Kids’ Tent Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC), in cooperation with Tots in Mind Inc., of Salem, N.H., is announcing that a recall was issued on July 15, 2010, of about 20,000 “Cozy Indoor Outdoor Portable Playard Tents Plus Cabana Kits”, sold in the United States by Tots in Mind Inc. of Salem, N.H., at retailers including Walmart and Amazon.com.

Clips that attach the tent to the top of the playard reportedly can break or be removed by a child, allowing the tent to be lifted, potentially entrapping the child at the neck between the rigid playard frame and the metal base rod of the tent. The CPSC has warned that the product poses a strangulation hazard.
The government became aware of the death of a 2-year-old boy in December 2008 in Vinalhaven, Maine. The boy was found hanging with his neck entrapped between the playard frame and the metal base rod of the tent that had been partially tied by pieces of nylon rope and partially attached by clips. The tent was tied to the playard because the child was able to pop off the clips. Apparently, the child became entrapped while attempting to climb out of the playard. In at least three other incidents, children were able to remove one or more clips and place their necks between the tent and the playard.
Families and caregivers have been warned to stop using these playards immediately. There have been previous recalls of other cribs and play yards for similar hazards, yet remarkably, such products can still be found in the streams of commerce. The dangers of catastrophic injury that these products cause is severe and the manufacturers need to be more diligent in making sure these kinds of accidents are not possible.
By James A. Swartz of Swartz & Swartz P.C. – Permalink