011-04-25T09:22:11.320-05:00KID has a new Blog!As we mentioned in the last post, KID has moved our blog to be more integrated into our website -- you can find new posts <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/blog/">here</a>. This page will remain up for a while, but set your bookmarks for <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/blog/">http://www.kidsindanger.org/blog/</a>.Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-74353637066721942032011-04-22T11:39:00.003-05:002011-04-22T11:39:00.512-05:00KID to launch new website!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfRYj_1xVZkvgAUqBxrMJvfnzqIHNRaW_6HzJNSSeDWmMnIzM3_f_VE0Kq7V8VVf2z3e2NZAYTmaxj_tNmOvrnttsqq6YMSE9TLK6btEHC_zuHf1ETLGgaUWMKV957lOH8XEHjdh198s/s1600/KID11LOGO.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 94px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfRYj_1xVZkvgAUqBxrMJvfnzqIHNRaW_6HzJNSSeDWmMnIzM3_f_VE0Kq7V8VVf2z3e2NZAYTmaxj_tNmOvrnttsqq6YMSE9TLK6btEHC_zuHf1ETLGgaUWMKV957lOH8XEHjdh198s/s200/KID11LOGO.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598077629242640386" /></a>Late today, KID is switching over to a new website -- we've listened to what parents, caregivers, advocates and others want to see and made some amazing changes. We think you'll find the new KID website easier to use and navigate and a wealth of information to access while working to keep children safe. <div><br /></div><div>Our blog too is moving to be better integrated into our web presence. But don't worry, all our older posts can still be found there including some of our most popular such as <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2009/09/back-to-school-safety.html">Back-to-School Safety</a> and <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/09/cpsc-fda-issue-warning-on-sleep.html">CPSC, FDA issue warning on sleep positioners</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, next time you type in KidsInDanger.org, we hope you'll take a look around our new site and give us feedback in the blog comments. Many thanks to our designer Amy Cordell and site builder Seventhfury. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, if the transfer hits a few bumps or snags, we'll have it fully operational by Monday. You can email us <a href="mailto:Nacowles@aol.com">here</a> if you run into problems. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-39891419508953232912011-04-13T10:44:00.003-05:002011-04-13T11:02:23.052-05:00CPSC database now has over 200 incidents posted; survived appropriation process<a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/images/categories/sports-recreation.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 112px;" src="http://www.saferproducts.gov/images/categories/sports-recreation.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />First, thanks to all of you who emailed or called Congress expressing your support for the new consumer incident database, <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/">SaferProducts.gov</a>, at CPSC. If you haven't visited yet, check out the <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/default.aspx">Search</a> page and see what incidents consumers have already filed. <div><br /></div><div>But during last weekend's debate on keeping the government open, discussion of eliminating funding for this important safety program continued. In the end, the final agreed bill did not include a defunding of the database. It did however contain a required study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to be conducted within 180 days. </div><div><p class="MsoNormal">The proposed study has to examine: </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>whether the information that is submitted is from first-hand knowledge;</li><li>whether the complaint information is adequate for CPSC investigative purposes;</li><li>whether the product information is sufficient to enable consumers and stakeholders to identify the product; and</li><li>whether the time allotment before posting complaints is reasonable for adjudication of claims.</li></ul><div>However, with spending discussions continuing in Congress, additional action could still be taken. But having spent the money to conduct this study, any possible changes to the database should wait for any results. </div><p></p> </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-5879523686016399482011-04-08T11:41:00.003-05:002011-04-08T11:58:41.300-05:00Saferproducts.gov now has consumer reports posted<a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/images/categories/babies-and-kids.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 112px;" src="http://www.saferproducts.gov/images/categories/babies-and-kids.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://saferproducts.gov/Default.aspx">Saferproducts.gov</a>, the new searchable database at the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) went live for <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx">reports</a> on March 11. Now, as the three week timeline for processing the reports comes to an end, CPSC has begun posting those <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/default.aspx">reports</a>. KID, while not busy <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/04/this-morning-house-committee-looks-at.html">defending</a> CPSIA in the House, has taken a look and recommends you do too. <div><br /></div><div>The reports are varied. Some cover known hazards such as <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/Result.aspx?dm=0&pcid=797%2c799%2c790%2c1902&srt=0&t=2">crib failures</a>, fingertip amputation hazards in <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/Result.aspx?dm=0&pcid=815%2c817%2c2155&srt=0&t=2">strollers</a>, and the continuing reports of rashes from <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/Result.aspx?dm=0&q=diapers&srt=0&t=2">diapers</a>. Others raise new potential issues: loosening hardware on cribs, breaking toys and rattles releasing small parts, and possible design problems in other products. </div><div><br /></div><div>Also of interest is the manufacturer response. Some, use the comment space to indicate a real commitment to safety, while others reassert their compliance with voluntary standards or to even negate the parent's report. </div><div><br /></div><div>One report, while including a catalog page with the exact product reported, included a business response that the information was insufficient to tell if it was their product. Huh? </div><div><br /></div><div>So please, take a look for yourselves and let us know what you think about the database -- will it be a useful tool for researching product safety or identifying emerging hazards? It might be a little hard to tell with just a week's worth of reports, but we'd love to hear what you think. Leave a comment here or on our <a href="http://twitter.com/kidsindanger">Twitter</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/kidsindanger">Facebook</a> pages. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-52643775001424746922011-04-08T11:27:00.004-05:002011-04-08T12:10:18.351-05:00House subcommittee grills safety advocatesAt yesterday's <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=8422">hearing</a> to begin the <a href="http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_product_safety/017599.html">dismantling</a> of the 2008 safety law which includes key provisions on juvenile product safety named for <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/04/proposal-before-house-committee-will.html">Danny Keysar</a>, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade seemed unwilling to consider that their "wrecking ball" approach (as noted by Representative <a href="http://waxman.house.gov/">Waxman</a> (CA-30)) might be unwise. Most of the questioning was reserved for the few safety advocates and its intent seemed more to score points than learn helpful information to construct a narrow approach to give flexibility rather than gut safety provisions. It appears that if we hope to keep safety laws intact, with minor adjustments to address concerns raised by handmade and very small toymakers, this might not be the committee to do that. However, Chairman Bono Mack did indicate a willingness to work with Congressman Jan <a href="http://schakowsky.house.gov/">Schakowsky</a> (IL-9) on cribs and other juvenile product safety issues. We'll continue to hope!Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-2772866503020004952011-04-07T05:32:00.004-05:002011-04-07T09:14:53.892-05:00This morning, a House Committee looks at gutting CPSIAThis morning in Washington, DC, the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade is holding a <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=8422">hearing</a> on proposed changes to the landmark Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Hearing from three panels, mostly of industry representatives, the subcommittee will look at far reaching changes including changing the requirement that all children's products should be lead-free, eliminating independent testing for most children's products and <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/04/proposal-before-house-committee-will.html">allowing</a> cribs that could be unsafe to remain in child care facilities. <div><br /></div><div>We'll have an update after the hearing, but were reassured that at least the majority of the commissioners at CPSC still support strong safety measures. Read their analysis of the legislation <a href="http://www.productsafetyletter.com/news/7109-1.html">here</a> and Rachel Weintraub's testimony <a href="http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/Weintraub-House-Testimony-CPSIA-Amend040711.pdf">here</a>. Rachel is with the Consumer Federation of America and a past KID's Best Friend honoree -- you can see why! </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-69834178352035615262011-04-06T14:45:00.009-05:002011-04-06T15:48:16.825-05:00Arm's Reach Bed-Side Sleepers RECALLED<a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11187.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 312px; height: 257px;" src="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11187.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Yesterday, CPSC released the Arm's Reach Concepts, Inc's voluntary <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11187.html?tab=recalls">recall</a> of about 76,000 infant bed-side sleepers, due to entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards. <div><br /></div><div>Infants are at risk of falling from the raised mattress to the loose fabric at the bottom of the sleeper or possibly suffocating by becoming entrapped between the mattress and the sleeper. 10 reports have been filed with CPSC and Arm's Reach, citing infants falling or becoming entrapped. </div><div><br /></div><div>The recall includes all bed-side sleepers manufactured between September 1997 and December 2001. Model number and manufacture date can be found on a sticker on one of the product's legs. The recall includes model numbers that begin with: </div><div><br /></div><div>Originals: 8108, 8133, 8111, 8112 & 8199</div><div>Universal: 8311</div><div><br /></div><div>CPSC suggests that consumers stop using the product immediately. Visit <a href="http://www.armsreach.com/safety/safety_facts.html">www.armsreach.com/instructions</a> to download instructions to make sure your sleeper is assembled correctly before continuing use. Consumers can contact Arm's Reach at (800) 954-9353 or a <a href="http://www.armsreach.com/safety/safety_facts.html">www.armsreach.com</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ten reports of potentially entrapped infants is troubling and just telling parents to read the instructions again doesn't seem much of a remedy. Be very careful using this product and discontinue use until you check your assembly for any potential gaps. Bedside sleepers can form dangerous gaps between the adult bed and the product if it isn't tightly installed, only on beds with a box spring and mattress configuration. Report any concerns with your bedside sleeper or other products to <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/">SaferProducts.gov</a>. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-59299838740533734352011-04-02T11:50:00.005-05:002011-04-02T12:31:59.857-05:00Proposal before House Committee will gut the Danny Keysar Act and leave children vulnerable<a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/images/aboutus/danny_160.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 158px;" src="http://www.kidsindanger.org/images/aboutus/danny_160.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">In 2008, parents of children injured or killed by unsafe juvenile products rejoiced when the Danny Keysar Child Product Safety Notification Act was included in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act and signed into law.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This portion of the CPSIA assured parents that:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>For the first time, cribs, strollers, high chairs and other juvenile products had to be <b><i>independently tested</i></b> for safety before we brought them into our homes to use with our children.</li><li><b><i>Strong new standards</i></b> would be adopted for juvenile products that would assure that the required testing would find potential flaws and make sure the products were safe for use.</li><li>Child care facilities and other public accommodations could only <b><i>offer children safe cribs</i></b> that met federal standards.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li><li>Parents would be given the opportunity to <b><i>register their products</i></b> with the manufacturer either through a postage paid card or online – making sure they would learn of recalls.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Well, <b><i>fill out those product registration cards – you’re going to need them!</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><b><i> </i></b> </span>The new House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Manufacturing wants to strip most of those protections – just like they stripped the words ‘Consumer Protection’ from their subcommittee name – it’s not like they didn’t warn us!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In addition to many other onerous changes that reduce the safety of all products you and your children use, here are the specific changes that affect infant and toddler durable products:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><b><i>Strips the requirement for independent testing</i></b> from all infant and toddler products, except for testing cribs to the old standards that eliminated gaps between slats, but little else. But that stroller, high chair or carrier? Your child will again be the test dummy for safety.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Companies may say they employ their own testing, but we saw where that got us with the 10 million cribs recalled in the last four years and dozens of deaths each year in nursery products.</li><li>First, the proposed change says that child care providers have to replace their old cribs that don’t meet the standard – but just this once.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the future, if the standard changes, the <b><i>facilities can keep using their cribs</i></b>, only moving up to cribs that meet the new standard when they replace them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We understand this rule – after all, some centers will only be getting their new cribs in late 2012 when there might already be a few changes to the standard – making it a ridiculous exercise in trying to keep up.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>BUT, the next proposed change, combined with this commonsense change, will basically mean that your child care can keep on using any old crib they want – as long as it doesn’t have a drop-side.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Read on…</li><li>The next proposed change says that if a child care facility is using fixed sided cribs (no drop-sides), <b><i>they don’t have to comply with the new law</i></b> that requires all cribs in child care to meet the new standard by 2013.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So if a center is using an old crib, that we know is unsafe – it has corner posts that have hung children, it has cut-outs that have caused strangulation, or it is simply too old and rickety – they get to keep using that crib!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And since they don’t have to comply with the next revision of the standard, they can keep using it forever!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They do provide that the facility has to be subject to regulations that require them to stay in the room with the infant, not leave an awake baby in a crib and move all babies out of cribs at 12 months.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b><i>But we all know that supervision is a poor substitute for safe products.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When a baby suffocates or strangles, it is usually with little or no noise.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Babies have died when parents have been in the same room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><b>So, what should be done, what are we asking for?</b></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>All products in section 104 of the CPSIA (infant and toddler durable products – cribs, strollers, high chairs, etc) should be subject to independent, third-party testing with no exceptions.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><b><i> </i></b> </span>These are products parents and caregivers buy to keep their children safe.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They involve many parts and hardware and can be very dangerous if defective.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Let’s not go back to the days of baby test dummies – let’s make sure the products are safe before we use them for our children. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">While it may not be reasonable to ask child care providers to replace all cribs every time there is a minor change to the crib standards, there should be a means by which CPSC can require that if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If another flaw in cribs erupts as the drop-side issue did over the past few years, <b><i>CPSC should have the ability to require safe cribs in child care settings. </i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new mandatory crib standard does so much more than ban drop-sides.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In fact, it is unlikely that the drop-side cribs on the market over the past decade that led to millions of products being recalled and dozens of deaths could meet this standard – thereby eliminating the need to even officially ban them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The new standards will make sure crib hardware is sturdy, mattress supports and slats can stand up to real world use and that cribs, used to protect an unattended child, can keep a child safe.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Allowing all matter of cribs, safe and unsafe, to remain in child care – just because they don’t have a drop-side is a clear attempt to gut the safety improvements of the past few years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Child care is varied and diverse.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><b><i>It is unreasonable to have an exemption for fixed sided cribs without knowing the condition of the crib, when it was made and what standards it does meet.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><b><i> </i></b> </span>If we are allowing some child care providers to keep older, less safe cribs, they should at least meet the most recent voluntary standard, ASTM 1169-09 or ASTM 406-09 for non-full size cribs. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>Tell Congress – “Don’t Retreat on Safety: Keep our nurseries safe”</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml">Call or email</a> your own representative as well as <a href="http://energycommerce.house.gov/subcomms/subcommittees.shtml">Chairman Bono Mack</a> of the subcommittee and other members. Let them know we can't go backwards on the safety of our youngest consumers. Tell them about your child and why it is important to you that nursery products meet strong standards and be independently tested. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></o:p></p>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-66965401870185384602011-03-30T12:03:00.018-05:002011-03-30T14:19:12.150-05:00Hiking for Aiden<a href="http://shutterbugtami.smugmug.com/AidenmybelovedPeanut/The-Life-of-Aiden-8-13-09-to-2/IMG7618/1119720092_7xLpR-S.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://shutterbugtami.smugmug.com/AidenmybelovedPeanut/The-Life-of-Aiden-8-13-09-to-2/IMG7618/1119720092_7xLpR-S.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />On April 1, Tami Vanderwilt will set out to hike the Appalachian Trail. Tami is planning this trip in honor of her grandson, <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2010_Aiden.asp">Aiden</a>. He was just 6 months old when his life was tragically ended after he suffocated against a bumper pad while sleeping.<div><br /></div><div>After the death of her grandson, Tami started a blog, <a href="http://shutterbugtami.blogspot.com/">Tami's Mental Meanderings</a>, devoted to sharing the message of safe sleep to others to protect children and those who love them from suffering the pain her family experienced. It was here that she announced her plan to hike along the Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mount in Georgia to Mount Katandin in Maine. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>For Aiden with Love</i></b> is a foundation started by Vanderwilt in memory of her grandson. She is raising money through the foundation to help fund organizations, including KID and First Candle, whose missions align with her efforts to spread the word about safe sleep. Anyone interested in donating to <b><i>For Aiden with Love</i></b> can find more information on Tami's <a href="http://shutterbugtami.blogspot.com/">blog</a> or click <a href="https://www.austincommunityfoundation.org/?nd=donate_detail&donation_id=2291&return_nd=donate_summary">here</a> for a direct link to the donation page.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Tami is advocating for safe sleep practices, the hazards of bumper pads and the lack of response from the CPSC is getting public exposure. The Chicago Tribune ran an <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-crib-bumpers-deaths-watchdog-20110329,0,4220865.story?page=1&track=rss">article</a> yesterday highlighting stories of babies suffocating because of bumper pads. The article also criticizes CPSC for dragging their feet on investigating submitted reports and possibly laying blame elsewhere. See more in our blog post<a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/03/failed-investigations-on-crib-bumper.html"> here</a>. </div><div><br /></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-62602786405757108252011-03-30T11:12:00.017-05:002011-03-30T14:18:47.305-05:00Failed Investigations on Crib Bumper Safety<a href="http://medicineworld.org/images/blogs/10-2007/bumper-pads.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 167px;" src="http://medicineworld.org/images/blogs/10-2007/bumper-pads.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><b><i>Chicago Tribune</i></b> reporter Ellen Gabler has published an <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-crib-bumpers-deaths-watchdog-20110329,0,4220865.story?page=1&track=rss">article</a> exposing the Consumer Safety Product Commission's (CPSC) less than adequate job of investigating the role that crib bumper pads play in infant suffocation. The article reported that there have been 17 cases of infant deaths reported to CPSC that were not thoroughly investigated. <div><br /></div><div>Although they had not investigated them, CPSC says other crib items such as blankets and pillows or even medical conditions could be to blame in these 17 infant deaths. </div><div><br /></div><div>"If the baby was found with the face smushed up against the bumper pad, then I don't understand the relevance of the pillow or the blanket," said Dr. Rachel Moon, a pediatrician at Children's National Medical Center and researcher for the American Academy of Pediatrics.</div><div><br /><div>Bumper pads were originally created to cover the space between crib slats that were too far apart. The space between slats was reduced, but they are still being sold 40 years later and are causing an unnecessary hazard. </div><div><br /></div><div>The <b><i>Chicago Tribune</i></b> also published an <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-bumpers-20101212,0,3414552.story">article</a> in December 2010 on the hidden hazards of bumper pads. This article featured the stories of <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2010_Preston.asp">Preston </a>and <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2010_Aiden.asp">Aiden</a>, two babies who lost their lives to bumper pads. The article also states that federal regulators have known about the hazards of bumper pads for years but has failed to warn parents and remove the item from stores. A study done by Washington University pediatrician Bradley Thach concluded that over two decades, at least 27 infant deaths have been attributed to bumper pads. Again, the Tribune article shows CPSC downplaying the role of bumper pads in infant deaths, claiming there were other contributing factors in each case.</div><div><br /></div><div>KID recommends that babies be put to sleep on their backs in a bare crib without pillows or soft bedding present in their cribs. KID wrote a blog post on the December 2010 article found <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-from-illinoiss-attorney-general-on.html">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Check out our other blog <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/03/hiking-for-aiden.html">post</a> today on Aiden's grandmother's mission to raise funds and awareness of this issue with a hike along the Appalachian Trail -- starting April 1. </div></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-80367371593357941812011-03-28T12:33:00.017-05:002011-03-28T16:17:07.493-05:00KID chosen for crowdSPRING's next Give Back project<a href="http://assets.crowdspring.com/images/blog/cs-blog.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 52px;" src="http://assets.crowdspring.com/images/blog/cs-blog.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/73363075/cSlargecyan_reasonably_small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Kids In Danger has been selected as the recipient of <a href="http://www.crowdspring.com/">crowdSPRING</a>'s latest <a href="http://blog.crowdspring.com/2008/12/crowdspring-community-gives-back/">Give Back project</a>! <div><br /></div><div>Based in Chicago, crowdSPRING is a web and graphic design website specializing in giving access to creative talent from all over the world. Their goal is to present businesses with new, more affordable ways to buy creative products. </div><div><br /></div><div>In 2008, crowdSPRING started a project called Give Back, the online web designers "way of helping worthy non-profit and charity causes in need." A creative (their name of a designer) suggested that crowdSPRING develop a way for other creatives to learn from each other's work. The Give Back project was born from this suggestion. </div><div><br /></div><div>crowdSPRING has designed for companies such as Starbucks, Livestrong, Forbes and LG, although they cater to smaller businesses. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Calling all designers!! </b>Submit your designs for KID's project on <a href="http://www.crowdspring.com/">crowdSPRING.com </a>today!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div>View the official blog post announcing KID as the new Give Back recipient <a href="http://blog.crowdspring.com/2011/03/crowdspring-community-gives-back-kids-in-danger/">here</a>. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-45612273536305816912011-03-24T16:36:00.002-05:002011-03-24T16:44:57.359-05:00The Safest Line: a blog for parents<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.thesafestline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/The-Safest-Lineheaderbig.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 107px;" src="http://www.thesafestline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/The-Safest-Lineheaderbig.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><br /></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>KID recently met with Ken Levinson, the author of <a href="http://www.thesafestline.com/parents-safety-resource/">The Safest Line</a> blog. Ken is a Chicago attorney. We asked him some questions about the blog and his thoughts on safety for children. </i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>What led you to start <a href="http://www.thesafestline.com/parents-safety-resource/">The Safest Line</a>?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">My experience helping injured children (plus having three boys of my own) inspired me to take a proactive stance to prevent child injuries by showing parents how to become active proponents of their own children’s safety.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>What are your goals for the blog and outreach?</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Parents are bombarded daily with child safety messages and warnings that create an environment of fear. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><a href="http://www.thesafestline.com/parents-safety-resource/">The Safest Line</a> helps parents move past the noise by cutting to the safety issues that matter. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As parents we can do a better job educating ourselves and our children about child safety to reduce the amount of child injuries that occur each year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I also want parents to feel empowered to take a stand against careless corporations and individuals. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Being a child injury lawyer helps, but in the age of social media, parents have a whole new way of alerting the public about dangerous products and behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The online <a href="http://www.thesafestline.com/child-safety-crib-bumpers/">petition</a> to ban crib bumpers is a great example of the proactive steps we can take to improve child safety. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>If you had to give parents one piece of safety advice, what would it be?<br /></b><br />Be alert, be proactive, and stay educated – but don’t be overprotective. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We want to raise children who think for themselves. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Find effective ways to instill safety values in your kids. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If parents are always doing the thinking for their children, those kids miss out on learning experiences that will protect them when they grow up and experience more personal freedoms.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is the attorney’s role in product safety?</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Traditionally, child injury lawyers haven’t become involved until after the child is injured.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Unfortunately, this role will always exist, but I think we have an obligation to do more to prevent child injuries by better promoting child safety.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I want to help families hold careless companies and people accountable, but I also want fewer dangerous products on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I firmly believe that one child injured is one too many.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks Ken! You can read KID's blog post on The Safest Line <a href="http://www.thesafestline.com/kids-in-danger/">here</a>. </p>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-37161912539546964282011-03-22T10:16:00.005-05:002011-03-23T14:32:08.262-05:00CPSC and Delta reannounce recall of deadly cribs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09016a.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09016a.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />After learning of another death, CPSC and Delta today <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11179.html">re-announced</a> the 2008 <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09017.html">recall</a> of almost one million drop-side cribs. The design of the crib relies on little plastic pegs to keep the drop-side in place. When they inevitably fall out unnoticed, the drop side can separate from the crib, causing a gap where a baby can be entrapped. A seven-month-old Colorado Springs girl died in 2009 after becoming entrapped. At the time of the initial recall, CPSC was aware of 1 death, 2 entrapments and nine disengagements due to the design. Today's announcement doesn't list any additional disengagements, although doesn't say there weren't any -- too bad the <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/03/important-consumer-tool-launched-today.html">database</a> wasn't up and running! <div><br /></div><div>These cribs were initially recalled because the tiny pegs come out of the crib leg, allowing the drop-side to push free and cause an entrapment hazard. It was recalled at the same time as another <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09016.html">600,000 Delta drop-side cribs</a> using a different attachment mechanism that also fell out, causing entrapments and one death. Then last year, Delta <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10273.html">recalled</a> an additional 747,000 cribs whose drop-side mechanisms failed. </div><div><br /></div><div>While CPSC has exerted strong leadership in pushing for a <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11074.html">rigorous mandatory standard for cribs</a> that will eliminate this dangerous design, <b><i>they dropped on the ball on this re-release</i></b>. Their main safety message delivered by Chairman Tenenbaum in the release? Be careful when you buy second-hand! Not that these products <b><i>were unsafe from the day they were made</i></b> and parents should avoid all drop-side cribs. Checking second hand products against the list of recalls and for safety goes without saying. But the reason to check is because these products are hazardous to begin with, not because they are second-hand. </div><div><br /></div><div>So we'll say it -- Delta has recalled over 2.3 million drop-side cribs because the drop side hardware fails. <i><b> Don't buy or use these cribs.</b></i> It doesn't matter if you are the first or the tenth user -- they are unsafe. And while the recall announcement calls for Delta to send out more little plastic parts that they want you to check continuously to make sure they stay in -- don't. Just don't use these cribs-- they aren't <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-deal-with-drop-side-cribs.html">safe</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><span><span >UPDATE:</span></span> A call to Delta confirms that there are <b><i>no immobilizers available for this style drop-side crib</i></b>. So we restate our warning -- do not use these cribs, with or without the new plastic 'safety' plugs!!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-65005606829914473932011-03-21T13:55:00.012-05:002011-03-22T08:56:54.237-05:00AAP and NHTSA -- new guidelines for car seats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.healthychildren.org/SiteCollectionImages/RearFacingToddler_2011.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 145px;" src="http://www.healthychildren.org/SiteCollectionImages/RearFacingToddler_2011.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/gty_car_seat_nt_110318_mn.jpg"><br /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span">In the April 2011 issue of <i>Pediatrics</i>, the <a href="http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm">American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)</a> advised parents to keep their children in rear-facing car seats until age 2 or until the child reaches maximum height and weight limit for the seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new child seat safety <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/NHTSA+Releases+New+Child+Seat+Guidelines">guidelines </a>shortly after AAP's publication was released.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Both AAP and NHTSA suggested parents check the maximum height and weight limit on their child's seat before moving them up to the next type of seat. They also suggested older children should ride in a booster seat until they reach 4 feet 9 inches and are between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. At this time, a regular seat belt should fit them properly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” Dr. Dennis Durbin, MD, FAAP said. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">Previous policy cited age 12 months and 20 pounds as the minimum for transitioning a child out of a rear-facing car seat. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><span class="Apple-style-span">NHTSA Administrator David Strickland pointed out that while all car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal child restraint safety standards, he said, "Selecting the right seat for your child can be a challenge for many parents. NHTSA's new revised guidelines will help consumers pick the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; "> appropriate seat for their child."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">As always, children should ride in the backseat of a vehicle until they are 13 years old. Learn more at AAP's Health Children <a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx">site</a>. </span></span></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-73403643677338550872011-03-15T13:58:00.004-05:002011-03-15T14:51:08.566-05:00More on the database, four days after launch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/images/Programs.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 242px;" src="http://www.kidsindanger.org/images/Programs.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" ><p class="MsoNormal">Have you gone to check out <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/Default.aspx">SaferProducts.gov</a>? That's the new <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/">CPSC</a>site dedicated to the publicly available consumer safety incident database.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Consumers and others can <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx">report</a> problems with products, incidents and injuries related to consumer products. CPSC has always had an online form for reporting, but now, <b><i>most reports will become part of the public database. </i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember that this is a site to report safety issues, not product reliability or quality, except as they affect safety. So if the infant seat doesn't swing like it shows on the package, that is a quality issue, perhaps to be reported to customer service or an online product rating site. But if the motor that is supposed run the swing gets so hot it melts its casing and starts a fire, that is a safety issue and should be reported <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx">here</a>, to CPSC.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><i>Gather and input as much information about the product as possible</i></b> – including identifying information such as model name or number, date of manufacture, etc. The more complete the report, the more likely it is to be posted and to provide CPSC with the information they need to assess the risk and take action if needed. CPSC has helpful pop-ups on the form that will help you find the needed information.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You need to provide your name and contact information for your incident to go into the database, but that information will not be posted and will only be released to the manufacturer with your permission. Giving the manufacturer your contact information, either through the CPSC form or by reporting directly to the manufacturer will allow them to fully investigate your incident and determine if action is needed. If you choose to file a report anonymously, CPSC will still get the incident information, but it will not go into the public database.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Manufacturers have 10 days after they are notified of a report by CPSC to review it for material inaccuracy. The best way to have the full 10 days is to <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Industry/Home.aspx">register</a> now with CPSC. The report will then be sent automatically.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then, the report, if it has all the necessary information will be posted online. Right now, you can see the format <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Search/default.aspx">here</a> which CPSC has populated now with recall notices. Once the database has injury and incident reports, those will show up here too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you have problems reporting incidents or finding the data you need, let CPSC <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/info.aspx">know</a>. <b><i>They already have great tools on the site to help both consumers and businesses navigate the system</i></b>. We’d also love to hear of your experiences with the new database in the comments below.</p></span><div><div><div><br /></div><p></p></div></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-32844512414328099542011-03-11T07:29:00.004-06:002011-03-11T08:18:21.677-06:00Important Consumer Tool Launched Today<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kidsindanger.org/images/Programs_110.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 93px;" src="http://kidsindanger.org/images/Programs_110.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A coalition of consumer and safety groups today applauded the launch of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s consumer product safety information <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Default.aspx">database</a> that would allow people to share and access safety information about the products they own and consider buying.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The groups -- Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, <a href="http://kidsindanger.org/index.asp">Kids In Danger</a>, Public Citizen, Union of Concerned Scientists, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group -- hailed the launch as a major step forward in educating consumers about product safety hazards and improving the CPSC’s ability to identify and act on problems in the marketplace. The database is up and running today online at <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/">www.SaferProducts.gov</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The database is required under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) approved by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the debate over the federal budget continues in Congress, some lawmakers have pushed to defund the database. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Manufacturers have also been pushing to undermine the database.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The CPSC has historically collected consumer complaints, but because the agency has been required to obtain the approval of companies before it could communicate with the public about a specific product, the information has been kept from the public for months or even years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The consumer complaint database will help shed light on the safety of products currently in the marketplace.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The CPSC database contains an array of protections to ensure that inaccurate information does not get published.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Anonymous complaints will not be permitted, and only safety-related information will be posted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Complaints will not be considered for publication if 8 specific minimum fields are not completed. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Businesses also get to see every report of harm before it is placed in the database, and have the opportunity to correct inaccurate information and to provide their own comments.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These measures provide an appropriate balance between transparency for consumers and providing protections for manufacturers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rachel Weintraub, Director of Product Safety and Senior Counsel at Consumer Federation of America, stated, “Consumers will no longer be left in the dark about product safety -- they will now have access to lifesaving information. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The CPSC will also be able to more nimbly identify and act upon safety hazards. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The database carefully balances the need to bring safety complaints to light, while also allowing manufacturers to review submissions and provide comments.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ami Gadhia, policy counsel for Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said, “This is safety news consumers can use.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Once the database is up and running, we think fears raised about the database will be shown to be unnecessary. This database will be a useful tool for consumers.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids In Danger, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from unsafe products, added, “This crucial tool will help <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/03/tomorrow-is-day.html">parents keep their families safe</a>. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The database will fling open the windows at CPSC and allow consumers to learn of dangerous products before it is too late. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The decades of hiding injuries and deaths for months or even years will end. Parents trust a lot of products with their children’s lives. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The database puts information in the hands of those who need it most.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Christine Hines, Public Citizen’s consumer and civil justice counsel, agreed. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“Today begins a new era in consumer product safety - one that will empower consumers to help themselves to identify hazardous products. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s why it’s imperative that Congress follows up its commendable action in creating the database by ensuring it continues to thrive with appropriate funding.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Liz Hitchcock, U.S. PIRG Public Health Advocate, said, “The information exchange that SaferProducts.gov will provide for consumers is going to prevent injuries and save lives.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D., President of the National Research Center for Women & Families/ Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund stated, “The product safety database will give everyone the information they need to help protect themselves and their families. It’s a simple but effective strategy that will save lives and improve the quality of our lives.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Celia Wexler, Washington Representative, Scientific Integrity Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, said, "The new database strengthens the transparency of CPSC and will enable scientists and researchers, both inside and outside the agency, to spot trends early and pro-actively.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The ability to respond to problems before product defects harm scores of consumers benefits both the public and businesses.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-19666689452059435202011-03-10T16:03:00.005-06:002011-03-10T16:28:45.107-06:00Tomorrow is the day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2005_Liam.asp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 201px;" src="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2005_Liam.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">It feels a little like the eve of the first day of school – some of us are very excited and can’t wait; others, not so much.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow, CPSC will launch their new publically-accessible consumer database at <a href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/">saferproducts.gov</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, just as is already the case with cars, medicine and medical devices, consumers will have a place to <a href="https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx">report</a> incidents with products as well as look for safety information that other consumers might have entered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Manufacturers seem to be dreading the change in the current situation – where they have all the power to determine what safety information consumers know about their products.<span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span>We'll have more tomorrow on using the database. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For today, here are some statements from parents who have already lost children to unsafe products – they know the importance of this new database. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>The CPSC database gives parents, grandparents, families, friends, medical personnel, and even retailers, IMMEDIATE and FREE access to information regarding problems reported on a particular product, not just those few which rise to the surface because a child has either died or been seriously injured by the product. By that time, it is dangerously too late. It could take months, as it did in Ellie’s case, before the public has knowledge of this essential information.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Lisa, mother of <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2002_Elizabeth.asp">Ellie</a> who was killed in a Graco play yard with a changing table accessory in 2002.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>I firmly believe that if such a database was in effect in the 1990s my son, Tyler, would be alive today. Tyler died when a dangerous drop side crib strangled him. Tyler was not the first (and sadly, not the last) to die due to the inherently flawed crib design. If I, as a consumer, knew about the other babies who died in drop side cribs I would never have purchased that deathtrap. A public database would have empowered me to make a more informed decision about a product intended to be my Tyler’s safe haven. </i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Michelle, mother of <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/1997_Tyler.asp">Tyler</a>, who died in 1998, entrapped by a drop-side crib. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>If I had known there had been children killed in drop-sides, it would have swayed me against them.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span">Nicola, mother of <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2005_Liam.asp">Liam</a>, who died in 2005 in a Graco-branded Simplicity drop-side crib. The report to CPSC sat hidden for two years because of confusion over the manufacturer of the crib. </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">KID believes this database is an important tool for consumers – both to report information they believe will keep other consumers safe and to research products they own or are considering purchasing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It will give CPSC and others tools to identify emerging hazards and injury trends.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Contrary to the fears of some – KID won’t be entering data – we’ll be too busy making sure parents are aware of this great safety resource.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-84864039371915856192011-03-07T07:34:00.006-06:002011-03-07T09:11:06.724-06:00KID releases Moving Toward Safety, a review of 2010 recalls and CPSC actions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RAz7G7BcYedborWIO_D9ZuPLRvxpVaRnn_7bg9ZnNw_sxaCFI1VAHazocvI4a0lOBdhrN0pUfBOP8lGT22FB6ogNpy8XRfkJlr2iG0chG26Dip4Hm2GIbHB7PZK9Q9r5XmiKfcR2L6U/s1600/Report_2010_cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RAz7G7BcYedborWIO_D9ZuPLRvxpVaRnn_7bg9ZnNw_sxaCFI1VAHazocvI4a0lOBdhrN0pUfBOP8lGT22FB6ogNpy8XRfkJlr2iG0chG26Dip4Hm2GIbHB7PZK9Q9r5XmiKfcR2L6U/s200/Report_2010_cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581335940058099938" border="0" /></a><br />Today, KID, along with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Illinois PIRG state director Brian Imus, released <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/publications/reports/2010_movingtowardsafety.pdf">Moving Towards Safety</a></i>, a review of 2010 recalls and CPSC actions.<div><br /></div><div><div>Just about every two days there was a recall of a children’s product in 2010. These 160 recalls account for over 44 million individual toys, cribs, sweatshirts, strollers and more. That’s an increase of twelve percent from 2009 in recalls and 110% in units recalled. </div><div><br /></div><div>At first glance these facts seem to indicate that the state of children’s product safety had worsened in the last year. However, though the number of recalls and the number of children hurt and killed by unsafe products is cause for concern, there were marked improvements to product safety oversight in 2010 as a result of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and other CPSC actions. We believe that many of these actions will not only reduce recalls in the future, but make it more likely recalled products will be retrieved from use. </div><div><br /></div><div>The increase in recalls from 2009 can be partially attributed to the numerous recalls to remove from use failure-prone drop-side cribs which have been linked to dozens of deaths, as well as children’s sweatshirts and outerwear that continue to be produced with dangerous drawstrings. </div><div><br /></div><div>The recalls show that we still have a long way to go before children are fully protected from unsafe products, but at the same time CPSC has taken actions that have had a measurable and positive impact on safety. We can take heart that we are moving in the right direction.</div><div><br /></div><div>Read <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/news/index.asp">more</a>.</div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-80397544390456430302011-03-01T16:24:00.003-06:002011-03-01T16:43:49.686-06:00Days away from launch, public safety database still faces threats.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://saferproducts.gov/images/messageboard.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://saferproducts.gov/images/messageboard.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />The <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/">database</a> CPSC has been working on for two and a half years is days away from launch. It will go live on Friday, March 11. CPSC has carefully crafted the site to both solicit important safety information from consumers <b><i>and </i></b>encourage accurate reporting. The database will provide consumers with a place to report injury and safety information and provide consumers, researchers and the CPSC with important information on <b><i>injury trends and emerging hazards. </i></b> <div><br /></div><div>The CPSC did a soft launch of the database last month. That just means it was live, but the information wasn't made public. The results? 900 reports -- only four were 'materially inaccurate.' And two of those had the wrong manufacturer listed and were easily corrected. One manufacturer/importer at ICPHSO last week said that of the 50 reports they got, 90% agreed to give the manufacturer their contact information, providing a way to verify the information. Some manufacturers told us they didn't receive any reports during the month, others that they had a few and all were reasonable reports of a consumer's experience. So perhaps the sky won't fall next week after all. </div><div><br /></div><div>But that doesn't stop the attacks. After all, for years manufacturers have been able to hide virtually all injury reports from the public. The status quo means consumers continue to use products that have been involved in numerous injuries or even deaths. The sunshine the database brings means more educated consumers and ultimately, safer products. </div><div><br /></div><div>The House adopted an <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2011/02/critical-cpsia-funding-in-danger-of.html">amendment</a> to the Continuing Resolution they sent to the Senate that defunds the database -- a move that wastes the money already spent rather than saving money and is designed to stop injury data from coming to light. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you haven't already <a href="http://senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm">contacted</a> your US Senators, please do so and urge them to oppose any "<b><i>Keep American Families in the Dark</i></b>" efforts to stop the database. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-4362724551830363522011-03-01T14:13:00.002-06:002011-03-01T14:32:52.817-06:00Update on ICPHSO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://icphso.org/conference/2011Orlando/images/2011confLogo.GIF"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 149px;" src="http://icphso.org/conference/2011Orlando/images/2011confLogo.GIF" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://icphso.org/images/logo_03.gif"></a>So the week spent with other product safety folks at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety (ICPHSO) <a href="http://icphso.org/conference/2011Orlando/">Symposium</a> was full of information and opportunities to collaborate on new approaches to safety. The first day and 1/2 of the meeting focused on injury prevention. Representatives from the <a href="http://www.injuryfree.org/">Injury Free Coalition for Kids</a>, including our 2007 <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/aboutus/events/index.asp">KID's Best Friend</a>, Dr. Elizabeth Powell, presented information on their research and education efforts. Then, through a series of workshops, representatives from industry, retailers and consumer groups brainstormed with them on injury prevention ideas we could all implement. <div><br /></div><div>Dr. Powell was joined by two other KID's Best Friend honorees -- Dr. Gary Smith (2010) who spoke on his research on smoke alarms and children and Rachel Weintraub (2004) of Consumer Federation of America who organized and moderated the injury prevention segments.</div><div><br /></div><div>KID's executive director, Nancy Cowles spoke on a panel on recalls. She stressed the need for better recall effectiveness and the rights of consumers to have information on product hazards. In addition, Cowles participated in an injury prevention workshop on toy and home safety. </div><div><br /></div><div>Much of the conference was dedicated to new changes from CPSC including the database and testing requirements. </div><div><br /></div><div>We also saw new tools such as the HD XRF machine which can detect heavy metals with more precision than regular XRF guns. </div><div><br /></div><div>CPSC Chair Inez <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/tenenbaum02242011.html">Tenenbaum</a> spoke and on the final day, CPSC Commissioner and business school professor, gave a talk on negotiating with the CPSC. </div><div><br /></div><div>More info and membership information can be found at <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/pr/tenenbaum02242011.html">ICPHSO.org</a>. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-22090787298284381772011-02-21T15:48:00.003-06:002011-02-21T15:56:18.764-06:00ICPHSO Annual Meeting this week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://icphso.org/conference/2011Orlando/images/2011confLogo.GIF"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 119px; height: 149px;" src="http://icphso.org/conference/2011Orlando/images/2011confLogo.GIF" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Where is one of the few places you can find consumer advocates, manufacturers, retailers, regulators, lawyers, test labs and consultants talking about product safety -- and let me add talking <b><i>nicely </i></b>to each other? It is the annual symposium and meeting of the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (<a href="http://icphso.org/">ICPHSO</a>), being held this week in Orlando, Florida. The organization's sole purpose is to put on these conferences, both here and internationally, to further efforts to improve product safety. You can hear some of the latest research, see new testing tools in exhibits, and participate in lively discussions on recalls, imports, oversight and more. KID has been participating since 2001 when our co-founder, Linda Ginzel, participated in a panel on <b><i>Parents as Advocates</i></b>. This year, we'll be on a panel about recalls and a discussion about working with the injury prevention community.Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-30553334939180196052011-02-21T14:57:00.003-06:002011-02-21T15:38:08.916-06:00New research in Pediatrics shows 26 crib-related injuries per day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/PublishingImages/baby-4-7Mcrib.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 145px;" src="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/PublishingImages/baby-4-7Mcrib.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />A study in the <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/peds.2010-1537v1">March issue of Pediatrics</a> shows that as many as 26 infants and toddlers are rushed to emergency rooms each day for injuries involving cribs, play yards or bassinets. Most of the injuries (83%) are crib related. One of the lead authors on the study was <a href="http://injuryresearch.net/Smith.aspx">Dr. Gary Smith</a>, KID's <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/04/best-friend-award-honoring-dr-gary.html">Best Friend Award </a>Honoree in 2010. <div><br /></div><div>Much attention (rightly) has been <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-deal-with-drop-side-cribs.html">focused</a> on suffocation and strangulation deaths in poorly designed cribs or those with hardware problems. But this study highlights that most injuries involving cribs are related to falls. Some of the falls are also hardware related when a side rail comes loose or may be caused by mattresses set too high, children still sleeping in cribs when they can attempt to climb out or soft bedding that provides a foothold for climbers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Parents can prevent injuries by </div><div><ul><li>checking their crib for loose or missing hardware, </li><li>making sure their crib hasn't been <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi-bin/cribs.aspx">recalled</a>,</li><li>Lowering the mattress setting to the lowest level when a child starts to push up on hands and knees,</li><li>keeping the drop-side* in the top position,</li><li>removing any soft bedding that can provide a foothold or suffocation risk, </li><li>moving the child to a toddler bed or even a mattress on the floor as soon as they reach 2 years, 35 inches or show signs of attempting to climb out. </li></ul>Check <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/prodhazards/recalls/cribs.asp">KID's </a>or <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/index.html">CPSC's </a>crib pages for more information. </div><div><br /><div>The data in the study will be useful to CPSC and ASTM International as they look for design changes or stronger warnings to prevent falls and other injuries. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>*The drop-side is dangerous for many other <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-deal-with-drop-side-cribs.html">reasons</a> too. </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-45954034556314051482011-02-16T12:08:00.008-06:002011-02-18T13:21:00.820-06:00Don't let them hijack safety -- attempts to gut CPSC funding for critical safety measuresAmendments to vital funding measures are currently being considered in the US House of Representatives that would gut key safety provisions of the <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html">Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act</a>. Under threat is the funding for the <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/">public database</a> that is set to help consumers learn of and report unsafe products and the <span style="font-weight: bold;">third-party testing provisions </span>that are helping to ensure the safety of toys and other children's products.<br /><br />Without third-party testing to ferret out design flaws and other safety issues, the <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/12/cpsc-adopts-worlds-toughest-crib.html">tough new mandatory standards</a> won't mean much. After all, a ban was in place before the avalanche of toys recalled for lead paint in 2007 -- but with no independent testing, the tainted products were sold to our children anyway.<br /><br />Without this <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/11/cpsc-approves-landmark-public-database.html">public database</a>, all of our efforts to make information about unsafe products available to the public will be undermined. The status quo, where public safety information is sealed away in CPSC files, serves no one -- except those making dangerous products. The CPSC database contains an array of protections to ensure that inaccurate information does not get published.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Anonymous complaints will not be permitted, and only safety-related information will be permitted.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Complaints will not even be considered for publication if 8 specific minimum fields are not filled out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Businesses also get to see every report of harm before it is placed in the database, and have the opportunity to correct inaccurate information and to provide their own comments.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>These protections are in place to provide transparency for consumers, while also providing protections for manufacturers.<br /><br />Read this <a href="http://kidsindanger.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-on-database-from-mothers.html">letter</a> from Lisa Olney, whose daughter <a href="http://www.kidsindanger.org/fac/2002_Elizabeth.asp">Ellie</a> was killed in an unsafe portable crib for a personal testament to the importance of this database.<div><br /></div><div>And don't be fooled -- the small amount this will save won't balance the budget -- these cuts are specifically targeted to stop safety measures already approved by Congress.<br /><br />Contact your representatives immediately to tell them to oppose these attempts to hijack safety and to put the safety of our children first. The amendments to the Continuing Resolution (CR) are filed by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) and are #545 (defunds the Database), #546 (defunds work to set rules for third party testing) and #547 (defunds CPSC's ability to accredit labs for third party testing for phthalates and toy testing) Click <a href="https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml">here</a> to find and contact your representative!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >UPDATE: Amendment 545 is up for discussion today! Call or email your Congressional Representative. Click <a href="https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml">here</a> to find and contact your representative!</span></div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-58118051820484332422011-02-16T08:55:00.009-06:002011-02-16T16:03:41.603-06:00A special guest blog by CPSC Chair Tenenbaum: Sneak Preview of the Database<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/bios/tenenbaum.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 225px;" src="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/bios/tenenbaum.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><b>A Sneak Preview for Supporters of Kids In Danger of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s New Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database</b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; font-size: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Posted February 16, 2011 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" > <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; ">by Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; "><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"></span></span>The <a href="www.cpsc.gov">U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission</a> (CPSC) is the leading federal agency charged with ensuring the safety of consumer products.</span><span style="font-size: 17px; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">We protect families like yours from risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products, including items that many of you use every day, such as cribs, strollers, sleepwear, and toys.</span><span style="font-size: 17px; "> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 17px; ">From the first day I took over as Chairman of CPSC, I have been committed to making the agency more open to the public and to families.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In just a few weeks, we will launch our biggest open-government project.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Starting in March 2011, CPSC will unveil a new publicly searchable database of reports of harm we receive from consumers and others relating to the use of consumer products.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The database will be posted on the website <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/">SaferProducts.gov.</a> <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kids in Danger supported the creation of this database and has provided valuable feedback during its development, along with many other CPSC stakeholders. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 17px; ">Before we launch the database, CPSC would like to provide you with a sneak peek at one way the database will work for parents and other consumers.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We want you to become familiar with how the database can be used to report a harm or risk of harm relating to the use of a consumer product or search for reports and recall information on products that you own already or may be thinking of buying.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Knowing how to use <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/">SaferProducts.gov</a> will help you gain access to important safety information and become connected to the CPSC. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 17px; ">We urge all Kids In Danger supporters to click on this <a href="http://saferproducts.gov/videos/cpsrmsreporting-vid.html?autoplay=yes">link</a> to watch a video demonstration of the process for reporting an incident to CPSC.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please share this message with friends and family who you think would be interested.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>We hope you’ll connect with us on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/OnSafety">@OnSafety</a> and <a href="http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety">through our blog</a>, which aims to answer your questions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 17px; ">We are grateful for the involvement of Kids In Danger in our new consumer database, and we look forward to our continued partnership to keep children and families safe!</p></span><p></p>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058493042656828221.post-41119810005315177502011-02-15T11:20:00.005-06:002011-02-15T13:51:52.342-06:00Almost 800,000 Dorel car seats recalled for faulty harness systems<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://carseatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/center-front-adjuster-150x112.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 112px;" src="http://carseatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/center-front-adjuster-150x112.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Almost a year ago, NBC Target 5 reporter Lisa Parker <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/station/as-seen-on/Father_Uses_YouTube_to_Show_Chicago.html">reported</a> on a father's efforts to alert the manufacturer, NHTSA and the public to a problem he found with his Dorel Juvenile Group car seat. He documented on a YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-R9nHS156s">video</a> that the harness could pull loose when it was supposed to be locked in place. This could prove dangerous in a crash -- allowing the occupant to fly out of the car seat or even if retained, suffer injuries from the additional movement allowed. <div><br /></div><div>That was early 2010, now a year later, <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/2011/Consumer+Advisory:+Dorel+Recalling+Nearly+800,000+Child+Safety+Seats+For+Safety+Harness+Issue">NHTSA </a>and Dorel announced the <a href="http://www.djgusa.com/usa/eng/Safety-Notices/Detail/506-Cosco,-Maxi-Cosi,-and-Safety-1st-Child-Restraint-System-Center-Front-Adjuster-Recall">recall </a>today for thousands of car seats manufactured between April 2008 and the end of May 2009. The brand names are varied and include Safety First, Eddie Bauer, Dorel and others as well as both convertible seats, infant seats and those sold with travel systems -- so if you have a Dorel car seat -- check the recall notice. <a href="http://carseatblog.com/9029/dorel-recalls-hundreds-of-thousands-of-carseats/">Carseatblog.com</a> has taken the time to correlate model numbers with brands and names. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dorel is providing lubricant which is intended to make the latch work as required. NHTSA is asking for anyone having harness issues with one of these car seats to report it through <a href="http://www.safercar.gov/">safercars.gov</a>. It is interesting to note that the date NHTSA's official investigation was opened(3/5/10) corresponds exactly to NBC Target 5's story on the air! Our friends at <a href="http://chicago.safetysquad.com/car-seat-installation.html">Safety Squad</a> are quoted in the story as well! </div>Kids In Dangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11921200998151088961noreply@blogger.com0