In self imposed recalls, Summer Infant Inc. has called back two baby monitor devices today. The first and more dangerous comes within a year of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), having received reports of two strangulation deaths of infants with the electrical cords of Summer Infant video baby monitors. The second recall involves ruptures of rechargeable batteries sold with certain Slim and Secure Video Monitors.
Summer Infant announced the voluntary recall to provide new on product label and instructions for about 1.7 million video baby monitors with electrical cords. The cords can present a strangulation hazard to infants and toddlers if placed too close to a crib. Because of this serious strangulation risk, parents and caregivers should never place these and other corded cameras within three feet of a crib.
In March 2010, a 10-month old girl from Washington, D.C. strangled in her crib in the electrical cord of a Summer Infant video monitor. The monitor camera had been placed on top of the crib rail.
In November 2010 CPSC received a report of a six-month old boy from Conway, S.C., who strangled in the electrical cord of a baby monitor placed on the changing table attached to the crib. In January 2011 CPSC learned the product involved was a Summer Infant video baby monitor.
CPSC and Summer Infant are also aware of a near strangulation incident in which a 20-month old boy from Pittsburg, Pa. was found in his crib with the camera cord wrapped around his neck. The Summer Infant monitor camera was mounted on the wall, but the child was still able to reach the cord. He was freed from the cord without serious injury.
Summer Infant has initiated a campaign to provide new on-product labels for electric cords and instructions to consumers with the recalled video monitors distributed between January 2003 and February 2011. The baby monitors were sold at major retailers, mass merchandisers, and juvenile products stores nationwide for between $60 and $300. They were sold in more than 40 different models, including handheld, digital, and color video monitors.
The second recall is related to batteries within a handheld video monitor can overheat and rupture, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Summer Infant has received five reports of ruptured batteries, including three incidents of minor property damage. No injuries were reported.
Baby monitors are wireless radio systems that can help care takers stay connected and aware of a baby’s needs. They can alert parents to times when an infant is crying or needs help even if a parent is not in the same room. It is like having an extra set of eyes and ears that help keep a closer watch on your baby for safety and peace of mind.
Parents and care givers will find that baby monitors provide a sense of security when babies are out of hearing distance. For times throughout the day or night when you may be in another area of the house or out in the yard, baby monitors can be used for remotely listening to and watching your baby.
Baby monitor systems can also help families and care givers keep tabs on older children at play, seniors who need care and pets that need to be observed.
Sources: CPSC News Release #1 and CPSC News Release #2
Written by Sy Kraft, B.A.