P.I.S.S.D. — Personal Injury, Social Security Disability. Dallas Texas Lawyers

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning regarding the use of Simplicity bassinets, which have caused the deaths of two infants, but are not being recalled by the manufacturer. Here is the text of the press release:

Infants
Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To
Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper”
Models

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging
parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside
sleeper” bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa.
CPSC has learned that on August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from
Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to death when she became entrapped between
the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC
has learned of in the close-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a
4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars of
the bassinet and died.

CPSC
is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which
purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April
2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the
products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products
previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.

The
Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars
spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance
allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are
covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The
fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side
co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the
flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become
entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover
bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently
attached over the lower bar.

Due
to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all
consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers,
consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is
placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this
warning.

The
Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product
Safety Improvement Act, to release this warning upon making a finding
that the health and safety of the public require immediate notice.

Today the CPSC has revised the press release and states that six retailers have agreed to stop selling these deadly bassinets. The retailers are:

• Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. – (800) 925-6278 or www.walmart.com

• Toys "R" Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J. – (800) 869-7787 or www.toysrus.com or www.babiesrus.com
• Kmart Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill. – (800) 659-7026 or www.kmart.com
• Big Lots!, of Columbus, Ohio – (866) 244-5687 or www.biglots.com
• Target of  Minneapolis, Minnesota sold at www.target.com only
• J.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas – (888) 333-6063 or www.jcp.com