Graco and Simplicity Recall One Million Cribs After Crib Deaths
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Friday that Simplicity is recalling 1 million cribs, some of them with the Graco label, after reports that three infants had become trapped, suffocated, and died in their defective cribs.
Reported deaths attributed to the cribs include:
• 9-month-old Liam Johns who died in a faulty crib in 2005.
• 6-month-old Edward Millwood who died in a Simplicity crib in November 2006.
• A 1-year-old died in a newer model that has not been recalled but is under investigation.
All three children were in cribs that had drop-rail sides that had been installed upside down. The error left a gap in the cribs where a child could fall into and suffocate.
At least seven other infants have gotten trapped in defective cribs. 55 incidents have been reported where the drop sides came off or did not hold to the cribs’ sides.
An attorney for Liam Johns said that it took the Consumer Product Safety Commission more than two years to respond to the complaint that the infant had died from a faulty crib.
Simplicity Inc. is the manufacturer of the cribs, all of which were made in China. This is the second largest crib recall since 1972. In another crib recall last June, the CPSC recalled 40,000 Nursery-in-a-Box cribs, also made by Simplicity. The recall was issued because the assembly instructions were incorrect.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following tips on choosing a crib and ensuring that it is safe for use:
• Look for Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification.
• The slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart. Widely spaced slats can trap an infant's head.
• All joints and parts should fit tightly, and the wood must be smooth and free of splinters.
• Check for cracked and peeling paint. All surfaces should be covered with lead-free paint safe for nursery furniture.
• The end panels should be solid, without decorative cutouts. Cutout areas on panels can trap an infant's head.
• Corner posts should be flush with the end panels or else be very, very tall (such as posts on a canopy bed). Clothing and ribbons can catch on tall corner posts and strangle an infant.
• The lowered crib sides should be at least 9 inches above the mattress support to prevent the infant from falling out. Raised crib sides should be at least 26 inches above the mattress support in its lowest position.
• The drop sides should have a locking, hand-operated latch that will not release unintentionally.
• The mattress should be the same size as the crib so there are no gaps to trap arms, body, or legs. If you can fit 2 fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib, the crib should not be used.
Injury or death to an infant caused by a defective product is grounds for a products liability claim or a wrongful death lawsuit. Manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe for use. Failure to do so can be grounds for a products liability case.
1 million Graco, Simplicity cribs recalled in U.S., MSNBC.com, September 21, 2007
Choosing a Crib, American Academy of Pediatrics
Related Web Resources:
About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled Due To Failures Resulting in Infant Deaths, CPSC.gov, September 21, 2007
If your child has been seriously injured or killed because of a faulty crib or any other defective product in North Carolina or South Carolina, call the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo LLP today.
We offer all prospective clients a free consultation. We will explore your options with you so that you know how to best proceed. Your family deserves compensation for your child’s pain and suffering. Contact the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo LLP today.
