Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Bexco Recalls Franklin & Ben Mason 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs Due to Fall and Entrapment Hazards

    Recall Date: August 19, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-258

    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: Franklin & Ben Mason 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs

    Hazard: The crib front can separate from the side panels and create a hazardous gap that can allow a child to fall out or become entrapped between the front and side panels.

    Remedy: Repair

    Consumer Contact: Contact Franklin & Ben, a division of Bexco, toll-free at (888) 673-6652 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. PT Monday through Friday. Consumers can also visit the firm’s website at www.franklinandben.com and click “Safety Recall” to request a repair kit.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 1,000 in the U.S and 100 in Canada

    Description: This recall includes Franklin & Ben Mason style 4-in-1 style cribs model number 5601 that were manufactured from January 2012 through August 2012. The model number and the date of manufacture are printed on a label on the inside of a side panel of the crib. Listed on the label as a “serial number,” the following purchase order numbers are included in the recall: H004522, H004546, H004548 or H004777. The cribs have solid wood sideboards and wood rails on the front and back of the crib in varying heights and can convert to a daybed, toddler bed or full-sized bed. There is a storage drawer at the base of the crib with two metal knobs. The recalled cribs were sold in weathered gray and rustic brown, and measure 57 inches long by 33 inches wide by 51 inches high.

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 14 reports of the front separating from the side panels of the crib. No injuries have been reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs and contact the firm for a free repair kit. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard or toddler bed depending on the child’s age.

    Sold at: Juvenile products specialty retailers nationwide from January 2012 through June 2014 for between $600 and $700.

    Manufacturer: Bexco Enterprises Inc., of Montebello, Calif.

    Manufactured in: Taiwan

  • BRITA Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Due to Laceration Hazard

    Recall Date: August 19, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-257

    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: Brita hard-sided water filter bottle for kids

     Hazard: The lid can break into pieces with sharp points, posing a laceration hazard

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: Call Brita at (800) 926-2065 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or go to www.brita.com and click “Safety Recall” for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 242,500

    Description: The four recalled children’s water bottles have popular cartoon characters on a hard-sided plastic bottle. Characters and bottle colors include Dora the Explorer®, violet; Hello Kitty®, pink; SpongeBob Square Pants®, blue; and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, green. The bottles stand 6 inches tall, hold 15 ounces of liquid, have white lids that screw off and have fold-up straws and filters that sit inside the straw below the lid.  Each bottle bears a Brita logo and features the image of a popular children’s cartoon character. The removable plastic wrap on the bottle at time of purchase has the model number BB07 and the following UPC codes: 60258-35883 on the Dora the Explorer, 60258-35914 on the Hello Kitty, 60258-35880 on the SpongeBob Square Pants and 60258-35882 on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

    Incidents/Injuries: Brita has received 35 reports of lids breaking or cracking. No injuries have been reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled water bottles and contact Brita to receive a postage-paid shipping package to return the bottles for a full refund.

    Sold at: Alaska Housewares, Associated Food Stores, Bartell Drug, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Quidsi, Royal Ahold, Shopko, Target, US Navy Exchange, Walmart Stores, and online at Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and Target.com. Hello Kitty bottles were sold from February 2014 through July 2014. Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob Square Pants and Teenage Mutant Ninja bottles were sold from June 2013 through July 2014. The bottles sold for about $13 to $19.

    Importer: BRITA LP of Oakland, Calif.

    Manufactured in: Mexico

  • GSK Recalls Panadol Advance Bottles Due to Failure to Meet Child-Resistant Closure Requirement

    Sold Exclusively in Puerto Rico

    Recall Date: July 14, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-229

    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: Panadol Advance® 100 count caplets

    Hazard: The packaging is not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. These products contain acetaminophen which is required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act to be sealed with child-resistant packaging.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) toll-free at (888) 912-8455 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.us.gsk.com and click on “Media & news” in the upper left and, if not listed with current releases, click on “Press release archive” on the left side for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 10,600

    Description: This recall involves bottles of 100ct Panadol Advance pain relievers. The medicine was sold in white containers with a blue label, inside a blue box. “Panadol” and “Advance” are printed on the label. Lot numbers and dates codes are located on the left side panel of the box and on the left side of the label on the bottle, near the bar code. Click here to view a  listing of Lot numbers and date codes included in the recall: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/GSK-Recalls-Panadol-Advance-Bottles/

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately place the product out of a child’s sight and reach, and contact GSK for a refund.

    Sold exclusively at: Drug, grocery and mass merchandise stores in Puerto Rico from November 2012 through February 2014 for about $10.

    Manufacturer: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), of Moon Township, Penn.

    Manufactured in: U.S.A.

  • H&M Recalls Girls’ Leggings Due to Choking Hazard

    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 date: May 15, 2014

    Recall number: 14-180

    Recall Summary

    Name of product:  Girls’ Leggings

    Hazard:  A metal part on the belt can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumer Contact:  H&M Customer Service toll-free at (855) 466-7467 from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET any day, email at customerservice.us@hm.com or online at www.hm.com and click on “Product Safety Recall – read more” at the bottom of the page for more information.

     Recall Details

    Units:  About 65,000

    Description:  This recall involves girls’ leggings sold in the following colors: black/pink belt, black/silver belt, black and white stripe/black belt, blue and white stripe/blue belt, blue hounds-tooth/blue belt, grey check/pink belt, grey with dots/pink belt, khaki/pink belt, khaki with dots/pink belt, pink and white check/white belt, purple/purple belt and red and blue plaid/blue belt. The knit leggings were sold sizes 1 ½ to 8 years and have a plastic belt with bow-shaped buckle. H&M is printed on the back of the care label. The care label is either black or white and attached to the waistband in the back of the leggings. The garments have an O/N (order number) and P/N (product number) printed on the top of the care label. The following O/N numbers are included in the recall: 345180, 400690, 400691, 441760, 441761, 441762, 446960, 446961, 446962, 446963, 446965 and 978210.

    Incidents/Injuries:  The firm has received one report of a choking incident in the United Kingdom, but no reports of consumer incidents or injuries related to the use of these products in the U.S.

    Remedy:  Consumers should stop using the belt and remove it from the leggings and contact H&M Customer Service for instructions on returning the belt for a $20 gift card.

    Sold exclusively at H&M stores nationwide and online at HM.com from August 2012 to April 2014 for between $3 and $15.

    Distributor: H&M Hennes & Mauritz L.P., of North Arlington, N.J.

    Manufactured in:  Bangladesh, China and Turkey

  • IKEA Reannounces and Expands Recall of Children’s Wall-Mounted Lamps Due to Strangulation Hazard

    Recall Date: April 29, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-161

    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: Children’s wall-mounted lamps

    Hazard: Children can get entangled in the electrical cord that hangs from the children’s wall-mounted lamps, posing a strangulation hazard.

    Remedy: Repair

    Consumer Contact: IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime or online at www.ikea-usa.com and click on the Recall link at the top of the page for more information.

    Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/IKEA-Reannounces-and-Expands-Recall-of-Childrens-Wall-Mounted-Lamps/

    Recall Details

    Units: About 3.5 million in the United States, 1.4 million in Canada, 30.2 million worldwide

    (This reannouncement includes IKEA children’s lamps in the firm’s previous recall in December 2013 and expands the number and types of lamps.)

    Description: This recall involves IKEA children’s wall-mounted lamps sold in various style names, shapes and colors. The lamps have a cord, about 7 to 8 feet long with either a switch on the cord or a switch located on the lamp. The lamp styles are included in the recall reannouncement and expansion.

    Incidents/Injuries: A 15-month-old baby became entangled in the TASSA NATT lamp’s cord and nearly strangled. This incident, and the death of a 16-month-old baby who died after getting entangled in the SMILA lamp’s cord, were reported in the previous recall.  In both incidents, which occurred in Europe, the lamp cord was pulled into the crib by the infants.

    Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled lamps, remove them from the wall and contact IKEA for a free repair kit. Do not use the lamp until the repair kit is installed. The repair kit has self-adhesive fasteners for attaching the lamp’s cord to the wall as well as safety instructions.

    Sold exclusively at: IKEA stores nationwide, in IKEA’s catalog and online at www.ikea-usa.com from May 1984 to April 2014 for between $5 and $30.

    Manufacturer: IKEA North America, of Conshohocken, Pa.

    Manufactured in: United States, Lithuania and China

  • Mumps Outbreak, Growing!

    When I wrote a piece last winter on Measles, I did not think I’d be writing again so soon about what physicians used to call another common childhood ailment, the Mumps.  Measles aren’t funny… and neither are Mumps.  Both measles and mumps have become relatively less common than in the 1950s and 1960s, because, today, young children are vaccinated with the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccines and physicians encourage parents and caregivers to have children in their care vaccinated for these diseases in order to retard their spread to the larger community.  But occasionally these diseases reappear!

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) says that mumps cases appear each year with the reports of a few hundred incidences compared with what used to be about 186,000 cases in the U.S. annually.1 The CDC also reflects that in some years, mumps outbreaks are worse than others.2 The viral disease typically shows up in the winter or spring months of the year.  Crowded venues where there could be close proximity with carriers, in places such as sports, school and church gatherings, can foster the spread of the infection.

    According to the CDC, from January 1 to April 18, 2014, 332 cases of mumps have been documented and many of these have occurred at Ohio State University’s college campus (162 cases) and at Fordham University’s college campus.3

    Mumps is commonly spread by communicating drops of saliva to others when sneezing, coughing, touching hands to mouth–and then touching others, kissing, talking, and by using glassware, cups or drink cans that others with mumps have used! According to physicians, most mumps transmissions occur before glands begin to swell and within five days after swelling begins, thus CDC advises that patients who have the mumps be isolated for at least five days following the beginning of glands’ swelling.

    Mumps can cause fever, body aches, headaches and swelling of the salivary glands.4 Some people who contract mumps do not develop symptoms–and others could have additional complications, such as viral meningitis, testicular inflammation (males), and deafness in one or both ears.  So it is not a disease for parents and caregivers to ignore or take lightly.  The effects of mumps can be long-lasting or disappear in as little as two weeks.  Children who receive at least two doses of the MMR vaccine (at the appropriate ages, usually a year after birth and when they enter school) are less likely to develop mumps than those who do not.  Encouraging children to cover their mouth and nose when they sneeze and to wash their hands at every opportunity is also a deterrent to the spread of mumps.
    _____________

    1U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
    2Op. Cit., U.S. CDC, http://www.cdc.gov/mumps/outbreaks.html
    3Ibid.
    4Fordham University, Mumps FAQs, February 2014, http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/fordham-mumps-2014-faqs-02-21-2014.pdf

  • Summer Infant Expands Recall to Replace Video Monitor Rechargeable Batteries Due to Burn Hazard

    Recall Date: April 23, 2014

    Recall Number: 14-156

    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: Rechargeable batteries used in Summer Infant video monitors

    Hazard: The battery in the handheld video monitor can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

    Remedy: Replace

    Consumer Contact: Summer Infant at (800) 426-8627 anytime or online at www.summerinfant.com/batteryrecall for information on battery replacement.

    Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Summer-Infant-Expands-Recall-to-Replace-Video-Monitor-Rechargeable-Batteries/

    Recall Details

    Units: About 800,000 batteries (about 58,800 were recalled in February 2011)

    Description: The recall involves rechargeable batteries in Summer Infant handheld color video monitors. The rechargeable batteries are about 1 ½” tall by 2 ¼” wide and are ¼” thick, black, and are marked with TCL on the lower right corner of the battery.  Monitors are sold with a matching camera and A/C adaptors. Batteries will have one of these letter and number combinations in the beginning of the serial number on the back of the battery. See battery numbers, names and model numbers here http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Summer-Infant-Expands-Recall-to-Replace-Video-Monitor-Rechargeable-Batteries/.

    Incidents/Injuries: Summer Infant has received 22 reports of overheated and ruptured batteries, including incidents of smoke and minor property damage.

    Remedy: Consumers should remove the battery and contact Summer Infant for a replacement battery.  The monitor can continue to be used on AC power with the power cord.

    Sold at: Mass merchants, including Babies “R” Us, online retailers and independent juvenile specialty stores, from about February 2010 through 2012 for between $150 to $350.

    Importer: Summer Infant, of Woonsocket, R.I.

    Manufactured in: China

  • The First Vehicular Heat Stroke of 2014

    Looking at recent (2010) statistics compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, provided by the Kids Count program, it is clear that accidental deaths occurring to children ages 1 – 14 are reducing in number–and are currently lower than in the ten years preceding 2010.  This is good news for kids, parents and for our Country.  But what does it mean for us that the numbers are still stunning–and that in certain states the numbers are proportionately higher? How do we keep kids safe in a world burgeoning with ever-increasing safety challenges?

    There is much we can do to keep our children safe and many efforts toward safety require simply focusing on the child and what a child is or is not able to do at a particular age or stage of development.  We want to make sure that children who can climb are nowhere near a TV that is placed on a stand which is not hooked to a wall; we make sure adult medicines are locked up, and that if we use button batteries for a hearing aid or wristwatch that they are not left where a young child can pick up and swallow them. We make sure kids are buckled up in the car and that their restraint seats are in good condition.  We make sure a baby who is beginning to roll over is in a proper crib with a safe mattress and away from a window or window blinds. There are many things we can do to keep children safe, the least of which is simply watching a child to make sure they don’t get into difficulty.  Staying focused on the child in our care seems to be the minimal we can do, but in reality checking on a child in our care makes a huge difference in whether our children survive well.

    This week the first death due to “vehicular heat stroke” for the year 2014 was sadly reported.  An infant child in San Jose’, California, was left in a car by a father who drove to work and forgot the child was in the car and that he was to have dropped the child at the babysitter’s on the way to work. There are no words to repair the sorrow these parents and family members must be experiencing.  There is no do-over for this circumstance… and the saddest thing is, that with all the distractions in our world today, this can happen to any parent, family member or caregiver of a child.

    Without launching on a treatise about distracted driving at this time, there is one simple thing a parent can do when a child is riding in the car and that is to place a stuffed animal in the front seat to remind the caregiver that there’s a child (maybe a child who does not yet speak) in the car… Train yourself, as a caregiver, to check the car before you shut the doors and windows and click the key fob… and walk away to the next thing–whatever that is, however important the next thing may seem, nothing is as important as the care of your child.  Child care means just that.

  • Should You Put Sunscreen on Infants? Not Usually

    (This article was originally published by the FDA in their Consumer Updates section)

    You’re at the beach, slathered in sunscreen. Your 5-month-old baby is there, too. Should you put sunscreen on her? Not usually, according to Hari Cheryl Sachs, M.D., a pediatrician at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    “The best approach is to keep infants under 6 months out of the sun,” Sachs says, “and to avoid exposure to the sun in the hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when ultraviolet (UV) rays are most intense.”

    Sunscreens are recommended for children and adults. What makes babies so different?

    “Babies’ skin is less mature compared to adults, and infants have a higher surface-area to body-weight ratio compared to older children and adults.” explains Sachs. “Both these factors mean that an infant’s exposure to the chemicals in sunscreens may be much greater, increasing the risk of side effects from the sunscreen.”

    “The best protection is to keep your baby in the shade, if possible,” Sachs says. “If there’s no natural shade, create your own with an umbrella or the canopy of the stroller.”

    “If there’s no way to keep an infant out of the sun, you should check with your pediatrician about what to do for your baby.” If your pediatrician agrees, you can apply a small amount of sunscreen—with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15—to small areas such as the cheeks and back of the hands. Sachs suggests testing your baby’s sensitivity to sunscreen by first trying a small amount on the inner wrist.

    Cover Up

    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests dressing infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. Tight weaves are better than loose. Keep in mind that while baseball caps are cute, they don’t shade the neck and ears, sensitive areas for a baby.

    Summer’s heat presents other challenges for babies.

    “Younger infants also don’t sweat like we do”, Sachs says. “Sweat naturally cools the rest of us down when we’re hot, but babies haven’t yet fully developed that built-in heating-and-cooling system. So you want to make sure your baby doesn’t get overheated.”

    “In the heat, babies are also at greater risk of becoming dehydrated. To make sure they’re adequately hydrated, offer them their usual feeding of breast milk or formula”, says Sachs. “The water content in both will help keep them well hydrated. Providing water in between these feedings is also okay.”

    Sun Safety Tips for Infants

    Here are some things to keep in mind this summer when outside with infants:

    • Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.
    • Consult your pediatrician before using any sunscreen on your baby. If you do use a small amount of sunscreen on your baby, don’t assume the child is well protected.
    • Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects sensitive skin. Use common sense; if you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s so sheer that you can see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.
    • Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides sufficient shade at all times.
    • Watch your baby carefully to make sure he or she doesn’t show warning signs of sunburn or dehydration. These include fussiness, redness and excessive crying.
    • Hydrate! Give your baby formula, breast milk, and offer water between feedings if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Don’t forget to use a cooler to store the liquids.
    • Take note of how much your baby is urinating. If it’s less than usual, it may be a sign of dehydration, and that more fluids are needed until the flow is back to normal.
    • Avoid combination sunscreens containing insect repellants like DEET. Young children may lick their hands or put them in their mouths. According to the AAP, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old.
    • If you do notice your baby is becoming sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the affected areas.

  • Baby Trend Car Seats Recalled – Buckle May Be Difficult to Unlatch

    Report Receipt Date: APR 01, 2014

    NHTSA Campaign Number: 14C002000

    Recall Summary

    Baby Trend, Inc. (Baby Trend) is recalling certain model year 2011 and 2012 TrendZ Fastback 3-in-1 child restraints, models FB60070 (Granite) and FB60408 (Jellybean), manufactured between October 2011 and July 2013. The defect involves difficulty in unlatching the harness buckle. In some cases, the buckle becomes stuck in a latched condition so that it cannot be opened by depressing the buckle’s release button.

    Hazard: It may be difficult to remove the child from the restraint, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an emergency in which a prompt exit from the vehicle is required.

    Remedy: Baby Trend will notify registered owners and will provide replacement buckles when they become available. The manufacturer has not yet provided the agency with a notification schedule or buckle availability schedule. Owners may contact Baby Trend at 1-800-328-7363 or visit their website at www.babytrend.com.

    Potential Number of Units Affected: 16,655

    Notes:

    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.