Graco Recalls 2 Million Strollers After Four Infant Deaths :: Product Liability Law Blog

Graco Children's Products, Inc. and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission are announcing the voluntary recall of about 2 million MetroLite™ Graco Quattro Tour™ strollers and travel systems. The recall comes following reports of four infant strangulation fatalities involving the strollers. The babies died between 2003 and 2005. The CPSC says it also knows of five reports involving infants who became entrapped, causing breathing difficulties, bruises, and cuts.

Risk of strangulation or entrapment can occur—especially if the infant is under age 1—when the baby isn’t harnessed. If the infant were to pass between the seat bottom and the stroller tray, his/her neck and head can get entrapped by the tray.

The strollers included in the recall were made before a January 2008 voluntary industry standard that requires larger stroller openings so that infants are not at risk of strangulation or entrapment.

According to Consumer Watch, about 14,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year because of injuries they sustained in stroller-related accidents. 90% of these children will have sustained head injuries. 2 fatalities involving strollers occur each year.

Examples of other stroller defects:

• Hinge defects, which can result in fingertip amputations, lacerations, and pinches

• Faulty construction that can cause a stroller to collapse

• Unstable frames that increases the chances a stroller will fall or tip over

• Unsafe safety harnesses that can result in entanglement or strangulation

• Sharp or exposed edges that can cause amputation or laceration

It was just earlier this year that Graco recalled 1.5 million strollers because they posed a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard.

Four infant deaths prompt Graco recall of 2 million strollers, Chicago Tribune, October 20, 2010

Graco Recalls Quattro™ and MetroLite™ Strollers Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation, Four Infant Strangulation Deaths Reported, CPSC, October 20, 2010

Recall of 1.5 Million Graco Strollers Following Fingertip Lacerations and Amputations, Productliabilitylawblog.com, January 20, 2010

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