Authorities Pull Out Hazardous Baby Floats, Cribs

July 2, 2009

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a recall on children’s products including four million inflatable baby floats and more than 400,000 cribs which may cause serious injuries and death.

According to earlier reports, CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said the inflatable baby floats, distributed by Aqua-Leisure Industries, may cause drowning since it can easily tear. There are 31 reported cases of tearing while the youngsters were swimming, however, no one has drowned or sustained injury.

Tenenbaum said parents should not leave their child unattended in a swimming pool to prevent drowning while experts warned that inflatable floats are not substitutes for life vest.

The Aqua-Leisure inflatable floats, which come in different shapes such as boats, ducks, turtles, are sold in major retail retailers and discount stores including Kmart, Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware, Toys "R" Us, Dollar General, Target, Walgreens, and Bed Bath & Beyond.

The recall announcement also included China-made Simplicity crib which has already killed 10 babies. The latest death involved an 8-month-old baby in Texas who was trapped between the mattress and the crib's side which collapsed.

"Parents should make sure that their babies' cribs are safe", Tenenbaum added.

Tenenbaum also warned parents not to use cribs made by Simplicity Inc.