As I’ve mentioned before, September is National Child Safety Month which means it’s time to evaluate the things in our lives that could potentially cause personal injury to children. Everything from booster seats to toys with choking hazards, to school bus safety is on the table for discussion this month. As a South Carolina personal injury lawyer, I think child safety should be a topic every day, not just one month out of the year, so I always try to keep people informed about possible safety issues.
Drop-side cribs have been all over the media ever since multi-million unit recalls were issued by various manufacturers. The majority of drop-side cribs on the market pose a safety threat to children, especially if they’re made with inexpensive parts that are prone to failure. When those parts break, a child can become entrapped in the area between the side and the mattress which can cause injuries or even suffocation. Currently, the CPSC is working on a total ban for drop-side cribs but that may not go into effect until the end of the year. Currently, manufacturers are prohibited from making any more drop-side cribs but you can bet they’re still on the market.
It’s not just drop-side cribs that put your child at risk. If the crib you own is more than 10 years old, it may not meet current safety standards. “If the slats are more than 2 3/8″ apart, you need to make sure they’re a safe distance apart. If you can take a soda can and fit it through the slats, then they’re too big and a child can get entrapped there,” claims the CPSC in this news article.