"Gerry Carrier" and "Pak-A-Poose" baby back carriers
CPSC Recall #82-031 - July 12, 1982
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 82-031 |
| Recall Date | July 12, 1982 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose |
| Units Affected | Approximately 238,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| The carrier was sold under the "Gerry" brand name by independent and chain retailers nationwide |
| as well as in U.S. Army and Air Force Exchanges. Retailers included Kmart |
| Best Products |
| Woolworth |
| Woolco |
| Toys "R" Us and Montgomery Ward. The carrier was also sold nationwide under the label "Pak-A-Poose" by Sears |
| Roebuck and Co. The carriers sold at a price range of approximately $18-$30. |
Product
"Gerry Carrier" and "Pak-A-Poose" baby back carriers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Gerico, Inc., Denver, Colorado, had announced a voluntary repair program affecting approximately 238,000 "Gerry Carrier" and "Pak-A-Poose" baby back carriers. The carriers were manufactured between March 1979 and February 1981 and were being repaired because of a potential infant finger entrapment in the hinge mechanism on the moveable stand which supports the carrier when it is placed on a surface. The potential for entrapment occurs if the carrier's stand bar is opened while the child is in the carrier on the adult's back and the child's fingers are out of view. The Commission is aware of at least 23 incidents of finger entrapment resulting in 9 injuries. Injuries have included pinching, lacerations, and partial fingertip severance. Only carriers manufactured between March 1979 and February 1981 are involved. Carriers manufactured before or after these dates are not subject to the recall since they contain differently designed hinge mechanisms. The carrier was sold under the "Gerry" brand name by independent and chain retailers nationwide, as well as in U.S. Army and Air Force Exchanges. Retailers included Kmart, Best Products, Woolworth, Woolco, Toys "R" Us and Montgomery Ward. The carrier was also sold nationwide under the label "Pak-A-Poose" by Sears, Roebuck and Co. The carriers sold at a price range of approximately $18-$30. To identify the product, consumers should locate the plastic brace at the bottom of the carrier. The date code of two, three or four digits is imprinted on the lower right inside portion of the brace (when facing the carrier straps). The first number is the last digit of the year the product was made. The following number or numbers on the top and bottom lines indicate what day of the year the item was manufactured (see attached drawing). Products covered by the program fall between 9/64 (the sixty-fourth day of 1979) and 1/60 (the sixtieth day of 1981). All carriers with date codes beginning with the digit 0 are affected since they were made in 1980. Consumers who have these carriers should discard them. Repair parts are no longer available. Consumers who have questions about this recall may contact Evenflo's Parent Link Consumer Resource Center at (800) 233-5921. (Gerico, Inc. is out of business, but the Evenflo Company has now taken over responding to this recall).
Hazard
The potential for entrapment occurs if the carrier's stand bar is opened while the child is in the carrier on the adult's back and the child's fingers are out of view.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission is aware of at least 23 incidents of finger entrapment resulting in 9 injuries. Injuries have included pinching, lacerations, and partial fingertip severance.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who have these carriers should discard them. Repair parts are no longer available.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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 (Dispose) 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.