Dorel Asia Recalls to Replace Cribs; Pose Strangulation and Suffocation Hazards

One infant death reported, 10 injuries to infants

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Dorel Asia SRL, of Barbados, is announcing a voluntary recall to replace drop side and non-drop side cribs that pose suffocation and strangulation hazards to infants and toddlers.  Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs until replacement kits are obtained and installed.

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Name of Product: Dorel Asia cribs

Units: About 635,000

Distributor: Dorel Asia SRL, of Barbados

Hazard: The drop side hardware can fail causing the drop side to detach from the crib. When the drop side detaches it creates a space in which an infant or toddler can become entrapped and suffocate or strangle.  In addition, the recalled cribs can pose a serious entrapment and strangulation hazard when a slat is damaged.  This can occur while the crib is in use, in storage, being put together, taken apart or reassembled; or during shipping and handling.  

Reports: CPSC and Dorel Asia SRL received a report of the death of 6-month old child from Cedar Rapids, Iowa who became entrapped and strangled in a crib after the drop side hardware broke.  The crib continued to be used after the parents tried to repair the drop side themselves.  CPSC and Dorel Asia received reports of 31 drop side incidents. In six of those incidents, children were entrapped between the drop side and crib mattress. Three children suffered from bruises as a result of the entrapment. In addition, CPSC and Dorel Asia received reports of 36 incidents of slat breakage, including seven reports of bruises and scratches to children and two reports of entrapment that resulted in no injury.

Description: The following Dorel Asia cribs are involved in the recall:

Sold at: K-Mart, Sears and Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2009 for between $120 and $700.

Manufactured In: China and Vietnam

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs, find an alternative safe sleeping environment for your child, and contact Dorel Asia to receive a free replacement kit. Consumers should log on to www.dorel-asia.com to order the free replacement kit to prevent child entrapment in these cribs.  The repair kits will be provided to owners within the next several weeks.

Consumer Contact: Call Dorel Asia toll-free at (866) 762-2304 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.dorel-asia.com.

Important Message from CPSC: CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts.  Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy.  When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly.  Always check all sides and corners of the crib for disengagement.  Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child.  In addition, do not try to repair any side of the crib, especially with duct tape, wire or rope.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products -- such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -- contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov. Consumers who want to contact the CPSC about this matter can visit https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission