07/15/2010 // West Palm Beach, FL, USA // Tara Monks // Tara Monks
Salem, NH – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada and Tots in Mind Inc., of Salem, New Hampshire, announced a voluntary recall of Cozy Indoor Outdoor Portable Playard Tents Plus Cabana Kits on Thursday, July 15, 2010. The press release indicated approximately 20,000 units within the US and 85 units in Canada are subject to the recall.
According to the release, the clips that attach the tent to the top of the unit can break or be removed by children. If removed, a child may be able to lift the tent and become entrapped at the neck between the playard frame and the metal base rod of the tent. This situation poses a strangulation hazard.
A 2-year-old boy from Vinalhaven, Maine fell victim to this situation and died in December 2008. The toddler was found hanging with his neck trapped between the playard frame and metal base of the tent that had been secured with the clips and pieces of nylon rope. The tent was tied to the top of the playard as a result of the boy’s ability to unfasten the clips. He was trying to climb out of the unit when he became entrapped.
Three other incidents of child removal of the clips have been reported, though they did not result in injury.
The press release states, “The dome-shaped white-colored mesh tent is designed to fit over playards as small as 28 inches by 40 inches or as large as 31 inches by 44 inches to contain a child. There are 12 plastic clips to secure the base of the tent to the top rail of the playard through button holes along the bottom of the tent. The tent has a zippered side for putting in and taking out the child.”
The units were made in China and sold at Walmart, on Amazon.com and through other various baby and children’s retail stores throughout the country. They were sold between January 2005 through February 2010 for approximately $60.
Consumers are advised to stop using the tents and contact Tots in Mind for a free replacement clips. Replacement clips will be available from August to September 2010. Tots in Mind can be contacted at (800) 626-0339, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The firm’s website is www.TotsinMind.com.
Media Information:
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Url: http://TaraMonks.visionsmartnews.com/tots-in-mind-cpsc-recall-playard-tents-entrapment-hazard_1388.html