Crib Recall: Should Parents Be Product Testers?
At Safety4Kids we strive to produce "safety tools" to empower parents and "safety entertainment" to communicate safe and healthy habits to young children. But there are hazards around every corner. And many of those hazards result in tragedy. Like the most recent Simplicity crib recall.
We asked our own Dr. Carl Baum for his response to this recent tragedy, and the resulting crib recall. Here are his thoughts.
As for the crib recall, the question always arises, how did this happen? The analysis of any tragic death (or deaths) often reveals a number of missed preventive opportunities. In this case:
I am not sure it is practical to expect parents to test products. Most would not have the engineering background to recognize or correct potential hazards. Even the CPSC does not have the authority to perform pre-market testing of products, and I've read recently read that they have severe staffing shortages.
Of course, as the manufacturer points out, you would not want the recall to encourage parents to institute unsafe practices, such as co-sleeping arrangements which present their own hazard to younger children.
What do you think?
(c) Brian McEntire. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
Related Topics from WebMD:
We asked our own Dr. Carl Baum for his response to this recent tragedy, and the resulting crib recall. Here are his thoughts.
As for the crib recall, the question always arises, how did this happen? The analysis of any tragic death (or deaths) often reveals a number of missed preventive opportunities. In this case:- Poor crib design allows rail to be installed upside down
- Parents install rail upside down, allowing hazardous gap to appear
- Baby suffocates in gap
- Delays in product recall allow more deaths/injuries to occur
- Parents who are not aware of recall continue to use crib
I am not sure it is practical to expect parents to test products. Most would not have the engineering background to recognize or correct potential hazards. Even the CPSC does not have the authority to perform pre-market testing of products, and I've read recently read that they have severe staffing shortages.
Of course, as the manufacturer points out, you would not want the recall to encourage parents to institute unsafe practices, such as co-sleeping arrangements which present their own hazard to younger children.
What do you think?
(c) Brian McEntire. Image from BigStockPhoto.com
Related Topics from WebMD:
5 Comments:
I think this is a bunch of crap. How could they make such a big mistake and then delay the recall causing more deaths. Regardless of the staff shortages this should never have happend and its even worse that they are using us to do their testing. When we buy a product it should be safe with doubts. We have been having a huge recall of toys because of lead paint, how can you miss these kinds of things? All the manufactures think about is getting their product to the stores to make money, they don't care about how many people lose a child in the process,if they did they would have made sure the crib/toys ect. were safe to use no matter what.
Sorry I meant without doubts.
I have a 4 month grandchild living in my home, and we have one of these recalled cribs she uses we called the phone number giving on this and was told we could still use this crib. I DONT THINK SO. if they are unsafe i want a refund on this so i can go get her a SAFER crib. i also have a newborn to arrive in 3 weeks in which i have to also purchase another crib this weekend and it WILL NOT be such brand. i will inspect the new crib with evey fiber of my being to make sure its a safe crib. The simplicity crib will have to be returned no matter what. i do not care what the company said, i also do not care how much money they loose by this. what matters is the safty of the children and if it means getting another brand of crib then so be it.
I also just found out that my 18 month old has the crib that was recalled. They told me they would send a replacment and we could still use the crib. NO WAY! i want a refund!
my Godson had this brand of crib. His mother called the number and they told her the same thing (they would send a replacement and she could still use the crib) She said Ok, I'm sending you a candybar with razorblades in it, but you ca still eat it. I've never laughed so hard in my life
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