1.7 Million video baby monitors have been recalled due to electrical cords posing a potential strangulation hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that Summer Infant, Inc. is working to recall all video baby monitor systems with electrical cords.
Since 2004, there have been at least seven infant strangulation deaths associated with these cords—two of which happened in the past year. Recently, in March 2010, a 10-month-old girl from Washington, D.C. strangled in her crib in the electrical cord of a Summer Infant, Inc. baby monitor. Also, in November 2010, a six-month-old boy from Conway, South Carolina strangled in the electrical cord as well. Placing these video monitoring devices near a crib was shown to be extremely dangerous for the infant.
Anyone in possession of a video baby monitor with a cord should immediately remove it from the baby’s room. Summer Infant, Inc. will be issuing new warning labels and instructions with its products. Summer Infant, Inc. is not offering to replace the products; rather consumers have been instructed to call Summer Infant, Inc. to receive a new warning label and revised instructions.
In addition to the baby monitor recall, Summer Infant, Inc. is also recalling rechargeable batteries in another 58,000 Slim and Secure Video Monitors that were sold at Babies R Us. The batteries can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard. There have been three incidents of minor property damage associated with these batteries. Consumers should stop using the video baby monitors with the recalled batteries.
It is important for parents to be vigilant about the safety hazards that may exist in their home that may affect infants and young children. Sadly, thousands of children are killed and injured every year as a result of exposure to defective children’s products. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., we have long been a leader in the fight to rid our country’s store shelves of unsafe children’s products, in the process bringing about improved standards, and safer designs.
If you or a member of your family has suffered serious injuries due to a defective children’s 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 dangerous products attorneys at our Boston office by calling (617) 742-1900, or toll-free at 1-800-545-3732.
About the Author: James Swartz
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