Dear Friends: Here is a distressing message that might be of interest to
you, or your children. Sorry about the length of it, but it seems important.
Yakov
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 27 May 1998 22:40:38 EDT
From: Pmanis@aol.com
Subject: travel crib alert
I received this message from a friend. Please pass it on.
To: The community
An URGENT message from LINDA GINZEL and BOAZ KEYSAR
On May 12 our 17-month-old baby, Danny, was killed by a portable crib. The
Playskool crib closed on his neck and suffocated him to death. According to
press reports and statements by government officials, Danny is the fifth
child to die from this particular model. It killed three before it was
recalled in 1993, a fourth after and now a fifth, our baby.
This crib is a time-bomb. Close to 12,000 were sold. We want to try to
prevent the next child from dying. We are trying to reach as many people as
possible through our friends and colleagues. Please help us:
1. CHECK your child's portable crib at home, at daycare, at the
baby-sitter's, grandparents, and wherever there are children. These are
Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs with model numbers 77101 and 77103.
Even if it has worked fine so far, it IS defective and could snap anytime.
Stop using it immediately. Call Kolcraft at 1-800-453-7673; they should
pick up the item and refund your money.
2. DROP US A NOTE informing us that you identified the portable crib and
took it out of circulation. Email (djkeysar@enteract.com), fax (773 296
9658) or regular mail
(Daniel Keysar, PO Box 146608, Chicago, IL 60614-6608). We want to keep
track of how many items are returned as a result of our collective effort.
3. FORWARD this email to everyone you know. Even if they do not have
children, they surely know people who do. Your email might be the one to
save the next victim.
The number of sent messages will grow exponentially daily. So PLEASE DO NOT
FORWARD THIS EMAIL ELECTRONICALLY AFTER JUNE 8, 1998.
Also, it is important that you NOT change any text in this message.
4. POST this information at daycares, pediatricians' offices, OBGYN's
offices, play-groups, and so on.
We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from our
friends all over the world. Through their tears of disbelief, everyone has
said "if we can do anything to help, please let us know." Yes, you can do
something. Please help us get rid of this menace.
WHAT IF YOU DON'T USE PORTABLE or TRAVEL or FOLDUP nursery equipment such
as CRIBS, PLAYPENS, PLAYARDS, TRAVELYARDS, ETC? WHAT IF YOU HAVE A
DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL? WHAT IF YOUR MAKE/MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED?
We were horrified to discover that companies are not required by law to
recall nursery equipment even after it is involved in a child's death. It
took three dead babies before the model that killed our Danny was recalled.
Another grieving parent told us that her baby was the THIRTEENTH to die
from ANOTHER manufacturers' portable playard that had NOT been recalled.
YOU CANNOT BE TOO CAREFUL. EVEN IF YOUR MAKE/MODEL HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED,
you might want to call the company and inquire if it has been involved in a
child's death.
PLEASE drop us a note if you find out any life saving information that is
relevant to any portable-type make/model (djkeysar@enteract.com).
BEST WAY TO CONTACT US:
email: djkeysar@enteract.com
fax: (773) 296 9658
mail: Daniel Keysar, PO Box 146608, Chicago, IL 60614-6608
BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE PRESS:
February 22, 1993
The Chicago Tribune
HEADLINE: Playskool cribs recalled; 3 involved in suffocations
"The manufacturer of Playskool Travel-Lite portable cribs that were blamed
for three infant suffocations is recalling the product, the Consumer
Product Safety Commission said last week. The agency said consumers who own
the Playskool Travel-Lite cribs with model numbers 77101 and 77103 should
immediately stop using them. The crib's manufacturer, Kolcraft Enterprises
Inc., of Chicago is voluntarily recalling 11,638 cribs made between 1990 to
1992, the agency said. The cribs have two nylon mesh sides, which fold when
the item is stored but have doubled accidentally when the crib is in use.
All three infants who died were found trapped in V-shaped mesh with the
sides accidentally folded, the commission said. It said consumers who own
the cribs should immediately stop using them and call Kolcraft at
800-453-7673."
MORE RECALL INFORMATION ABOUT PORTABLE or TRAVEL or FOLDUP nursery
equipment such as CRIBS, PLAYPENS, PLAYARDS, TRAVELYARDS, etc. April 17,
1998 Presswire copyright M2 Communications Ltd. contact: Ken Giles tel +1
301 504 0580 x 1184. This news release is available in Spanish by calling
Jesus Chairez at (214) 827-6239.
HEADLINE: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) CPSC announces
recall round-up to get hazardous products out of consumers' homes
EXCERPTS:
"CPSC obtained voluntary recalls of the following playpens with top rails
that people had to turn into place when setting up the playpen: Evenflo
"Happy Camper, Happy Cabana, and Kiddie Camper;" Century Models 10-710 and
10-810; Baby Trend "Home and Roam, Baby Express;" and Kolcraft "Playskool
Travel-Lite Model." CPSC also issued a safety warning about All Our Kids
Models 742 and 762 playpens imported by a firm that is out of business."
"CPSC's toll free telephone hotline and web site provide information about
recalled products and information on what to look for when buying products.
Consumers can reach the hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or visit the web site at
http://www.cpsc.gov."
BELOW ARE EXCERPTS FROM THE WEB:
CHECK THE WEB FOR THE COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Rick Frost November 21, 1996 (301) 504-0580
Ext. 1166 Release # 97-028
CPSC Warns of Strangulation Hazard with All Our Kids Portable Cribs/Playpens
WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is
warning consumers that about 13,000 portable cribs/playpens sold under the
brand name All Our Kids pose a strangulation hazard to young children. The
playpens, also known as travelyards or playards, have rotating top rails,
which can collapse unexpectedly, trapping a child at the neck in the "V"
formed by the collapsed top rail. The CPSC is aware of 7 babies who
strangled in collapsed portable playpens with similar top rail designs made
by three other manufacturers. The most recent of these deaths occurred on
October 15, 1996. The top rails of the All Our Kids playpens can collapse
even when the product is set up properly. The All Our Kids playards, models
741, 742 and 761, come in a variety of colors, shapes (rectangular and
square) and sizes with some having a detachable toy bag on one end. The
words "All Our Kids" appear on two of the four top rails. A variety of
retailers sold the playpens nationwide from 1992 to 1995.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 1997
CONTACT: Kathleen Begala
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1193
Evenflo Contacts:
Dawn Dover, Mark Semer
(212) 521-4817 or 4802
Release # 97-146
CPSC, Evenflo Announce Recall of Happy Camper Portable Play Yards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Evenflo Company Inc., of Piqua, Ohio, is offering free
hinge cover kits to all 1.2 million owners of its portable play yards sold
under the Happy Camper, Happy Cabana and Kiddie Camper model names. If the
hinges on the product are not fully rotated, the product can collapse,
possibly trapping the child in the "V" formed by the folded top rails.
Additionally, if leaned or sat upon, the rotating plastic hinges in the
middle of the folding top rails can crack or break, presenting a sharp edge
or possibly allowing the child to escape.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 3, 1995
CONTACT: Kathleen Begala
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1193
Release # 95-056
CPSC AND BABY TREND ANNOUNCE CRIB/PLAYPEN RECALL WASHINGTON, D.C. --In
cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Baby
Trend Inc. of Pomona, Calif., is voluntarily recalling all portable
crib/playpens sold under the brand names, Home and Roam and Baby Express.
CPSC determined that the crib/playpens can collapse if the products are not
completely locked into place. There have been two deaths and two more
reports of babies found not breathing (who were revived) associated with
these products.
The crib/playpen can appear to be set up properly even if the top rails are
not fully locked. If the crib/playpen is not set up so that each top rail
is securely locked in position, a baby can be caught by the neck and
strangle (see illustration - page 2).
The crib/playpens, which are available in a variety of colors and fabrics,
come in three sizes - 40 inches by 40 inches, 40 inches by 28 inches, and
31 inches by 41 inches. The words "Home and Roam" or "Baby Express" and
"Baby Trend" appear on two of the four top rails. About 100,000
crib/playpens, priced from $60 to $130, were sold nationwide from 1992 to
1994 by several different retailers, including Price Costco and Kmart.
The activities of this email account are dedicated in loving memory to:
DANIEL J KEYSAR
Born December 31, 1996
Died May 12, 1998
PO Box 146608
Chicago, IL 60614-6680
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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