Children's Shades and Cribs Recalled, May Cause Choking Hazard
Approximately 200,000 children’s window shades and 11,400 drop-down cribs are being recalled because they all pose a very serious strangulation hazard. Green Mountain Vista Incorporated’s Roman window shades and roll up blinds were recalled beginning last December.
The products were sold at specialty textile stores from 2004 to August of 2010. The cribs come from Alexander Designs Ltd and are manufactured by Jardine Enterprises Ltd. The report on the Wall Street Journal website states that the CPSC decided to ban the drop-down cribs this past summer because of the strangulation risk. The infant inside could easily get its head caught on the side that drops down and could get strangled. The report states that 36 deaths had been associated with the drop-down cribs within the past three years. The website provides information on who to contact for a repair kit for the products that are affected.
Drop-down cribs have been fired at before because of the danger they pose to infants due to the drop-down side. Several news reports on TV demonstrated how a child could easily get caught underneath the rail and easily get strangled. The CPSC’s decision to ban these cribs is understandable considering the dramatic risk they pose. Although a drop-down side is convenient for easy access to your baby, the risk is far to high to accept.
The CPSC’s decision to ban these cribs is commendable given the circumstances. Those Corporations also should have responsibility for manufacturing unsafe products.