"Crawl Space" children's enclosure

CPSC Recall #88-080 - October 10, 1988

Recall Summary

Recall Number88-080
Recall DateOctober 10, 1988
Remedy TypeLabel, New Instructions

Product

"Crawl Space" children's enclosure

Description

WASHINGTON - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Gerber Furniture Group, Inc., of Macedonia, Ohio, has determined that their "Crawl Space" children's enclosure, model 14-816, may pose a potential suffocation hazard if not assembled according to instructions. "Crawl Space," a portable mesh-sided enclosure, must be assembled with the metal legs on the outside of the mesh and away from the child; otherwise the child may become caught between a leg and netting and may suffocate. The company is aware of one incident in which a child allegedly suffocated as a result of being caught between the netting and a metal leg. Care should be taken to ensure that this product is being properly used. Consumers should contact Gerber Furniture Group to receive warning labels for the Crawl Space and instruction sheet showing proper assembly. For information, call the company's toll free number at 1-800-222-9825, or write: Gerber Furniture Group, Inc., 9600 Valley Road, Macedonia, Ohio 44056, Attention Crawl Space/Consumer Service Department.

Hazard

The enclosure must be assembled with the metal legs on the outside of the mesh and away from the child; otherwise the child may become caught between a leg and netting and may suffocate.

Incidents & Injuries

The company is aware of one incident in which a child allegedly suffocated as a result of being caught between the netting and a metal leg.

Remedy Instructions

Care should be taken to ensure that this product is being properly used. Consumers should contact Gerber Furniture Group to receive warning labels for the Crawl Space and instruction sheet showing proper assembly.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Label, New Instructions 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 (Label, New Instructions) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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.