Major Children’s Product Recalls in January 2011

Children’s products provide our kids with opportunities for hours of enjoyment and learning. Unfortunately, improperly designed or manufactured playthings can also cause death and debilitating injuryamong the most innocent of victims. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., we have long been a leader in the fight to rid our country’s store shelves and toy boxes of unsafe playthings, in the process bringing about improved standards, toy recalls, and safer designs.

Nevertheless, the sad reality remains that thousands of children are killed and injured every year as a result of unsafe children’s products. Over the years, a consistent pattern of design hazards has emerged. Examples include:

• Small toy parts that can be ingested, inhaled, or aspirated
• Sharp points and edges that can puncture, cut or bruise
• Flammable fabrics that can ignite in flame or melt to a hot, sticky mass
• Chemicals that can be poisonous if swallowed or explosive if heated
• Strangulation hazards due to long strings, cords, or elastic straps
• Electrical toys using high voltage current
• Projectile toys and “weapons” sold as toys

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there have already been several major recalls of children’s products within the first month of 2011. These recalls include:

• Family Dollar Stores Recalls Remote Controlled Toy Tanks Due to Burn Hazard
• Kang Sheng Group Recalls Butterfly Push Toy Due to Choking Hazard
• Toy Mobile Phones Recalled by Discovery Toys Due to Choking Hazard
• Teething Rings Recalled by Calisson Due to Ingestion Hazard
• Kid O Products Recalls Baby Rattles Due To Choking Hazard
• Infant and Toddler Footed Pajamas Recalled by Pajamagram Due to Choking Hazard
• Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts and Jackets With Drawstrings Recalled by Hot Kids Due to Strangulation Hazard
• Prairie Mountain Inc. Recalls Youth Jackets Due to Strangulation Hazard
• Alpha Industries Recalls Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard
• The Land of Nod Recalls Status Furniture “Rosebud” Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately.

Dangerous children’s products may be misleadingly advertised, or be sold with inaccurately or inadequately labeled packaging. The target market consists of children who are too young to appreciate the toy’s hazards, or defend against them.

If you or a member of your family has suffered serious injuries due to a defective product, please contact us. We are here to answer your questions and discuss how to protect your legal rights. You can set up an initial consultation with one of the product liability attorneys at our Boston office by calling (617) 742-1900, or toll-free at 1-800-545-3732. We will forward your information to an appropriate member of our staff.