The Hannibal Lecter Baby Wear Line Meets Resistance

WARNING – This is not an impartial blog entry.  I had a very visceral reaction to seeing this recall announcement, so I threw away any journalistic ethics and wrote from the gut.

I admit, there are times when my imagination goes to dreaming of a child muzzle after hearing John Jacob Jingle Heimer Schmidt sung by my grandkids for the fourteenth millionth time in a row.  However, common sense told me that a child muzzle would have some safety (and probably legal) issues. But apparently one company felt it was actually a good idea to put a muzzle on a crying infant. Kahn Enterprises LLC, of Mendota Heights, Minnesota actually marketed the Beeni Baby Hat. (shown below).  Fortunately they have only sold 35 of them, so not too many of our sweet, innocent babies have been forced to wear this Hannibal Lecter style pacifier enforcer.

Photo:  CPSC

I dare say that even a new mother, with minimal experience, would know that when a baby throws up, the pacifier is the first thing to pop out, sometimes in a projectile manner that in itself can present a hazard to anyone standing in it’s path!  Seriously though, to restrain a baby from normal bodily functions by plugging them with a pacifier that has no release pathway comes close to torture in my mind. I’m pretty sure that forcing one to choke on their own vomit would make it on the list of unacceptable interrogation techniques even for the most ardent CIA hostage negotiator.

Fortunately it appears that some safety advocate may have seen this and had a similar mind-blowing response as I did, and a recall has been issued for all thirty five sold from January 2009 through May 2011.  Even more fortunate is that no injuries have been reported. Amazing!   The beanies were sold on Beeni Baby’s website, but are no longer offered for sale, and Kahn Enterprises is offering a full refund.  I was unable to find either website, but you can view Beeni Baby's recall here.

If you were one of those 35 consumers who actually thought this was a good idea, might I suggest you take a good Parenting 101 class before you choose any more clothing options for your child.

Questions can be addressed to Kahn Enterprises via at info@beeni-kids.com, or call them at (612) 310-4053.  The official CPSC recall details are found here.

Water Safety Highlighted by Recent Pool Drain Cover Recall

Weather conditions this weekend in Utah are cloudy skies, scattered rain and some thunder and lightening sounding in from time to time. Temperatures from 45˚ F inching its way up to the low 60’s is about as good as we’ll get.  The sun checks in every so often, but doesn’t hang around.

The Memorial Day BBQ has run for cover.  The movie theatre or bowing alley is more likely to get attention this weekend than the swimming pools.  However, for those of you who are enjoying beautiful sunny, warm or even hot weather, the swimming pool, either private or public, may be in your plans.  If so, beware of the dangers of these over zealous pool or spa drain covers recalled by Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).

As always CPSC’s timing is impeccable.  The announcement of the recall of an estimated one million pool and spa drain covers was made just in time to inject chaos and fear into your holiday swimming plans.  Fortunately no injuries have been reported with any of these specific drain covers, but it was discovered that eight manufacturers’ designs have been incorrectly rated and could pose a potentially fatal threat to swimmers, particularly young children who are naturally inquisitive and unaware of the danger surrounding pool or spa drains.

Drains that do not regulate the flow of water through the drain properly can cause a dangerously strong suction point at the drains.  Children and adults alike can become so strongly attached that they cannot pull themselves free, and drowning can result.

To see if your pool drain is part of this recent recall, check the official CPSC recall here.  You will also be able to access individual company information and contact information there as well.  If you own or operate a pool or spa in the USA, it is critical that you take the time immediately to check your drain covers against the information in the recall to be sure swimmers are protected from injury or drowning. 

Company	Model Information (websites)	Dates Sold	Remedy
A&A	www.aamfg.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
AquaStar	www.aquastarpoolproducts.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr.2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Color Match	www.poolfittings.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Custom Molded Products	www.c-m-p.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Hayward Pool Products	www.hayward-pool.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Pentair Water Pool & Spa	www.pentairpool.com	June 2009 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Rising Dragon	www.risingdragonplastics.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit
Waterway	www.waterwayplastics.com	Dec. 2008 - Apr. 2011	Replacement or Retrofit

Table taken from the CPSC Recall dated May 26, 2011

As of December 20, 2008, all public and private pools were required to have anti-entrapment drain covers that comply with the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard. This standard was mandated by the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act (VGB Act) that was signed into law in December 2007. This critical piece of legislation was advocated by the parents of 7-year-old, Virginia Graeme Baker, who was swimming in the family spa in 2002 and became entrapped by the strong suction of the spa’s drain.  Unable to be pulled free by mother or two men, Virginia drowned.  The VGB Act, a federal regulation, applies to all new and existing pools and spas.  An additional level of entrapment protection was also mandated for pools and spas that have only one drain.

The CPSC is aware of 97 reports of circulation entrapments in pools or spa from January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010.  In conjunction with their new pool safety educational campaign, CPSC released their most current statistics on pool and spa drowning and entrapment incidents.   Already in 2011, they have received 118 pool and spa incidents.  That is quite a significant increase as we head into the summer, when many youngsters will be jumping into pools across the USA.   

The statistics indicate that this is a very real hazard and one that responsible parents and caregivers should not take lightly.  Before sending your child to your backyard pool,  a neighbor's pool, the local community pool, or even grandma’s pool, get the 4-1-1 on the drain covers they have installed. It would be wise for any owner of a pool or spa to keep the safety documentation on their pool covers on hand so this information can quickly be verified upon request. 

Your child’s life may depend on it, so here are a few things to think about before your child jumps in.

1.   Discuss the hazard of the suction around the drain with your child so they know not to play in that area. Young children can learn about water safety while following the adventures of a young boy and his safety-hero dragon, in A Treasure at Sea for Dragon and Me, a delightful water safety paperback book by Jean Pendziwol.

2.   Check the drain cover itself – the marking “VGB 2008” should be imprinted or molded into the cover.

3.   Ask your pool maintenance worker to check to be sure the drain cover meets the requirements laid out in the VGB Act.

4.   If using a public or neighbor’s pool, ask the owner to provide you with documentation that shows the drain covers comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.

5.   If the pool has only one drain, ask what additional level of entrapment protection the owner has installed on the drain.

6.   Will there be a swimming-abled adult supervising the children at all times?  If not, offer to take the job.

Once in quite a while

Download the calendar page here

Just a little piece of trivia today: In October 2011, there will be 5 Mondays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays. This happens only every 823 years!  Good conversation starter for your nex social gathering.

Recall, Safety Alert, or Parenting 101?

When is a product recall really a “recall?’  Definitions of the word recall include:  to call back, order home or withdraw.  The definition seems clear enough.  If a product is in the marketplace and it has a defect that endangers the public safety, the manufacturer should “call back” the item to prevent possible injury.  Recently however, the Consumer Product Safety Commission seemed to redefine the word recall. 

Take the recent “recall” announced on February 11^th for Summer Infant ‘s baby video monitors.   The company received reports of the strangulation deaths of two infants caused by the electrical cords of the monitor wrapping around the infant’s neck and cutting off their air supply.  Since 2004 CPSC has received notification of seven infant deaths involving the cords on baby monitors in general. 

Normally “recalls” are used when a product defect is found, or when the product does not comply with an existing safety regulation.  Neither of these is true in the case of the baby monitor involved.  In fact, the monitors were placed on the infant crib or on the wall over the crib where the cords were within reach of the child.  Parental or caregiver responsibility has to be considered in this case. 

The manufacturer of the monitors is not asking for the monitors back from consumer; they are simply asking the consumer to call to receive a set of warning labels that more clearly advise not to place the monitor too close to baby’s crib or play area.  According to CPSC Commissioner Nancy Nord, the response to this “recall” has been minimal, and in some cases the response has been anger or frustration that they were frightened into thinking their monitor was defective.

On her blog, Commissioner Nord indicates that the reason she was given for the use of the term “recall” for this scenario was that “this is the only way to get media attention—unless we call it a recall, no one will pay attention to us.”  Really?  Does our government really think the US consumer buys that?  Given the very poor response to this “recall” so far, it appears that a Safety Alert and clear information on the safe placement of ANYTHING with hanging cords near babies would have been sufficient. Not only that, but if you purchased a monitor, heard “recall” and then found out the solution was a set of paper labels…well, what would your response be? 

Once you begin to pollute the field of product recalls with every type of warning or educational program, you have begun to slide down a very slippery slope.  At what point does the consumer just stop listening?

Leave your comments below.  Has the constant barrage of product recalls since 2007 made you question product safety overall?  How much time do you spend reading warning labels on products?