Safety 1st Model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight
CPSC Recall #96-022 - November 15, 1995
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 96-022 |
| Recall Date | November 15, 1995 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 191,000 |
Product
Safety 1st Model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Safety 1st, of Chestnut Hill, Mass., is offering to replace approximately 191,000 of its Model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight. The bed rail's support bars may separate from the rail, if not firmly locked in place, allowing children to fall from the bed. The Model #177A is not being replaced. Safety 1st has received more than 50 reports of injuries, including bumps, cuts and scrapes and 2 fractures, that resulted from children falling from bed when the support arms separated. The bed rail's support arms may appear locked in place when they are not. The model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight, recommended for children ages two through five, consists of a 42" wide white plastic bed rail that attaches to two blue plastic support bars, or gripper arms, that fit between a bed mattress and box springs. The support bars have hinges so that the bed rail can be folded down and out of the way. A red plastic removable flashlight is attached to the top of the bed rail. Safety 1st will replace consumers' Model #177 with its new Model #177A. The Model #177 was sold nationwide from January 1994 through June 1995 in juvenile product stores and chain discount stores for approximately $20.00. The blue plastic support bars of the #177A bed rail, sold since March 1995, have a large caution statement molded in the top of each support bar: "Caution: Be certain support arm snaps firmly and securely into hinge bracket prior to use. Do not disassemble!" Additionally, the Model 177A support bars permanently attach to the rail hinge with a snap-in feature. Consumers who own Model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight, without the caution statement, should call Safety 1st toll free at (800) 366-1282 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST for instructions on how to return the product and obtain a replacement Model #177A Bed Rail and Flashlight, which can be folded, but not disassembled.
Hazard
The bed rail's support bars may separate from the rail, if not firmly locked in place, allowing children to fall from the bed.
Incidents & Injuries
Safety 1st has received more than 50 reports of injuries, including bumps, cuts and scrapes and 2 fractures, that resulted from children falling from bed when the support arms separated.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who own Model #177 Bed Rail and Flashlight, without the caution statement, should call Safety 1st toll free at (800) 366-1282 for instructions on how to return the product and obtain a replacement Model #177A Bed Rail and Flashlight, which can be folded, but not disassembled.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.