Dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens
CPSC Recall #85-039 - August 18, 1985
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 85-039 |
| Recall Date | August 18, 1985 |
| Remedy Type | No Remedy Available |
Product
Dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and nine manufacturers of dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens today announced that the cribs and playpens are hazardous when a child is left in one of these products with a side down. Children may asphyxiate or suffocate in the loose mesh of the lowered side.Fifteen young children have died when left in a dropside mesh-sided crib or playpen with a side down since 1978. Nine children died in playpens and six children in cribs. Seven of the victims were six weeks old or younger.The victims rolled or moved off the floor of the crib or playpen into the mesh pocket formed by the lowered side and suffocated. Children can also suffer other injuries such as brain damage as a result of becoming caught in the mesh pocket of a lowered side. Children may be unable to cry out when caught in the mesh pocket because they cannot breathe.Do not leave children in dropside mesh-sided cribs and playpens with a side down.The Commission has accepted a Consent Agreement from the nine manufacturers in the case of In re Bilt-Rite et al; CPSC No 83-4, to settle a complaint which alleged that the products are hazardous when used with a side down.The companies signing the Agreement are Bilt-Rite Juvenile Products, Inc.; Century Products, Inc.; Collier-Keyworth Co., Inc.; Cosco, Inc.; Grace Metal Products, Inc.; Pride-Trimble Corporation; Spalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc. (successor to Questor Corporation); Strolee of California; and Welsh Company, Inc.This announcement is part of a notice campaign by the firms which includes mailing a warning letter to households with children nine months of age or younger and sending warning posters to obstetricians and others. Additional notice will be given in one year by means of posters, advertising and editorials.For further information consumers may call the Consumer Product Safety Commission on its toll-free Hotline: 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
The cribs and playpens are hazardous when a child is left in one of these products with a side down. Children may asphyxiate or suffocate in the loose mesh of the lowered side.
Incidents & Injuries
Fifteen young children have died when left in a dropside mesh-sided crib or playpen with a side down since 1978. Nine children died in playpens and six children in cribs. Seven of the victims were six weeks old or younger.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a No Remedy Available 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 (No Remedy Available) 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.