More Than 2 Million Drop-Side Cribs Recalled After Infant Suffocation Deaths
Parents in the Fort Worth Dallas area beware. In its second big recall of the year, Stork Craft Manufacturing of Canada has recalled 1.2 million cribs in the United States and nearly 1 million in Canada, where the company is based. The cribs involved in the recall have drop-down sides and have been sold since 1993. According to the head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, this type of crib will probably be completely eliminated due to its danger to children. Stork Craft has received 4 reports of infant suffocation due to this type of crib.
The problem with the drop-down side crib is that the drop-side can detach and create a space between the drop-side and the crib mattress where children can become trapped and suffocate. The hardware holding these sides in place can break or become damaged over the years creating the suffocation danger. In January, Stork Craft recalled about 500,000 cribs because of problems with the metal brackets that support the mattress.
For years advocates have complained about drop-side cribs, and more than 5 million have been recalled over the past two years for contributing to the deaths of a dozen young children. ASTM, an organization that sets voluntary safety standards for all sorts of consumer products, approved a new standard recently for fixed sides for full-size cribs. Toys “R” Us started phasing out drop-side cribs earlier this year and after next month will no longer carry them.
So why has it taken the CPSC so long to recall these dangerous cribs? According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, “We have just not been acting as quickly as we should have…on these types of incidents.” CPSC is now considering adopting ASTM’s voluntary standard, banning drop-side cribs completely.
If you have a drop-side Stork Craft crib, the CPSC recommends getting rid of it completely, or at least ordering the repair kit to immobilize the drop-side. You can obtain a free repair kit at www.storkcraft.com, or call the company at 877-274-0277. Some of the Stork Craft cribs have the Fisher Price logo, and some have “storkcraft baby” or “storkling” on the drop-side. For the full report at CPSC, click here.
Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.
