Be Child Safe

Month: October 2013

  • BreathableBaby Recalls Wearable Blanket Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: October 29, 2013

    Recall Number: 14-007

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product:  BreathableSack wearable blanket for infants

    Hazard: The zipper pull tabs and sliders can detach posing a choking hazard to infants.

    Remedy:  Replace

    Consumer Contact:  BreathableBaby toll-free at (877) 827-4442 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT Monday through Thursday or online at www.breathablebaby.com and click on Recall Information.

    Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/BreathableBaby-Recalls-Wearable-Blanket/

    Recall Details

    Units: About 15,000

    Description:  The BreathableBaby BreathableSacks are sleeveless, wearable blankets. They come in two sizes: small (10-18 pounds) and medium (16-24 pounds) and come in three colors: kiwi Whoo, pink Hip, and blue Splash. There is one animal stitched on the left chest of each blanket of an owl, hippo or elephant. Only BreathableSacks from Lot No. 124 with a manufacture date of 04/17/2012 are included in the recall.  A tag sewn inside the recalled units where the infant’s right foot would be located states the “Date of Manufacture: 04/17/2012, Lot No. 124,” along with the washing instructions on the back of the tag.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the BreathableSacks from Lot No. 124 and contact BreathableBaby to request a replacement garment.

    Sold at:  Various stores and online retailers, and at www.breathablebaby.com, nationwide from June 2012 to August 2013 for about $20.

    Importer: BreathableBaby LLC, of Minnetonka, Minn.

    Manufactured in: China

  • Target Recalls Children’s Sitting Stools Due to Fall Hazard

    Recall Date: October 29, 2013

    Recall Number: 14-006

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Circo-brand Chloe and Conner Sitting Stools

    Hazard: The stabilizing bar can crack and cause the stool to collapse, posing a fall hazard to the user.

    Remedy:  Refund

    Consumer Contact: Target Guest Relations at (800) 440-0680 anytime or email guest.relations@target.com. For additional information, consumers can visit www.target.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page and then select “Children’s & Baby Products.”

    Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Target-Recalls-Childrens-Sitting-Stools/

    Recall Details

    Units: About 69,000

    Description: This recall involves children’s sitting stool, sold as part of the Circo-brand Chloe & Conner Collection. Assembled stools measure 11 inches tall by 11 inches wide by 11 inches deep.  The painted wood stools were sold in red, white, navy and pink.  Item numbers 249200218 (red), 249200207 (white), 249200217 (navy), 249200208 (pink) are printed on a sticker on the underside of the stools.

    Incidents/Injuries: Target has received seven reports of the stools breaking or collapsing and causing a child to fall. In five of the reported incidents, bumps, bruises and cuts were reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the stool and return it to a Target store for a full refund.

    Sold exclusively at: Target stores nationwide from April 2012 through June 2013 for about $15.

    Importer: Target Corporation, of Minneapolis, Minn.

    Manufacturer: L. Powell Acquisition Corporation, of Culver City, Calif.

    Manufactured in: China

  • Infinitoy Recalls Softimals Toy Sets Due to Choking and Aspiration Hazard

    Recall Date:  October 23, 2013

    Recall Number: 14-003

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Consumers should stop using this product, which is being recalled voluntarily, unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

    Recall Summary:

    Name of Product: Building Toy Playsets

    Hazard: The plastic hats found on playset figures pose a choking/aspiration hazard for children.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the plastic hat from Safari Sam and Mighty Mike and contact Infinitoy Inc., to exchange the hat for a free replacement figure.

    Consumer Contact: Infinitoy, Inc. toll-free at (888) 558-0933 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or online at www.infinitoy.com , then click on Safety/Recall at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Infinitoy-Recalls-Softimals-Toy-Sets/

    Recall  Details:

    Units: About 7,134 units

    Description: Infinitoy Inc. is recalling the Super Safari Set model #30025 and the Deluxe Circus Train Set model #30040. The model number can be found on the back of the box in the lower right corner. The sets come in a white box with “Softimals. Build, Play, Repeat” and “Ages 1 ½ to 5” printed in a colorful font on the front and back of the package. The sets have numerous plastic pieces that can be connected and fit together to build a vehicle pulling cars with a hippo, giraffe, zebra and other animals. The drivers of the lead vehicles, Safari Sam and Mighty Mike, have removable blue or yellow plastic hats.

    Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of one incident in which an 18-month-old child placed a hat in their mouth and started to gag/choke but the toy was removed. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold at:  Specialty toy stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and Mindware.com from September 2012 to September 2013 for about $25 and $40.

    Importer: Infinitoy, Inc., San Mateo, Calif.

    Manufactured in: Italy

  • Child Survival in 2013

    According to the United States Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl M. Stern’s latest  letter,  “Every day, 18,000 children under five die of things we can prevent.” That’s a startling figure!  And although the under-five child mortality rate in the world has been practically cut in half in the past few years, there are still areas where we can do better, where we can work with each other to lower the child mortality rate. In war-torn areas, the rate of childhood death caused by violence, accident and infectious diseases is high. Hunger and severe poverty around the world are also killers of young children. One would think that in 2013 we should be able to do better by our young.

    Recently, I learned about a petition to the President by Unicef, “Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed” Pledge to help every country in the world reach a child mortality rate of 20 deaths or fewer per 1,000 live births by the year 2035.  In my book, that is a worthwhile commitment.  And among the efforts that contribute to lowering childhood deaths in developing countries are providing:

    Lifesaving vaccines and insecticide-treated bed nets,
    Emergency relief following natural disasters, and
    Educational opportunities and providing educational materials.

    But there is so much more to be done, even in the United States, to share information with each other and be informed about childhood survival. BeSafeChild.org’s mission is to educate and inform families how to help prevent accidents in the home and at school; to encourage parents to nurture and pay attention to their children–especially to their health needs, such as scheduling regular immunizations at the beginning of the school year which help reduce the spread of infectious diseases throughout communities.

    Every small thing we can do to help keep parents, family members and caregivers informed about child safety and health, we hope, sends positive ripples to families and communities to ultimately benefit children–which we even dare hope might lower those childhood mortality figures!