You know those colorful, wooden playground sets in every suburban backyard? Yeah, there’s a problem. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just recalled 275,000 of them after receiving more than 1,400 reports of rotting, horizontal ladders and beams. Among the injuries, nine bad enough to send children to the emergency room with fractures and lacerations. Seems the monkey bars, swing beams and horizontal ladders weaken over time, due to wood rot. Most of the injuries occurred when the swing spontaneously detached from the rotted wood. Several different models of Adventure Playset are listed in the recall, so check the CPSC site for pics, models numbers and next steps.
OK, this is scary. If you bought your kids Halloween Flashlights, thinking that would keep them safe while trick-or-treating, check the brand. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Target just recalled 610,000 of these flashlights - both the mini kind and those sold with stencils - because they overheat and melt. There have been eight reports of molten flashlights, including one that actually burned the child’s hand. Follow the link for details on specific model numbers. But if you’ve got one, purchased in August and September of this year, return it to any Target for a full refund.
If you’ve got any of those yummy Plum Organics baby food pouches lurking in your kitchen, pull them out and take a look. The Emeryville-based company just recalled a batch of its Apple & Carrot Portable Pouch baby food - it’s the 4.22 ounce size, with a use-by date of May 21, 2010, and the number #890180001221 on the bottom. No one has gotten sick and the rest of the Plum Organics line seems to be OK, but this particular batch lacked the FDA-approved acidity levels that prevent contamination with the nerve toxin - Clostridium botulinum - that causes botulism. Lovely, huh? As a precaution, Plum Organics recalled the batch. If you’ve got a pouch at home, return it to any Toys R Us or Babies R Us store for a full refund.
Looks like families who are getting their kids vaccinated against the H1N1 - swine flu - virus may need to get a twofer. Clinical trials of the new immunization showed that one dose will help protect many children, but that two provide the most protection for kids under 10.
The Consumer Product Safety folks recalled millions of roll-up window blinds and Roman shades last week in the wake of two tragedies. A 1-year-old boy strangled to death after a roll-up blind’s loop fell into his portacrib. And a 13-month-old boy was strangled by a Roman shade loop that became entangled around his head - it ran from ear to ear, not around his throat. If you have blinds in your nursery, check the list below, then follow the links to the CPSC web site for further details.
People panicked when the new H1N1 virus suddenly swept through schools last spring. Now pharmaceutical companies are racing to complete testing of a “swine flu” vaccine for fall. And Yvonne Maldonado, MD, chief of infectious disease at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, is offering a list of helpful, precautionary tips for families, including expectant mothers.
Special Advice for Pregnant Women: “Pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid being exposed to the influenza virus,” Maldonado says. Expectant women have been particularly susceptible to the swine flu. If you are pregnant and develop flu symptoms - cough, fever or sore throat - call your doctor immediately. The priority list for the H1N1 vaccine, which doctors hope will be ready by late fall, puts pregnant women first, then young children and their caregivers, and then older children.
Kids Get Two: Children should get two vaccinations - one for regular influenza and another for H1N1l. Kids who have never had a flu shot, says Maldonado, may need more than one dose. Read the rest of this entry »
Little Tikes and the federal Consumer Product Safety folks just recalled 1.6 million Little Tikes workshop toys and trucks after discovering that the oversized plastic nails in the sets can lodge in children’s throats. One toddler had to be hospitalized after a toy nail became wedged in his throat. He’s OK now, but the nails pose a significant enough threat that the toy company has recalled them. If you’ve got one of these sets - the Swirlin’ Sawdust Workshop, the black pick-up truck with a tool kit, or any of the other recalled models, take the nails away and contact Little Tikes at (800) 791-2737 or www.littletikes.com for a replacement.
Shopping for a new backpack for your kids? Here’s advice from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital occupational therapist Michelle Merget: “If a backpack is overloaded or not loaded properly, children can develop pain in their shoulders, neck and back. So this school year, we’re advising families to be extra careful when helping their kids pack all those books, computers, lunches, changes of clothes and sometimes even sports equipment.”
Picking the Backpack: Go for a lightweight pack that hangs no more than two inches below the shoulder and four inches below the waist. Make sure it has two thick, padded shoulder straps. Extra padding across the back can help cushion the load.
Watch the Weight: Even older kids should refrain from carrying a 25 lb. fully loaded pack, and no child should carry more than 15% of his body weight. “Parents need to take everything out from the previous day,” says Merget, “and repack, being certain that heavy items are on the bottom and lighter items are on the top.”
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Kolcraft just recalled 425,000 infant play yards after a 10-month-old baby boy strangled to death. Twelve different models are included in the recall and all of them have a raised changing table with a strap that forms a loop underneath. One model also has a rocking cradle in which children can become trapped and suffocate. There have already been 45 reports of babies rolling to the side of the cradle and getting wedged. These play yards were sold between 2001 and 2007. Check the web site for specific model numbers, then contact the company to get replacement parts.
Bouncy, bouncy, ouch. The Consumer Product Safety folks and BabyBjörn just recalled 6,500 of these Balance Air bouncer chairs. Seems there are sharp metal objects in the padded area that can protrude and possibly injure babies. No injuries reported, but just the same, if you’ve got one of these, check the model number against the CPSC list. The $170-$190 seats were sold between last September and July 2009. If you’ve got one, contact the company for return instructions.
You know those colorful, wooden playground sets in every suburban backyard? Yeah, there’s a problem. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission just recalled 275,000 of them after receiving more than 1,400 reports of rotting, horizontal ladders and beams. Among the injuries, nine bad enough to send children to the emergency room with fractures and lacerations. Seems the monkey bars, swing beams and horizontal ladders weaken over time, due to wood rot. Most of the injuries occurred when the swing spontaneously detached from the rotted wood. Several different models of Adventure Playset are listed in the recall, so check the CPSC site for pics, models numbers and next steps.
