Friday, November 07, 2014

The recent discovery of several previously banned drop-side cribs in a northeastern thrift shop is prompting me to revisit some important safety recommendations by the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

Since so many families try to save a few dollars buying second-hand items, we want to reiterate some important, possibly life-saving tips for thrift store shoppers:

• Make sure cribs meet current national safety standards (no drop side cribs) and are in good condition. Look for a certification seal.
• Check that crib slats are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. If crib slats are too far apart, infants can slip between them and strangle.
• Crib mattresses should fit snugly. If it doesn't, infants can become entrapped and suffocate.
• For playpens or play yards, children can strangle if pacifier strings or clothing becomes entangled on protruding hardware, or be entrapped by folding play yards that collapse.
• If buying a car seat carrier, check to make sure the model you are buying has not been recalled. Car seat carrier handle locks on recalled models can unexpectedly release when used as a carrier outside of a car.
• On bunk beds, make sure all spaces between the guardrail and bed frame and all spaces in the bed headboard and foot boards of the top bunk are less than 3 1/2 inches. Make sure there are guardrails on both sides of the top bunk so children can't become entrapped in the bed's structure or wedged between the bed and a wall and suffocate.
• Do not buy older accordion-style child safety gates. Make sure that newer style child safety gates are used to keep children away from potentially dangerous areas, especially stairs.
• Bean bag chairs with zippers that can be opened are extremely dangerous for young children. CPSC has recalled more than 12 million bean bag chairs. Young children can unzip the chairs and choke or suffocate on the small pellets of foam filling.
  
  For more information about hazardous products, visit www.cpsc.gov and www.recalls.gov.

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