SAFETY SQUAD BLOG

Recall Notification: Dorel Juvenile Group, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi, and Safety 1st Child Restraint System Center Front Adjuster Recall

2011-02-15T08:35:09-06:00

You may remember that we helped call attention to this problem back in March 2010. Here's the original story. It looks DJG has finally issued a recall. Please contact Dorel and take any action required if your seat is included. The information is below. We will give you more information when we get it. Here is a link to the notification on Dorel's website.

HTSA Campaign ID Number: 11C001

Synopsis:
DJG is recalling certain infant, convertible, and booster child restraint systems which were sold both as stand alone seats or part of a travel system (with stroller). Child restraint systems included in this recall begin with model numbers 22077, 22078, 22148, 22149, 22150, 22152, 22154, 22155, 22158, 22159, 22172, 22177, 22178, 22185, 22188, 22195, 22356, 22371, 22372, 22412, 22439, 22452, 22453, 22456, 22458, 22459, 22462, 22465, 22469, 22476, 22486, 22546, 22547, 22553, 22554, 22561, 22564, 22567, 22574, 22580, 22657, 22740, 22741, 22755, 22758, 22759, 22790, 22799, 22880, 22560, 22346, 17439, 22449, 22475, and IC072, manufactured from May 1, 2008, through April 30, 2009. The harness locking and release button does not always return to its locked position. A button that is not in the locked position can allow the harness adjustment strap to slip back through the adjuster as a child moves around in the seat and results in a loose harness. In the event of a vehicle crash, the child may not be adequately protected and is at an increased risk for injury. Registered owners will receive a free remedy kit consisting of a small tube of non-toxic, food-grade lubricant to be applied to the center front adjuster (CFA) to prevent sticking and allow it to properly engage the CFA strap. Instructions on how to apply the lubricant will be provided, along with a label to indicate that the repair has been completed. Non-registered owners should contact DJG at 1-866-623-3139 or by email at harnessadjustment@djgusa.com. Consumers will need the entire model number on the child restraint when contacting the manufacturer.

For more information for this particular recall, please go to 11C001.

Thank you,

Recalls Subscription Team
Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

BuckleBuddy.Org

2010-08-13T14:30:31-05:00

Safety Squad

Alderman Wants Retailers to Carry Part of Car Seat Safety Burden

2010-06-08T20:42:35-05:00

The Chicago City Council on Wednesday will consider a proposal aimed at getting parents expert help when it comes to wrestling the alligator that is a child car safety seat.

An estimated 83.9 percent of child car seats are not installed correctly, potentially exposing children to serious risk.

"The scary part about that is when parents are polled, 96 percent of parents think their car seat is in correctly," according to Steve Breden, a certified child passenger safety technician.

Those numbers inspired Ald. James Balcer (11th) to introduce an ordinance that would require any retailer selling child car seats to post an informational flyer with 20 feet of the car seat that is for sale. The flyer would provide parents with a phone number and a website where they can access a certified child passenger safety technician who can install a seat or answer questions about the process.

He said the legislation, which passed through subcommittee last week, would save frustration and lives.

"One thousand children are dying each year [and ]184,000 are injured. I felt something had to be done," he said.

But the measure is opposed by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, which said the idea would put stores on a slippery slope.

"The concern we have is that somehow the responsibility for educating consumers on the proper way to install a car seat has fallen on the retailers," said IRMA Senior Counsel Tanya Triche. "So you can imagine a certain percentage of our store being taken up with 'educational' sort of signs. So that's an issue for us."

Balcer took IRMA to task upon hearing the comments.

"Shame on them. It's a slippery slope. Fine, let it keep sliding. Whatever it takes to save the lives of children, to prevent children from being injured -- I'm all for that," he said.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/chicago-car-seat-ordinance-95890004.html#ixzz0qJbfG8f9

Thoughts from Lifesavers 2010 in Philadelphia

2010-04-14T21:03:11-05:00

Lifesavers 2010 is in the books.

First off, we're always thankful for the friends, colleagues and experts we spend time with at Lifesavers. You're crucial in shaping the message we deliver to parents about keeping children safe.

Next, there were a few important themes we would like to highlight from this year's event. These represent emerging trends, needs and changes in philosophy relating to child passenger safety. - We are starting to see real cooperation between retailers and CPS technicians in some cities. This is important as stores are key places to capture parents' attention and deliver the much needed message of appropriate restraint usage.

Children benefit tremendously from police officers being car seat awareness trained. This is especially true in states which have laws addressing appropriate restraint use as opposed to just general use. Officers can't write tickets and save lives if they don't recognize misuse.

Car seat law offender programs require clear goals. Appropriate measures must be enacted to achieve those goals. Car seat laws are useless if they are not enforced. Violators habits remain the same if they have no incentive to change.

Here's a potentially shocking statement. "The leading cause of death for children is their parents." Is this statement true or not? Really think about it. Isn't it parents that put children in a position to live or die in any situation? With regards to child passenger safety, isn't it parents that make the decision to restrain their children appropriately or not when getting in the car? Isn't it parents who make the decision to act on their children's behalf and receive car seat education? Don't parents make a choice to buckle up, live to see their children grow and set good examples from the start? Thank you to Joanne Fairchild of Legacy Emanuel Trauma Nurses Talk Tough for introducing us to this way of thinking. Here at Safety Squad we say it's not parents' fault that car seats can be so difficult. But, parents can use this perspective to challenge themselves to put their families in the best position possible to survive any emergency. If you're reading this or you're a Safety Squad client you probably already accepted this challenge. Don't let up.

Thanks again Lifesavers 2010. We'll see you next year in Phoenix.

Safety 1st Vantage Investigation on NBC

2010-03-03T22:28:03-06:00

As part of this NBC Report, Safety Squad's Tom McQueen Investigated the seats in question:

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcchicago.com/video.

A Chicago father's home video that apparently shows the failure of multiple child safety seats is getting some high-level attention.

Initially, Bryan Dussault said he wasn't surprised when he took a call last fall from his mother-in-law, who reported having difficulty with one of the straps on the Safety First Vantage Booster Car Seat, made by Dorel Juvenile Group of Columbus, Indiana.

That changed when he inspected the seat himself and found that it was impossible to secure a child in the seat because the strap wouldn't hold.

"I had a little bit of a tough time with the strap. Ultimately, I got it adjusted, but then was able to pull the harness loose without touching the levers again. That told me something was really wrong," Dussault said.

Making matters worse, he was able to duplicate the problem on another car seat of the same make and model that was in his own car.

Dussault said he reported his concerns to Dorel, who immediately responded. The company asked him to return to two problems seats and they would be replaced.

But when he got the new seats, he said the failed straight out of the box.

"First thing I do is I get the seat out and test the latch, the harness latch and the first one fails," Dussault said. "These failed before they were ever even in a car. They probably failed on the factory floor, in my opinion."

Dussault, who is not a product engineer or safety seat expert, says he contacted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a concerned parent and filed reports on the perceived failures. He also turned on his home video camera, and used an Elmo doll to show what he sees as a serious safety risk.

To Dussault's disappointment, he said the NHTSA didn't immediately respond to his complaint until he started blogging about the problem online.

He also let a safety inspector from The Safety Squad, a Chicago-based, for-profit safety inspection business, inspect the seats.

"I saw two seats that I don’t think would hold a child in a crash. That should not happen," the inspector, Tom McQueen, told NBC Chicago.

A spokeswoman for Dorel said the company turned the seats over to NHTSA once it got them back from Dussault. The NHTSA confirmed that inspectors from the agency have screened the seats in question, but there's no word yet on when organization will make a determination on the safety risks alleged by Dussalt.

Dorel's Full Statement:

Dorel Juvenile Group is fully committed to quality and safety. We dedicate millions of dollars each year to quality control and to operate world–class testing equipment as we strive to deliver products of the highest reliability.

We welcome all feedback regarding our car seats. Mr. Dussault’s comments concerning the Safety 1st Vantage car seat harness adjuster have been taken most seriously.

Specifically, we offered to conduct a full evaluation of these car seats at our state-of-the art testing center in Columbus, Indiana. We planned to have our safety team conduct a macroscopic, dimensional and functional evaluation of the harness adjusters, and to study each part of the car seats in question very closely against each of our technical specifications. However, since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked to see the seats first, a routine request in such a matter, we have obliged by sending the seats in question to them.

There have been no reported injuries or incidents concerning the Safety 1st Vantage car seat.

Dorel’s car seat testing methods are very stringent, and 100% of the harness adjusters are proof-loaded to a significant force - over 150 pounds - to ensure real-world safety. Dorel’s car seats also meet all of the government crash test safety standards.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/business/dorel-child-restraints-86293657.html#ixzz0hBBYDmhc

5 Questions with Josh of Baby Solutions

2010-02-22T11:09:05-06:00

We'd like you to get to know Josh Berliant. He's the founder of Baby Solutions, Safety Squad's preferred childproofer since 2007. We sat down with him to deliver some childproofing basics to parents.

Safety Squad: When should parents begin thinking about childproofing?

Josh: It really is never too soon to begin the babyproofing process. Parents should start thinking about babyproofing even before they give birth to the child. Its a great time to evaluate the safety of your home and furnishings, while you still have your sanity. Waiting until your child begins to crawl is a mistake.

Safety Squad: What advice do you have for first time parents new to babyproofing?

Josh: Advice I would give new parents is that all products are not created equally. Many of the products on the market can do more harm than good. A professional can really help to ensure you are using quality products.

Safety Squad: We recommend your services exclusively for our clients in the Chicago area. For parents elsewhere, what advice would you give a parent when looking for a childproofer?

Josh: Baby Solutions childproofing services focuses on the individuals needs. Making sure the babyproofer you choose is putting your needs ahead of their needs. It isn't always necessary to babyproof every inch of your home. We strive to help you make your home safer and not break the bank.

Safety Squad: You mention that it's never too soon to think about babyproofing. Before calling you or any babyproofer, what are a few things parents can do around their homes for free to make baby's environment safer right now?

Josh: Most of the time babyproofing a home is equal parts recognizing the potential hazard, getting the right product installed to solve the issue, and "redecorating" your home. There are many simple changes you can make that will create a much safer home for your family. Getting an early start on breaking bad habits is very beneficial. Start loading the dishwasher with the sharp stuff pointing down and away from a child's reach. Taking the knobs off the stove when not in use is better than buying knob covers for them. Glass tables for example have many dangers. You could spend the money padding the edges, but the table would still be a very serious hazard. So instead, move the table to a place the baby won't be around it and put the padding money in the college fund.

Safety Squad: What's your favorite aspect of what you do?

Josh: My favorite part of what I do, besides of course making homes safer for children, is helping parents relieve the stress involved in the babyproofing process. I am strongly against trying to use a parent's fears against them. At Baby Solutions, we strive to calm parents fears and not flame them. If you've called me, I know you're already fearful of the hazards known and unknown around your house. I want to help you recognize the danger areas and come up with the perfect solution to solve your problem. Knowing that we have had thousands of referrals tells me we are doing it the right way.

Look forward to more childproofing content and videos with Josh. You can reach Baby Solutions at 773.342.BABY(2229) or through Safety Squad at 773.382.2833 x3.

Wear Your Seat Belt.. because we don't live in a fantasy world

2010-02-20T20:13:17-06:00

Safety Squad

Have a fire alarm system? Okay good, now call 911.

2010-02-17T11:02:05-06:00

Many people make assumptions about how they will, or should respond in a fire. One assumption is that if you have a built-in fire alarm system in your home, you don't have to call 911. This is not true.

If you have an automatic alarm system (and it's working), the system/service will notify the fire department that a detector in the home is activated. This will generate, in most jurisdictions, an automatic alarm response which is usually 1-2 vehicles (compared to 4+). Most automatic alarm calls are false alarms (for a number of reasons). Usually, fire departments will respond with the same speed as a 911 "Report of Fire", but mentally many firefighters' first thought when they hear automatic alarm is "it's probably a false alarm". As a result, the firefighters while responding quickly, often are not as mentally prepared to battle as they would be for 911 "Report of Fire". This is definitely true for me too.

I know that making assumptions about automatic alarms has killed many firefighters, but my experience also tells me that false alarms are extremely common.

Safety Squad suggests calling 911 always... either after you've escaped danger or if you're trapped. First, You will at least double the number of firefighters responding (because 911 knows it's bonafide). Second, the firefighters responding to a "Report of Fire" assume it IS a fire and not a false alarm. Third, if you are trapped, you can communicate to 911 where you are, how many people are in the home and any information that may help firefighters find you.

When we know that people are trapped, the level of alarm escalates, our determination rises and given a place to look, we will walk through walls to find you.

Maxi Cosi Recall: February 5, 2010

2010-02-05T09:56:31-06:00

The Maxi Cosi Mico had been recalled again. We're well aware of this issue and will post a video soon showing you what's wrong. Check out the recall information below. Safety Squad Home Clients being notified.

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 10C001

Synopsis:
Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG) is recalling certain Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint systems, models 22-371 HFL, JUC, LMD, PNG, and ORE; 22-372 TTH; and Maxi-Cosi Mico infant child restraint system - base only, model 22-515 BLK, produced from February 18, 2008 through June 28, 2008. Interference between the mounting bracket and the base caused by warping of the base or inadequate mating between the shell and the base mounting bracket can result in difficulty attaching or detaching the shell from the base. If the shell is improperly mounted to the base, the child could be injured in the event of a crash. DJG will notify all registered owners and will send a remedy kit consisting of two base springs, a hex wrench, and instructions for the base spring replacement. The repair kit is free of charge. The safety campaign is expected to begin on or about February 5, 2010. Owners may contact DJG at 1-877-657-9546.

For more information for this particular recall, please go to 10C001.

Previous Recall Post from July

Car Seat Saves Child in Fire: Part #1

2010-02-01T22:15:51-06:00

Last week, 5 people died in a raging fire in Brooklyn, NY. It's hard to see the positive, until we look at the lessons learned. We will expand on this post in coming days, but wanted to focus on one aspect of the rescue.

A two-month old infant was dropped out of a 3rd floor window to the ground below and lived. In a frenzy the infant was placed in a car seat before being dropped. While the baby sustained injuries, it will survive.

In later posts, we'll discuss Smoke Detectors, Escape Ladders and the 411 on dialing 911, but first we're going to talk about that car seat. As firefighters, we know that regardless of economic, cultural or geographical factors, parents and their children become trapped in their homes just like this family.

Lesson #1: You CAN use a car seat to lower children to safety. Even in the most prepared household... one with fire ladders on all floors, few parents ever consider how they'll get their children (especially 2 and under) down their ladders. Climbing down escape ladders is not easy. By using an infant carrier or toddler seat w/rope attached, parents can safely lower a child to safety before they climb down the escape ladder.

Now, the car seat is not intended for this, but if you secure a baby "correctly" (more on this later) in the 5-point harness and secure the rope securely (before the fire), your family may be in a safer position.

At fires, I carry rope in my fire coat. I know that in some fires I won't have time to tie off before I jump, but having it gives me options. The same is true with a car seat and rope. Finally, this should not be your first method of escape for parents with infants/children. If you can escape another way, do that. This post will be evolving, so let us know your questions.