Consumer Reports has put the “Do not Buy – Safety Risk” stamp on two stroller models – iCandy Cherry and the Mutsy Evo — because these pose a potential strangulation hazard to young children. According to Consumer reports, both these stroller models have a removable grab bar that attaches above the child’s legs. When a child is placed with the grab bar in its normal use position, the opening between the bar and the seat may be large enough to allow the child’s torso, but not the child’s head to pass through. As a result, the child’s head could get caught on the bar causing the child to potentially asphyxiate.
Consumer Reports states that this hazard, also known as “submarining” exists only when a child is not buckled up into the stroller. Between 1995 and 2008, at least 10 children were reported dead as a result of submarining in strollers. It is not clear if any of these fatalities involved the two stroller models in question. Consumer Reports suggests that anyone who owns these strollers remove the grab bars. The stroller is safe to use if the child is always harnessed. These stroller models have not yet been recalled and are still sold in the United States.
Injuries and Fatalities Caused by Nursery Products
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in 2010, there were 81,700 emergency department-treated injuries associated with nursery products. Items such as strollers, cribs, mattresses, car seat carriers and high chairs were involved with about 68 percent of the injuries. Falls were the leading cause of injury. Also, 304 children under the age of 5 died between 2006 and 2008 as a result of nursery products.
Rights of Affected Victims
If a dangerous or defective product has injured your child, please remember that you have rights. Injured victims or families of deceased victims can file a product liability claim seeking compensation for damages from the at-fault product manufacturer. For their part, manufacturers have a legal obligation to report any dangerous or defective products to the government. A failure to do so can result in hefty penalties. Injured victims or their families would be well advised to contact an experienced California product liability lawyer who has successfully handled these types of cases.