The Atlanta based lawyers with Finch McCranie LLP frequently receive calls about children injured by products specifically designed for their use. Last Thursday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC, recalled 200,000 potentially deadly Fisher-Price’s Rainforest play yards.
\nApproximately 1,350 people had complained to the CPSC that one or both sides of the Rainforest play yard had collapsed. There were numerous reported injuries that included a broken nose, a mild concussion and a broken wrist. The play yards are often used as portable cribs and have a bassinet attachment. When the rails collapse, babies can fall out, get trapped or gain access to unsafe areas.
\nThe play yards were made by Simplicity Inc., under a licensing agreement with Fisher Price and were sold in the Atlanta area and elsewhere. Simplicity, which is now out of business, made its own branded play yards, some of which are still on the market. The CPSC is investigating whether those shared the same dangerous design.
\nThere are reports that the CPSC knew rails on the Rainforest play yards were collapsing early last year, but officials decided not to issue the recall. The CPSC apparently reconsidered when it was flooded with complaints late last year.
\nAt least 18 children have died in other brands of play yards when the railings collapsed into a V-shape that strangled or trapped them.
\nFisher-Price agreed to send consumers a $100 refund after they send the company the fabric sides to prevent further use.<\/p>\n