Friday, August 29, 2008

Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper”bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned thaton August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to deathwhen she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of in the co-sleeper bassinets. On September29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars ofthe bassinet and died.

CPSC is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchasedall of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it isnot responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spacedfarther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under thefederal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabricflap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet isconverted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-securedwhen the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrappedin the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumersto share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family andfriends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinetcovered by this warning.The Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product Safety ImprovementAct, to release this warning upon making a finding that the health and safety ofthe public require immediate notice.

Today, CPSC is announcing that the following retailers havevoluntarily agreed to recall the product and provide a refund or store credit toconsumers who return the product to the store where purchased:
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. – (800) 925-6278 or www.walmart.com
Toys "R" Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J. - (800) 869-7787 or www.toysrus.com orwww.babiesrus.com
Kmart Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill. – (800) 659-7026 or www.kmart.com
Big Lots!, of Columbus, Ohio – (866) 244-5687 or www.biglots.com
Target of Minneapolis, Minnesota sold at www.target.com
onlyJ.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas – (888) 333-6063 or www.jcp.com

Below is a listing of Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible "Close-Sleeper"model bassinets that are included in this recall. The model number can be found on a label on the underside of the bassinet.RECALLED Model Numbers:
3000CL
3112DOH
63011WHE
9250A
3016LAU
3046GTM
3010BIJ
3112DOH
73011WHK
3012SOM
3016MIR
3046HAN
3010HAV
3122BAN
3012BIJ
5750SAR
3017NCB
3047MON
3010NGS
3122TGC
3012OXF
3012TGT
3020SFB
3050LIL
3010TGT
3010BIJC
3012SFD
3013PRO
3025BER
3050SAR
3010WHE
343-8363
3040SAR
9250B
3025C
3060GFS
3040LAU
343-8399
3040SPR
3014LOL
3026CRT
3060TFS
TD2500
3045FEL
3050SWT
3014NGS
3027MIS
8393
3040WDS
3111DPC
3060BTL
3015GFR
3030SAR
3040SPRC
3045DRM
3012LLTC
3112BDY
3070MAN
3040CLA
3040LAC
3111ZOL
3050SWTC
3045OXFC
3112DOH
5730FKB
3045DRMC