Wooden bunk beds
CPSC Recall #98-153 — August 18, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98-153 |
| Recall Date | August 18, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 58,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The beds were sold in furniture stores and department stores with furniture departments nationwide from January 1980 through August 1997 for approximately $200 to $1 |
| 200. |
Product
Wooden bunk beds
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lexington Furniture Industries of Lexington, N.C., is recalling about 58,000 wooden bunk beds. If the top bunk bed is mis-assembled, there could be a space between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed on the top bunk. This space could be large enough for a child's body to fall through, but small enough to entrap a child's head. Lexington Furniture has received one report of a child falling through the space between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed when set up as a twin bed. No injury was reported. To determine whether there is a space large enough to entrap a child, consumers should slide the mattress to either end of the top bunk and measure the space between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed. There should be no space of 3-1/2 inches or more between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed. The recalled bunk beds are twin size with the following brand names: Lexington, Devan, Young-Hinkle, Dixie and Henry Link. In most cases the brand names are stenciled on the inside frame of the bed. In a few instances, the following model names and numbers appear on the inside frame of the bed: Model Name Model Numbers Academy 418-193, 418-195, 429-193, 429-195 Americana 548-180 American Mix 400-199 Betsy Cameron's Children 111-195, 222-195 Charter Oak 730-181, 730-187, 730-199 Chardonnay 818-181 De Cristofaro 411-199 Euroline 444-180 Eurostyle 106-199, 207-199 Habitat 142-181 Kids Retreat 225-199, 336-199 Lifestyle Maple 555-180, 555-181, 555-195 Locker Room 579-181, 579-199, 680-181, 680-199 Marina Oak 178-181, 178-193, 178-195, 178-199, 289-181, 289-193, 289-199, 399-193, 399-195 Newport 315-180, 315-199 Outrigger 950-181, 950-187, 950-199 Passport 224-181, 224-187, 224-199 Port O'Call 446-187 Recollections 387-180, 468-180, 468-181 Simplicity 714-199 Scova 904-199 Victoriana 610-181 Victorian Sampler 391-181 Windsor 606-181 Windjammer 194-180, 194-181, 194-187, 194-199 Windjammer II 295-181, 295-199 Windsor Collection 202-181, 303-181 Complements of Lexington 500-195, 590-195 Complements of Lexington Oak 580-195 Complements of Lexington Maple 560-195 Complements of Lexington Mission 540-195 The beds were sold in furniture stores and department stores with furniture departments nationwide from January 1980 through August 1997 for approximately $200 to $1,200. Consumers should inspect the top bunk to determine whether a space of 3-1/2 inches or more exists between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed. If such a space exists, consumers should stop using the bed and call Lexington for a free modification kit to close the gap. If consumers are unsure about the instructions for installing the repair kit or need help identifying whether their bunk bed is involved in this recall, they should call Lexington at (336) 474-5300 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.
Hazard
If the top bunk bed is mis-assembled, there could be a space between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed on the top bunk. This space could be large enough for a child's body to fall through, but small enough to entrap a child's head.
Incidents & Injuries
Lexington Furniture has received one report of a child falling through the space between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed when set up as a twin bed. No injury was reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should inspect the top bunk to determine whether a space of 3-1/2 inches or more exists between the end of the mattress and the end of the bed. If such a space exists, consumers should stop using the bed and call Lexington for a free modification kit to close the gap.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.