If there is one thing that the City of Decatur has a lot of, it’s strollers. So, I think that it is pertinent to pass on the news about the massive Maclaren stroller recall following fingertip amputations. Here is a summary of the Consumer Products Safety Commission’s report from PR Newire and information on what you should do next if you own one of the recalled strollers:
Name of product: Maclaren Strollers
Units: About one million
Distributor: Maclaren USA, Inc., of South Norwalk, Conn.
Hazard: The stroller’s hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 15 reports of children placing their finger in the stroller’s hinge mechanism, resulting in 12 reports of fingertip amputations in the United States.
Description: This recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers. The word “Maclaren” is printed on the stroller. The affected models included Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.
Sold at: Babies”R”Us, Target and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these recalled strollers and contact Maclaren USA to receive a free repair kit.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maclaren USA toll-free at (877) 688-2326 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.maclaren.us/recall.
Photo from www.cpsc.gov. More photos available.
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 688-2326
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
If you own one of these strollers please discontinue use immediately and contact Maclaren to receive your free repair kit.
I’m an Atlanta personal injury lawyer specializing in child safety, and I can tell you right now that one of the biggest hazards in this recall is the fact that many of these strollers will have been sold secondhand on Craigslist right now.
For whatever reason — new baby, sleeplessness — parents often miss recalls. After all, there can be over three recalls per week on child safety items alone.
As for the current Mclaren recall, the first child to ride in one of these strollers will be ten years old by now. Chances are that stroller has been passed on down the line, probably holding at least two or three other children in its lifetime. This recall could effect many people than just the original buyers of the 1 million models recalled.
For product recall information, I recommend subscribing to the RSS feed offered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html) I also blog about product recalls and legal issues involving child safety at my law firm’s blog.
Thanks for providing an overview of this issue and fighting the good fight against the inundation of shoddy products.