3 Steps to a Safe Halloween
By admin on October 27, 2011
Halloween opens the fall and winter holiday season with fun, excitement, and, of course, scares, but it’s not without its dangers. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) receives reports of injuries every Halloween for costume, decoration, and lighting-related accidents; however, these injuries are preventable..In order to help everyone have a fun and safe Halloween, the CPSC has put together a three-step safety checklist that, if followed, will help prevent burn injuries and fires, make sure trick-or-treating kids can see and be seen, and make sure kids are costumed safely.
Decorations
- Jack-o’-lanterns and candles should be kept away from doorsteps and landings where costumes may come in contact with the flame;
- Remove obstacles that may pose tripping and/or falling hazards to trick-or-treaters;
- Keep indoor candles and jack-o’-lanterns away from decorations and other flammable items and never leave burning candles unattended;
- Only use properly safety tested decorative light strands; and
- Do not overload extension cords.
Costumes
- Purchase costumes and accessories made from flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon, or that are labeled “Flame Resistant;”
- Make or purchase costumes that are light-colored, bright, and highly visible to drivers;
- Trim or decorate costumes and bags/sacks with reflective tape;
- Have kids carry flashlights; and
- Make sure costumes must be well-fitted and do not drag in order to prevent falls. Also, all accessories must be secured and made of safe material (soft, flexible).
Treats
- Children should wait to eat treats until after they have been examined by an adult; and
- Parents should examine toys or any other novelty items before allowing young children to play with them. If it is small enough to fit into the child’s mouth, it presents a choking hazard.
Halloween is one of the most looked forward to holidays of the year and everyone has a responsibility to ensure that the night can be celebrated safely. If you or your child suffers an injury in Maryland as the result of another’s negligence this holiday season, contact the experienced Baltimore personal injury attorney Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” to learn more about getting maximum compensation for your losses. Call (877) 228-4878 today for a consultation.
Strangulation Hazard Prompts CPSC Recall of Pottery Barn Kids Dolls
By admin on September 21, 2011
Pottery Barn Kids, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Comission (CPSC) is voluntarily recalling an estimated 81,000 Chloe, Audey and Sophi soft dolls in the U.S. and 1,300 in Canada due to a potential strangulation hazard caused by the dolls’ hair, which can have loops in it, large enough to fit around a child’s head and neck. Although there have not been any reported injuries as of yet, there have been five reports of looped hair and the doll’s hair was found around the neck of a 21-month old child.
The recalled toys are part of the Pottery Barn Kids’ Girl Doll Collection and include soft dolls with the names Sophie, Chloe, and Audrey. They each come with different colored hair, made out of yarn, and are approximately 17 inches tall. The Audrey doll has black hair, the Chloe doll has dark brown hair, and the Sophie doll has blonde hair. Tags with the dolls’ names on them may be found sewn into the doll’s bottom.
The dolls were sold nationwide and in Canada for approximately $40 from July 2006 to April 2011. They were distributed exclusively through Pottery Barn Kids stores, Pottery Barn Kids catalogs and online at www.potterybarnkids.com. Parents should take the dolls away from their children immediately and may eliminate the hazard by cutting the hair loops and removing the headband from the Audrey doll. Consumers may also contact Pottery Barn Kids for return instructions.
If your child has been injured by a defectively manufactured or designed toy or other child product in Maryland, you and your child may be entitled to compensation any losses or damages resulting from the defective product. Contact the experienced child toy recall attorney in Baltimore, Steven H. Heisler, “The Injury Lawyer,” at (877) 228-4878 for a consultation.
Pottery Barn Kids Cribs Recalled
By injuheis on July 16, 2010
According to the Associated Press, 82,000 cribs “from popular retailer Pottery Barn Kids are being recalled over safety concerns.” The recall applies to all Pottery Barn Kids drop- side crib model numbers.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is concerned that faulty hardware could lead to the drop-side rail on the crib detaching and potentially causing infants to suffocate or become entrapped. 153 young children in the past four years have died due to drop-side cribs.
While the CPSC’s decision to ban the cribs is good news, what took it so long? Close to two hundred children are killed by a particular type of crib and it takes the CPSC four years to take action? That’s not acceptable. The CPSC needs to do its job and move quicker to recall or ban potentially lethal defective products in the future.
Steven H. Heisler takes child safety seriously. If your child was injured in an accident, or due to a defective household product, or the negligence of another person, contact a Maryland child injury lawyer. Steven H. Heisler handles child injury claims and will make sure that your child’s rights are protected.