Protect Children From Defective Products
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) March 06, 2014 -- When perusing the aisles, many parents figure that the items they’re purchasing for their children have gone through rigorous testing to ensure safety.
While that may often be true, a quick scan of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Recalls page shows that defects still pop up on children’s products far too frequently. A number of hazards exist with products that may be hard to identify but that can nevertheless place children in danger.
The Seattle personal injury lawyers of the Bernard Law Group want to make sure that all parents take the proper precautions with kids’ products, even if that requires going beyond the standard safety procedures. Lead attorney Kirk Bernard understands the severe implications of even a slight manufacturing error, and he wants to see tragedy averted whenever possible.
“Most children’s products are going to be safe,” said Mr. Bernard, “but there’s always that slight portion that could suffer from serious defects that bring the makers to our firm’s attention. Parents have to be vigilant when it comes to every purchase, especially of those items that have had notoriously spotty safety records. No precaution is too extreme when it comes to protecting our children.”
Bernard Law Group’s increased attention to this subject stems from a new study explored on February 20, 2014 in a USA Today article entitled, “Only 10% of recalled kids products fixed or returned.”
The new research, which hails from an organization called Kids in Danger, discovered the shocking statistic suggested by the title as well as the maddening fact that the average product only gets recalled after reports of two injuries and 13 flaws in product design. The study also uncovered a widespread unwillingness among companies to relate news of a recall via social media.
Thankfully, parents have options at their disposal. The Bernard Law Group offers the following tips to avoid personal injury:
•Thanks But No Thanks- Avoid hand-me-downs from relatives or from places like garage sales. This is for the simple fact that the products may have been recalled or produced at a time prior to federal safety regulations coming into place.
•Understand Regulation- Sweeping rules have gone into effect to address some of the most common hazards associated with children’s products. Some you may be familiar with, others less so. Many parents understand the danger of heightened lead levels or small parts, but most consumers probably don’t realize that children’s clothing is barred from including drawstrings due to the strangulation and entanglement threat posed.
•Sleep Easy- A young child’s sleeping space should receive more attention than just about any other area of the home. The crib should be free of dropsides that could pose falling or amputation hazards, and toys and baby monitors should be kept out of reach to avoid suffocation and entanglement threats, respectively.
•Eat, Drink, Be Wary- A child’s high chair is another area parents must keep a close eye on. A chair must be stable enough to prevent a child from tipping back and forth and knocking the entire thing over, and a child should be kept secure via appropriate straps. Finally, parents should make sure that decorative cups or pacifiers don’t have small parts that could detach, an issue that leads to a surprising amount of recalls.
•Here In Your Car, Feel Safest Of All- Submit to car seat installation instruction from a qualified professional, and pay attention to recalls, as a failure of this type of product is perhaps one of the most dangerous hazards out there. A company recently recalled millions of car seats because of issues with the latches that could prevent prompt extrication in the event of an emergency. Stay on top of such things by registering your product and avoiding used seats that could have safety issues or structural damage.
•Caution During Playtime- Make sure a child is using products that are suited to their age group. Where this is especially important is in households with children of varying ages, which tends to lead to a co-mingling of toys that could leave a younger child susceptible to harm. Lend supervision when necessary to verify a child’s actions at play don’t put them in danger.
Kirk Bernard has been protecting the rights of Washington personal injury victims for 30 years, achieving landmark court victories and settlements in the process. The Bernard Law Group provides legal representation for those injured in bicycle collisions, workplace accidents, medical malpractice situations, defective drug incidents, premises liability cases, and more. Persons interested in a free consultation should check out 4injured.com to learn more.
Megan Castello, The Bernard Law Group, http://4injured.com, +1 (206) 298-9900, [email protected]
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