Every day approximately 26 infants are hurt in crib and playpen accidents, totaling nearly 100,000 children each year, according to a study that recorded the injuries for the first time.
According to the analysis of the crib and playpen injuries that required emergency room treatments over 19 years, most injuries affected toddlers aged 1 to 2 years old. Typically, the children who were hurt most were old enough to attempt climbing out of the crib.
While the number of injuries slightly decreased from 1990 to 2008, the average number of injuries was still high, researchers said. A recent nationwide ban on drop-side cribs set to go into effect this June will likely play a large role in reducing the number of injuries, according to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Information in the study, published Thursday in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ medical journal Pediatrics, will likely be referenced in a U.S. House subcommittee hearing on consumer product safety issues involving cribs, according to the news report .
As a Columbia personal injury attorney , I’m glad to see the U.S. take action on these dangerous cribs causing infant deaths. Even though the recall doesn’t take place for another half a year, I urge you to stop using these drop side cribs now to ensure child safety.
While we don’t handle this kind of recall we feel that it’s important to educate the community to help protect their health and safety. If you have been injured by a recalled product, you might wish to contact an Columbia personal injury lawyer who can help.