Fourth stroller recalled because hinges pose amputation hazard. Britax has recalled 15,000 "Blink" umbrella strollers because the hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation hazard when the stroller is being opened or closed. This is the fourth in a series of stroller recalls because of hinge hazards. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.
CPSC chair takes hard line on defective cribs. Inez Tenenbaum, the chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, had some harsh words for manufacturers who blame the victim when their products are recalled. In her recent keynote address to the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization, Tenenbaum said her agency is cracking down on the makers of defective products, especially children's products. She pledged that the CPSC would issue a new, safer crib standard sometime this year and "not let special interests hijack the process," according to the Washington Post. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.
Should hot dogs be redesigned? In a policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that food manufacturers should design new foods and redesign existing foods to avoid shapes, sizes, textures, and other characteristics that increase choking risk to children, to the extent possible. "If you were to take the best engineers in the world and try to design the perfect plug for a child's airway, it would be a hot dog," says statement author Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm a pediatric emergency doctor, and to try to get them out once they're wedged in, it's almost impossible." Lean more in the full Safety blog post.
After fires, Discovery Kids recalls 360,000 lamps. The problem with the marine- and safari-themed lamps is that a defect in the printed circuit board can cause an electrical short, posing a fire and burn hazard. They were sold at mass merchandisers and department, drug, and hardware stores nationwide—online and through direct sales—from July 2009 through January 2010 for about $10. They were made in China and imported by a California company, Innovage. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.
Push-button ignition: Is it safe? Vehicle technology has come a long way in the past decade and many new features have helped reduce the number of crashes and fatalities. However, sometimes a new feature can add more complexities and confusion, and create safety concerns. And now, in light of the recent Toyota recalls, there are questions about the safety of vehicles with push-button ignition. One issue that has come to light lately is how to stop a car with push button ignition if you are faced with sudden acceleration. Right now there is no government standard for start-stop buttons, but federal regulators and industry groups are researching the option of adopting standard procedures. In the meantime, it’s important to be familiar with how your vehicle’s start-stop button works. Check your owner’s manual for details. Learn more in the full Cars blog post.
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