Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers Blog

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a massive recall on drop side cribs. Two million cribs manufactured by seven different companies were named in the recall. Over the past five years over nine million drop side cribs have been recalled and the CPSC has warned parents and caregivers several times about the dangers of drop side cribs.

Unlike a standard crib with four immobile sides, drop side Drop side cribs are manufactured with one side that slides up and down for easier access to children. Defective, missing or broken hardware can cause the drop side to unexpectedly collapse and create a hazardous gap for children. Over the past five years, the CPSC has received numerous complaints of children falling out of drop side cribs or suffocating in the hazardous gap created by the defective crib.

In this latest recall, the CSPC has named 16 separate incidents of infants becoming trapped in the cribs. The cribs are manufactured by Evenflo, Delta Enterprises Corp., Child Craft, Jardine Enterprises, LaJobi, Million Dollar Baby and Simmons Juvenile Products Inc. For a complete list of models affected please visit this site.

Related Sources:
More than 2 million cribs recalled

Child Craft Drop-Side Cribs Recalled Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

Evenflo Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

LaJobi Recalls to Repair Bonavita, Babi Italia and ISSI Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

Simmons Recalls to Repair Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

ConArga Foods is recalling a meal manufactured by the popular frozen food brand, Marie Calendar due to a salmonella outbreak in 14 states. The recalled product was distributed nationwide.

All meals labeled "Marie Callender's Cheesy Chicken and Rice White Meat Chicken and Broccoli over Rice Topped with Rich Cheddar Sauce" are being recalled regardless of production date. Almost thirty illnesses across multiple sates have been linked to the recalled product.

Salmonella is a bacterium that most commonly comes from raw poultry. Persons contaminated with salmonella usually develop diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever within eight hours to 72 hours of encountering the bacteria. It can be especially dangerous to those with a compromised immune system.

Related Sources:
Recalled: SpaghettiOs & Meatballs, Marie Callender

Johnson & Johnson has expanded the recall of over the counter medications. The new recall is due to a foul odor that has made consumers nauseous. A chemical used to treat the wood pallets that transport and store the medication is the source of the odor.

Johnson & Johnson and McNeil Consumer Healthcare have issued three recalls in the last 8 months for over the counter medications. The foul odor recall includes four lots of Benadryl Allergy Ultratablets and one lot of Extra Strength Tylenol.

The recalls have lead to congressional hearings, fines by the Food and Drug Administration and a factory closing in Pennsylvania.

Related Sources:
J&J expands medicine recall linked to foul odor

McDonald's has recalled 12 million collectible Shrek glasses due to cadmium contamination. Cadmium is a known carcinogenetic and cause kidney problems and bone softening. The glasses were manufactured ARC International of Millville, New Jersey.

Cadmium can be used to create red and yellow in paints and was used on the paintings of Shrek characters on the outside of the glasses. The cadmium in the paint could leach out onto the child's hand and then enter the body if the child was to place their hand in their mouth. McDonald's and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have urged all owners of the glasses to immediately stop using them and keep them away from children.

Cadmium concerns surfaced in January 2010, when it was discovered that children's jewelry from China contained 91% of the dangerous metal. It is unknown the amount of cadmium contained in the paint on the glasses but the federal government is looking to implement stronger testing for the known carcinogenetic. Instructions for refunds for the glasses can be found on McDonald's website.

Related Sources:
McDonald's pulls 12M cadmium-tainted Shrek glasses

Shrek Forever After™Glassware Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in co-operation with Sprout Stuff has recalled 40 Sprout Stuff infant ring slings due to suffocation hazards. So far the commission has received the report of one infant death connected to the sling.

The slings were sold directly to consumers from October 2006 to May 2007 between $35 and $45. The sling is made of muslin fabric and comes with or without a shoulder pad and has "Sprout Stuff" printed on it. Consumers should immediately stop using the defective product and contact Sprout Stuff for a full refund.

Slings are worn around a parent or caregiver's chests to hold children up to two years of age. The CPSC has routinely notified parents to be extremely careful when carrying their child in a sling. The fabric of the sling can press against the child's face, depriving them of oxygen. The sling can also cause the baby to curve, pressing the head against the chest which also restricts the child's ability to breathe.

Related Sources:
Child Injuries

Infant Death Prompts Recall of Ring Slings Made by Sprout Stuff Due to Suffocation Risk

Newborn death prompts recall of baby slings

Each day families come to our firm when their loved ones have suffered serious brain injury and there is a possible personal injury claim they may have as a result. There are countless causes for our clients injuries. It is alarming when news breaks about a recall for products sold by nationwide retailers that may already be in thousands of homes throughout the country.

Such is the case with the recent recall at Target stores nationwide. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently recalled about 350,000 woven storage trunks after an 18 month-old girl suffered brain damage after a lid fell on her neck. The recall involved 14 different models of trunks sold at Target Stores. The recall notice states that the lid of the trunks can drop suddenly which may endanger small children who may be reaching inside them. The notice explained that an 18-month-old girl had been injured after the lid of a trunk suddenly fell down on the back of her neck and pinned her throat against the rim of the trunk.

It should be commended that Target moved to take these products off of their shelves. However, it is a sad reminder that sometimes products are sold to the general public that are not as safe as they should be.

Related Sources:

Target Recalls Storage Trunks Due to Strangulation Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) has issued another warning to Philadelphia parents and those across the country about the dangers of drop-side cribs. Eleven recalls involving more than 7 million drop-side cribs have been issued in the past 5 years due to the hazardous gap the cribs can create.

In the past decade, over thirty children have died by suffocation or strangulation after they were trapped in the hazardous gap that can be created by a defective drop-side crib. The agency also received hundreds of complaints of children getting injured by falling out of a defective crib. The commission is urging all parents to remove the defective cribs from their homes to protect their children.

A drop-side crib tends to be less structurally sound that a traditional crib and the drop side is routinely know to break away from one of the crib corners. Defective hardware and incorrect installation are the most common causes of a drop-side breaking. When the drop-side breaks a hazardous gap is created that the infant or toddler can become trapped or wedged in leading to suffocation or strangulation.

Starting in June 2010, all drop-side cribs will be banned from the United States Market. The government will also increase the safety standards for all cribs to protect children from defective and dangerous sleeping areas.

For more information please visit the CSPC page on Drop-Side Cribs.

Tracheostomy tubes are designed to help people breathe on ventilators but defective tubes are putting patient's lives at risk. So far three people have died from the defective product. All Shiley-branded tracheostomy tubes and Shiley-branded custom tracheostomy tubes are being recalled.

Tracheostomy tubes are placed in a patient's throat to enable them to breathe on a ventilator. A medical supply company based in New England has received over 1,000 complaints of tracheostomy tubes leaking. The leaking tubes can result in a sudden increase of carbon dioxide in the patient's blood or a sudden decrease of oxygen. Either outcome can be fatal.

The company informed the Food and Drug Administration that a problem with manufacturing has caused the tubes to become defective. A possible leak in the pilot balloon is causing the tubes to lose air pressure. Investigators are currently examining the manufacturing technology to prevent future defects from occurring.

Related Sources:
Tracheostomy tubes recalled after 3 deaths

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced two massive crib recalls due to suffocation and entrapment risks. Graco has recalled 217,000 drop side cribs that were manufactured by LaJobi Inc., of Cranbury, New Jersey amid reports of defective hardware which can cause the drop side of the crib to become dethatched. The CPSC has recalled all Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames amid reports of the support frames breaking and causing the mattress to collapse.

The Graco cribs were sold nationwide in retail stores February 2007 to March 2010 for between $140 and $200. The drop side hardware can break and create a hazardous gap between the drop side and the mattress. Infants or toddlers can become stuck or wedged in this gap and suffocate. The crib also poses a fall hazard when the drop side hardware fails. Parents and other caregivers should stop using the crib immediately and contact Graco for a repair kit. A complete list of the defective crib names and model numbers can be found at this link.

Simplicity and its successor, SFCA Inc. are no longer in business limiting the amount of information the CPSC could obtain regarding number of defective cribs and manufacturing date. The CPSC has recalled all simplicity cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames regardless of model number. Previously, the CPSC recalled all Simplicity drop-side cribs due to suffocation hazards similar to the Graco recall above. There have been reports to the CPSC of the support frame bending or breaking creating a gap where an infant or toddler can suffocate to death. Parents and caregivers should not attempt to fix the defective crib frame and should immediately stop using the crib and find a safer sleeping environment for their children.

Realted Sources:

Thousands of cribs recalled

Simplicity Cribs Recalled by Retailers; Mattress-Support Collapse Can Cause Suffocation and Strangulation

Graco®-Branded Drop Side Cribs Made by LaJobi Recalled Due to Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

Graco Children's Products Inc. in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 1.2 million Harmony High Chairs due to defects in the legs of the chair. Graco has received almost 500 complaints of chairs collapsing causing injuries to children.

There are two defects that can present a fall hazard to children. On the front legs screws can loosen and eventually fall out and in the rear legs the plastic bracket can crack causing the chair to become unstable and tip over unexpectedly. Injuries reported to the company include: head injuries, limb fractures and various other cuts and bruises to other parts of the body.

The recall covers all Harmony High Chairs manufactured between November 2003 and December 2009. The chairs sold for $70 and $120 at nationwide retailers including Babies R Us, Wal-Mart and Target. Graco no longer manufactures the defective high chair but estimates over one million are still in use today. Consumers should immediately stop using the high chair and contact Graco for a free repair kit.

Related Sources:
Graco Recalls Harmony™ High Chairs Due to Fall Hazard

A Massachusetts firm has agreed to pay a $200,000 fine for importing toys with dangerous levels of lead paint. The firm was fined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for violating federal law and importing the noncompliant toys. Imported toys include Curious George, Thomas and Friends and Winnie the Pooh.

The CPSC alleged that the company should have known that the toys did not meet the lead paint standard in 2002 but imported the tens of thousands of toys anyway. The company also did not immediately report the contaminated toys to the government and distributed them to retailers. By agreeing to the settlement the company denies any wrongdoing.

Lead poisoning is especially dangerous with children because they are much more susceptible to ingest higher levels of lead than when compared to adults. Dangerous levels of lead poisoning can lead to brain swelling, kidneys problems, coma, convulsions, and even death.

Philadelphia parents who own a Graco stroller should immediately stop using the product until they can confirm the defective stroller has not been recalled by the manufacturer. After several reports of children having their fingers lacerated or amputated by a defective hinge Graco has recalled 1.5 million strollers.

The recalled strollers were manufactured between October 2004 and February 2008 and sold under the model names of Passage, Alano and Spree Strollers and Travel Systems. Two different styles of hinge mechanisms were manufactured for the recalled models but only one style is being recalled. The plastic jointed hinge mechanism with indented positioning notches is the dangerous and defective hinge and parents should stop using the stroller with this hinge immediately. Owners of the defective stroller should contact Graco for a free repair kit.

The strollers were sold nationwide at retail stores for between $80 and $90 and travel systems were sold for between $150 and $200. The model number can be found just above the rear wheels on the lowers inside position of the rear frame.

Recalled Model Numbers:
6303MYC, 6303MYC37240DNB, 7240DNB2,
7240MKL2, 7240MKL37F02GLM3 6320IVY, 6320LAU7241DDH2, 7241DHO37F04TAY3 6330CAP, 6330THR,
6330THR37255CLP, 7255CLP2,
7255CRA2, 7255CRA3,
7255CSA3, 7255GPK3,
7255GRN, 7255GRN2,
7255JJB3, 7255ORC2,
7255WLO2, 7255WLO37F07EMA3 6F00QIN3, 6F00RRY37256CLO2, 7256SPM2,
7256SPM37F08DSW3, 7F08LAN3 6F03GLN37260BAN, 7260BAN2,
7260BAN3, 7260MRA2,
7260MRA3, 7260PKR,
7260PKR27G00DLS3, 7G00DLS4 6G10CSE37270BIA, 7270BIA27G01CRL3 7235GGA, 7235GGA27E01JON2, 7E01JON37G04KRA3 7236CDR27F00LPE3, 7F00RSH37G05GPR3, 7G06WSR3 7237HOL2, 7237HOL37F01FOR37G07ABB3, 7G07BAT3

Related Sources:
Graco Recalls Strollers Due to Fingertip Amputation and Laceration Hazards

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled over a half a million units of Vicks DayQuil cold medicine because the packaging was found not to be child proof.

The 700,000 units were sold between September 2008 and December 2009 as Vicks DayQuil Cold & Flu 24-Count Bonus Pack Liquicaps. The packaging is marketed as child-resistant but the blister packs inside are not.

The UPC for this product is 3 23900 01087 1.

If a child was to open the medicine and ingest several of the pills they could suffer from serious health problems and death. Thankfully there have yet to be any reports of a child swallowing the medication.

This latest recall comes at not the most opportune time for Vicks and its parent company Proctor & Gamble. The company has already had 120,000 bottles of Vicks Sinex nasal spray recalled after bacteria were found in the spray. The Food & Drug Administration has also sent Vicks a letter warning them about the marketing of their products with Vitamin C.

Related Web Sources:

Red Orbit News

The Consumer Product Safety commission announced the recall of 24,000 baby beds made by Amby Baby because of the risk of suffocation. Two babies died this past summer; a 5-month old in Oregon and a 4-month old in Georgia. The Motion Beds are a hammock like bed marketed to parents of babies with colic or reflux. The beds hang from a swing and have mesh and fabric sides. When a baby is put into the bed it moves up and down and swings from side to side mimicking the motion of a baby in the womb. The side to side shifting or or tilting of the hammock can cause an infant to roll and become trapped or wedged on the side against the hammock's fabric or mattress pad. This can pose a serious suffocation risk. Anyone with an Amby Baby Motion Bed should stop using them and return them for a refund. These beds were sold on line through Ambybaby.com from January 2003 to October 2009.

Philadelphia parents should immediately stop using all Maclaren brand strollers. After several reports of children having their fingers amputated by the stroller, Maclaren in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Comission (CPSC), has recalled all makes and models of their umbrella strollers. The defective strollers have been found to amputate children's fingers when placed in the hinge where the stroller closes. The recall covers over one million strollers that have been sold nationwide in the past decade.

The recall comes at a surprise to many parents because the brand has a reputation for being extremely dependable. The light, compatible, upscale but relatively inexpensive stroller is very popular among young urban parents. To remedy the situation Maclaren is offering free hinge covers to protect children. Maclaren is offering a free repair kit to be ordered from the website; however parents are finding it difficult to order the kit because of excess site volume. Maclaren is doing the best they can to repair their public image and stresses that parents stop using all of their make and model folding strollers until they receive a repair kit.

If you believe that your child has been harmed by a defective stroller please contact our experienced child safety attorneys to discuss your potential products liability case today.