| ■ Cribs Linked to Three Deaths Recalled | 2010.02.12 |
| The deaths of three infants and numerous reports of safety problems have led to a recall of more than 500,000 drop-side cribs, U.S. safety officials said Tuesday. Plastic hardware on the Generation 2 Worldwide and ChildESIGNS cribs can break and allow the drop side to detach. In addition, the mattress supports can break away from the crib frames. Both defects can create gaps where an infant can be trapped and suffocate or strangle, said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Along with the three reported deaths, the agency has received 20 reports of incidents involving detached drop sides and eight reports of incidents involving detached mattress supports, the Associated Press reported. The cribs were sold nationwide at furniture and other stores, including Buybuy Baby, Kmart and Walmart. The company that made the cribs, Generation 2 Worldwide, went out of business in 2005. The CPSC said consumers should contact the stores where they bought the cribs for information about refunds, replacements and store credit. The agency said crib owners who encounter difficulty with stores should alert the CPSC, the AP reported. |