Category: Public Service Announcement

(Repost from CDC Newsletter, 3/7/23)

Child Safety

• Buy a gas can or portable fuel container that is child resistant.
• Keep gas cans and other portable fuel containers out of the reach of children.
• Never permit children to play with matches or fuel.

Safe Storage

• Store gas cans and portable fuel containers in well-ventilated, cool areas only.
• Never leave fuel containers open, always put the cap back on after use.
• Store portable fuel containers in well-ventilated, cool areas only.
• Never store gas cans inside a house, basement, or near sources of ignition, such as fuel-burning appliances, open flames, pilot lights, stoves, heaters or electric mowers.

Backyard Fire Pits

• Never use gasoline to start a fire or to re-start a fire – even if you think the fire was not ignited.
• Only use appropriate fire starters and only before lighting the fire.
• Never add liquid fuel after trying to start a fire.
• Keep a hose or fire extinguisher nearby.
• Never burn when the risk of wildfires is high.
• Do not wipe flammable liquids from your hands onto clothing. Spot clean and line dry clothes if flammable liquids are spilled.

At the gas station

• Never smoke near gasoline or at a gas station.
• Always place a gas can on the ground to fill up at the gas station.
• Do not use plastic bags or other inappropriate containers with gasoline or other flammable liquids.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Baby Trend are warning consumers about a risk of head or neck entrapment between the pivoting front canopy and the arm rest or seat back of Baby Trend’s Sit N’ Stand Double and Ultra strollers with model numbers beginning with “SS76” or “SS66”. 

The space in front of and behind the strollers’ pivoting front canopy can entrap a child’s head or neck if a non-occupant child climbs on the exterior of the stroller or when a child in the front seat of the stroller is not securely restrained in the seat using all five points of the harness. Entrapment could lead to a loss of consciousness, serious injury, or death.

Baby Trend has received one report of neck entrapment in the space between the front of the canopy tube and arm rest of a Baby Trend Sit N’ Stand double stroller, resulting in the asphyxiation death of a non-occupant 14-month-old whose father was nearby but unable to see the child. Baby Trend has also received one report of entrapment in the space between the back of the canopy tube and the seat back of the front seat, resulting in neck bruises to a 17-month-old child, who was partially secured. 

Consumers can mitigate the hazard by removing and separately storing the canopy when not in use, not allowing children to play on the strollers, and always fully securing children in the strollers with the built-in five-point harness. 

The Sit N’ Stand Double and Ultra strollers, model numbers beginning SS76 or SS66, have a black or silver frame and a black tray at the front with oval cutouts on the sides. “Sit N’ Stand” is printed in white on the sides of the frame. “Baby Trend” is printed on the side of the mesh basket under the seat. The model number is printed on a sticker located on the left inside rear of the frame, near the left rear axle. The Sit N’ Stand strollers have been sold nationwide since 2009.

These strollers have been and are sold online at www.babytrend.com, Amazon.com, bedbathandbeyond.com and other online retailers, and in stores including Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and buybuy BABY.

Instructions on how to remove the detachable canopy for Sit N’ Stand Double or Ultra strollers with model numbers beginning SS76 or SS66 are provided in the product manual and images accompanying this release.

Consumers are encouraged to report incidents or injuries associated with the Baby Trend Sit N’ Stand Double or Ultra strollers or with any product to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov. Consumers are also encouraged to report incidents and direct questions regarding Baby Trend products to Baby Trend at 800-328-7363 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday or by email at info@babytrend.com.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the risk of drowning with LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corporation (Otteroo). CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using them, as well as the discontinued models of Otteroo infant flotation rings: the Version 1, sold from 2014 to 2015, and the Version 2, sold from 2015 to 2018. The Commission has found that the public health and safety requires this notice to warn the public quickly of the hazard.

CPSC evaluated the Otteroo infant flotation rings and found that they can deflate during use or storage, causing the child occupant to slide out of the product into the water, which can lead to serious injury or death. One infant has died by drowning and one infant was seriously injured after slipping through an Otteroo infant flotation ring. The death occurred in 2020 in Maine and involved a six-month old. The serious injury occurred in 2020 in New York and involved a three-month old.

CPSC is aware of 68 incidents where infants slipped through the head opening of the flotation ring and required immediate rescue by a caregiver.

The Otteroo infant flotation rings have been sold nationwide since January 2014 for between $24 to $40. Otteroo has refused to agree to CPSC’s request for an acceptable recall.

The Otteroo infant flotation rings are currently sold exclusively on www.otteroo.com. They were previously sold on Zulily.com and Amazon.com.

The MINI and LUMI are clear, inflatable rings designed to fit around the neck of an infant. “otteroo” is printed on the top of the rings. The rings also have an illustrated white otter with an inflatable ring around its neck. Earlier models also are inflatable rings bearing the word “otteroo” and an illustrated white otter, and they are constructed of both clear and blue plastic material.

CPSC urges consumers not to buy the Otteroo infant flotation rings. If you already own one or purchased one, do not use it due to the drowning hazard and dispose of the product immediately. Report incidents with the Otteroo infant flotation rings and any dangerous product or a product-related injury to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov.

CPSC urges consumers NOT to resell or donate the Otteroo infant flotation rings so other infants are not put in danger by the hazard.

Under section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, the CPSC is required to include with this press release any comments from the manufacturer or a summary thereof.  The company objects to this press release.  As summarized, the firm states Otteroo neck floats come with thorough safety instructions and warnings which, if followed, will ensure safe use.  The firm states that these warnings make it clear that neck floats are meant to be used under close and constant adult supervision.  The firm states that like all inflatables, Otteroo neck floats are subject to damage, including holes which will result in deflation.  Otteroo states that it instructs parents to check for air leaks before each use because deflation can pose a drowning hazard if the adult is not within arm’s reach of the baby at all times.  The firm states that while it is deeply saddened by the two events mentioned in the press release, it appears that in both incidents, the infants were left alone in the bath for an extended period of time.  The firm states that furthermore, there are inconsistencies and limited evidence concerning whether Otteroo neck floats were directly responsible.

CPSC Chair and Commissioner Statements

Commissioner Richard Trumka

Whether At Home or Traveling for the Holidays CPSC Reminds Parents to Keep Babies’ Sleep Space Safe

CPSC Joins Members of Congress, Safety Advocates at Chicago Lurie Children’s Hospital

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the holiday season fast approaching and families preparing to gather, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is teaming up with members of Congress and safety advocates to remind adults to keep the little ones safe – whether at home or at grandma’s house – by always creating a safe sleep space.

Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric joined pediatric experts from Lurie Children’s Hospital and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), child safety advocates from Kids in Danger (KID), Safe Kids Worldwide, and Consumer Federation of America, and Members of Congress to raise awareness of the best safe sleep practices for babies and highlight new laws and regulations aimed at creating a safer marketplace to keep all babies safe.

“I’m excited to be working alongside these trusted collaborators to expand our reach and provide parents, grandparents, and caregivers with the best safe sleep practices for their babies during the holidays and all year,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “Together we can reduce these tragic deaths and injuries and create a safer marketplace.”

This event was held following a year of aggressive Congressional and CPSC action to protect babies from product hazards.  These steps include:

• Infant Sleep Products Rule. CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule went into effect in June 2022, and requires all new infant sleep products to have a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or lower and to meet at least one of the existing standards for sleep products: bassinets and cradles, play yards, or cribs.

Since the rule went into effect, CPSC has sent more than 125 letters to businesses to alert them of their obligation to comply with the new requirements; and, in more than 70 instances, specific infant sleep products were identified that could be subject to the rule. Subsequently, 26 products were removed from sale, helping to protect consumers. Additionally, CPSC has recently issued a notice to one firm, Dock-a-tot, for manufacturing a non-compliant infant sleep product after June 23, 2022, an apparent violation of the ISP rule.

• Safe Sleep for Babies Act. CPSC has written to retailers, including e-commerce platforms, urging them to comply with the requirements of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which was enacted into law this summer, and goes into effect on November 12^th.  The Act bans padded crib bumpers and inclined sleep products, regardless of date of manufacture. Last week, CPSC wrote to 45 retailers urging them to comply with these requirements with respect to crib bumpers, and CPSC will be monitoring the market for inclined products.  
• Additional safety measures. In addition to these steps forward on infant sleep products, major steps were taken to improve the marketplace for baby safety.  Congress recently enacted Reese’s Law, aimed at protecting children from hazardous button cell batteries.  CPSC also issued final rules establishing safety standards for crib mattresses, magnets, window coverings, and clothing storage units.

“Being a new parent can be hard enough and keeping our newborns safe is a goal we all share. Thanks to the dedication of my colleagues, the dynamic leadership of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric, and the urgency to protect our children, President Biden was able to sign into law multiple pieces of legislation that will protect babies and promote safe sleep practices,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “Nearly 200 deaths have been linked to crib bumpers and infant inclined sleep products. Thanks to the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which I introduced with Rep. Tony Cárdenas, these dangerous products will be banned, providing families with the peace of mind they deserve when purchasing new products for their newborns.”

“I’m glad CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric will be traveling to Chicago to raise awareness around the dangers families may not be aware of during the holiday season,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “Recent CPSC actions against infant sleeping products have been key to ensuring businesses are removing harmful products and babies are kept safe. Additionally, while the recent passage of my bill, Reese’s Law, will help ensure future products with button batteries are safer; many homes have remotes, holiday decorations, and toys that contain button batteries and can be easily opened, and pose life threatening injuries if the batteries are ingested.”

CPSC’s latest nursery product injury and death report shows most nursery-product infant deaths occurred in a cluttered sleep space, when soft bedding was added to the cribs, playpens/play yards or bassinets/cradles. On average there are almost 100 infant deaths annually in unsafe sleep environments involving nursery products.  CPSC is reminding caregivers to follow these practices to keep babies’ sleep space safe:

1. Back to Sleep: Always place the baby to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SUID/SIDS) and suffocation.
2. Bare is Best: Always keep the baby’s sleep space bare (fitted sheet only) to prevent suffocation. Do not use pillows, padded crib bumpers, quilts or comforters.
3. Transfer the baby to a firm, flat crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper if they fall asleep in a swing, bouncer, lounger, or similar product.
4. Inclined products, such as rockers, gliders, soothers, and swings should never be used for infant sleep, and infants should not be left in these products unsupervised, unrestrained, or with soft bedding material, due to the risk of suffocation.

RECALLS: Always check to see if any purchased baby nursery products have been recalled, which includes any secondhand products.  Remember, babies rely on adults to keep them safe. Sign up today at CPSC.gov.

[CPSC News Release dated 10/19/2022]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved a new federal mandatory safety standard for clothing storage units (CSUs) that will significantly change the way clothing storage units are tested and labeled. Young children are most at risk of injury or death from tip over incidents with this type of furniture, which includes products such as chests, bureaus, dressers, armoires, wardrobes, chests of drawers, drawer chests, chifforobes and door chests.      

CPSC staff is aware of 234 fatalities resulting from clothing storage unit tip overs from January 2000 through April 2022, including 199 child fatalities.  Staff estimates that there were 84,100 tip-over-related injuries (an estimated annual average of 5,300 injuries) with CSUs treated in a U.S. hospital emergency department from 2006 through 2021.  Of these, staff estimates that 72 percent were injuries to children.  From January 2000 through July 2022, there have been 43 recalls in response to tip-over hazards of CSUs, involving more than 21 million units.

“Each year, children are killed or injured in dresser tipover incidents. The standard set today will ensure that dressers are safer and fewer children are at risk,” said CPSC Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric. “I want to thank the members of Parents Against Tipovers and other consumer advocates who have spent years pushing the agency to set a strong standard that will protect children going forward. I am pleased that the CPSC was able to achieve that goal and commend the staff for their hard work and dedication.”

The new standard would require CSUs to exceed minimum stability requirements and display important safety information and performance and technical data. The stability requirements reflect real-world factors, like multiple open drawers, drawers containing clothing-representative loads, angling CSUs to replicate the effects of placement on carpet and forces a child exerts while climbing or pulling on a CSU, all of which are shown to occur during CSU tip overs and contribute to their instability.

The standard also includes test methods for CSUs with interlocks.  Interlocks can improve CSU stability, by preventing all drawers from being opened at once. In addition to the stability requirements, the new standard requires that CSUs are marked and labeled with safety and identification information and display a hang tag providing performance and technical data about the product’s stability.

CPSC’s Anchor It! campaign works to raise awareness of the dangers to children from furniture tip overs.  See www.anchorit.gov for more information on how to prevent tip-over incidents and save children’s lives.

The Commission voted 3 to 1 to approve the standard on October 19, 2022. It takes effect 180 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

CPSC Chair and Commissioner Statements: 

Chair Hoehn-Saric Statement

Commissioner Feldman Statement

Commissioner Trumka Statement

Commissioner Boyle Statement

Check Baby’s Sleep Space for Suffocation Hazards; Most Nursery Product-Related Infant Deaths Can Be Prevented

(This Public Service Announcement is reproduced from the CDC: https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2022/CPSC-Urges-Parents-Caregivers-to-Use-Products-that-Are-Safe-for-Sleep-Check-Babys-Sleep-Space-for-Suffocation-Hazards-Most-Nursery-Product-Related-Infant-Deaths-Can-Be-Prevented)

Release Date: September 15, 2022

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On average there are almost 100 infant deaths annually in unsafe sleep environments involving nursery products. During Baby Safety Month (September), the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to put their babies to sleep only in products that are safe for sleep–such as bassinets, cribs and play yards.  Babies who fall asleep in other locations should be moved to a crib, bassinet or play yard.  The CPSC also urges caregivers to remove soft bedding suffocation hazards including blankets, pillows and stuffed toys, from baby’s sleep space because most nursery product-related infant deaths can be prevented. CPSC’s latest nursery product injury and death report shows most nursery-product infant deaths occurred in a cluttered sleep space, when soft bedding was added to the cribs, playpens/play yards or bassinets/cradles.   

CPSC’s latest data show that between 2016 and 2018, an annual average of:

• 87 deaths were associated with cribs, playpens/play yards, and bassinets/cradles, most of which were associated with the presence of extra bedding, such as pillows, blankets and/or comforters; and 
• 8 deaths were associated with inclined sleep products.

“What is comfortable for the way adults sleep, isn’t safe for babies,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “Bare is best–a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet or play yard, without blankets, pillows, or other items.  If you are worried about your baby getting cold, use warm pajamas–not blankets.”

To keep baby’s sleep space safe:

1. Back to Sleep: Always place the baby to sleep on their back to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected infant death syndrome (SUID/SIDS) and suffocation.
2. Bare is Best: Always keep the baby’s sleep space bare (fitted sheet only) to prevent suffocation. Do not use pillows, padded crib bumpers, quilts or comforters.  
3. Transfer the baby to a firm, flat crib, bassinet, play yard or bedside sleeper if they fall asleep in a swing, bouncer, lounger or similar product. 
4. Inclined products, such as rockers, gliders, soothers and swings should never be used for infant sleep, and infants should not be left in these products unsupervised, unrestrained, or with soft bedding material, due to the risk of suffocation. 

As CPSC approaches its 50th anniversary, we are committed to protecting our most vulnerable population with the implementation of a new infant sleep products rule. This requires any product marketed or intended for sleep to meet one or more of the federal safety standards for cribs (full-size and non-full-size), bassinets and cradles, play yards, or bedside sleepers.  If the product does not already meet one of these regulations, then it must meet the safety standard for bassinets and cradles. 

RECALLS: Always check to see if any purchased baby nursery products have been recalled, which includes any secondhand products.  Remember, babies rely on adults to keep them safe. Sign up today at CPSC.gov.

For more tips on baby safety, recalled baby products and to view CPSC’s newest baby safety public service announcement, visit CPSC’s Safe Sleep and Crib Safety Education Center here.

Release Number

22-216

Child Passenger Safety Week is September 18-24, 2022

National Seat Check Saturday is September 24, 2022

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children, according to the latest NHTSA data. A child is involved in a crash while riding in a passenger vehicle, on average, every 25 seconds. When installed correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers. On average, two children under 13 were killed and an estimated 374 were injured every day in 2019 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans.

• 608 child passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes in 2019.
• 38% of children who died in 2019 while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained, compared to 33% in 2018.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Friday, April 1 is Wear Blue Day! National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to strengthen families to prevent child abuse and neglect, just as we do with our CASA advocacy. Below are some ways YOU can get involved this April!

1. Wear Blue
   This Friday and every Friday in April, wear blue to raise awareness.
    
2. Learn More
   Interested in resources or additional information on Child Abuse Prevention? Visit the Dept. of Health and Human Service’s CAP Month page to get started learning more!
    
3. Post on Social
   If you’re comfortable, share a picture of yourself in blue or information on how your friends and family can do their part to prevent child abuse using the hashtags below:

#WearBlueDay2022  #BeAConnection #BlueRidgeCASA #ChangeAChildsStory

From Blue Ridge CASA for Children: https://mailchi.mp/blueridgecasa/friday-is-wear-blue-day

From Food Safety News by Joe Whitworth – 3/15/22

Another child has died and more than 20 other infants are part of an E. coli outbreak in France.

Santé publique France and the National Reference Center for E. coli, Shigella and Salmonella at Institut Pasteur are investigating an increase of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and severe E. coli infection reported since early February. HUS is a type of kidney failure that can result in lifelong, serious health problems and death.

A total of 26 cases of HUS or serious infection, linked to E. coli bacteria with similar characteristics, have been identified. This means they likely came from the same source. Officials have yet to clarify the strain or strains of E. coli involved.

The sick children, aged from 1 to 15 years old with a median age of 8, showed symptoms between Jan. 18 and Feb. 23. Health officials reported that two of the children have now died.

Six patients live in Nouvelle Aquitaine, five in Hauts-de-France, four in Ile-de-France and Pays de la Loire, three in Bretagne and one each in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est, Provence-Alpes-Côte-D’azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

Ongoing search for source of infection

French authorities also revealed that another 22 cases are under investigation.

In France, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) surveillance is based on HUS in children younger than 15, so it only catches the most severe cases.

Santé publique France, the Directorate General for Food (DGAL), Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF), and Directorate General for Health are analyzing all cases of pediatric HUS reported in 2022 to see if there is a link between them and if they find a common source of contamination, action such as a recall and withdrawal of contaminated products will be taken.

The epidemiological investigation has yet to find a source of contamination. This work includes surveying parents on the risk exposures of their children, such as the foods consumed.

As the source of infection has not been found, officials reminded people of the general recommendations, in particular for children younger than 16 years old.

These include proper handwashing and thoroughly cooking meat. Also, raw milk and dairy products, such as cheeses, made from raw milk should not be consumed by children younger than 5 years of age. Uncooked foods should be kept separate from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.

About E. coli infections

Anyone who has developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible food poisoning. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.

Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.

People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.

Original article: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/03/another-death-in-france-as-authorities-search-for-source-of-e-coli-infections/