Wooden bunk beds
CPSC Recall #95-175 - September 27, 1995
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 95-175 |
| Recall Date | September 27, 1995 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | Over 320,000 |
Product
Wooden bunk beds
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC is announcing a recall program to retrofit approximately 5,000 wooden bunk beds manufactured and distributed by Catalina Furniture Company Inc. of Fullerton, Calif. The bunk beds have openings on the top bunk, which may present an entrapment hazard to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap the child's head. The program affects Catalina Model No. 3892 bunk beds manufactured prior to January 1, 1995. On May 9, 1995, in cooperation with CPSC, 11 manufacturers announced the recall of over 320,000 wooden bunk beds for similar entrapment hazards. At that time, CPSC also identified the potential entrapment hazard with the Catalina Model 3892 bunk bed. However, Catalina refused to be included in that joint bunk bed recall announcement. From 1990 through 1994, CPSC received reports of 24 children who died after becoming caught in bunk beds that posed an entrapment hazard. Sixteen of the deaths resulted from entrapment between the guardrail and mattress, or guardrail and bedframe. Nineteen of the children were ages two and under, and four were three years of age. Catalina's bunk beds are accompanied by warning labels advising that children under age six should not be placed in the top bunk. CPSC and Catalina continue to urge parents and caregivers not to put children under age 6 on the top bunk. Although CPSC is not aware of any deaths or injuries related to Catalina bunk beds, the Commission is aware of one incident in which a three-year-old child slipped between the guardrail and mattress of a Catalina Model No. 3892 bunk bed and became entrapped by the head. The child was rescued and did not sustain any injuries. The ASTM voluntary standard for bunk beds requires that any spaces between the guardrail of the top bunk and the bed frame, and in the head and foot boards on the top bunk, be less than 3.5 inches. This standard has been set to reduce the possibility that a child's head might become trapped in the spaces between the bunk bed supports. The space between the guardrail of the top bunk and the bedframe of Catalina Model No. 3892 bunk beds manufactured prior to January 1, 1995 is 5.5 inches. Catalina has redesigned its Model No. 3892 bunk beds so that beds manufactured after January 1, 1995 comply with the ASTM standard. Consumers who own a Catalina bunk bed Model No. 3892 should contact the retailer where the bed was purchased or contact Catalina Furniture at (714) 523-7000 for a kit that will reduce the size of the spaces in the Catalina bunk beds.
Hazard
The bunk beds have openings on the top bunk, which may present an entrapment hazard to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap the child's head.
Incidents & Injuries
Although CPSC is not aware of any deaths or injuries related to Catalina bunk beds, the Commission is aware of one incident in which a three-year-old child slipped between the guardrail and mattress of a Catalina Model No. 3892 bunk bed and became entrapped by the head. The child was rescued and did not sustain any injuries.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers who own a Catalina bunk bed Model No. 3892 should contact the retailer where the bed was purchased or contact Catalina Furniture at (714) 523-7000 for a kit that will reduce the size of the spaces in the Catalina bunk beds.
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.
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.