Is the World Really All THAT Dangerous?

I think I mentioned a long time ago that I’m not one to jump on product recalls. We are, in fact, still using a drop-side crib in our house, and I have no intention of replacing it. 3 older children have survived through it, as has our youngest for the past 12 months or so that he’s been using it. When he’s done with it, off to the dump it will go, but it will make me sad, because despite being a little bit beat-up in the looks department it’s perfectly fine, and I’m sure that some young mom could make use of it. I’ll throw it out more out of fear of other people’s judgements on me (or legal issues, if the Canadian government goes through with banning them completely) than out of fear of its safety.

If it’s contaminated food, okay, I’ll pull it out of my fridge – probably. The Motrin recall last year? I grudgingly stopped using it, despite finding it an overreaction as well. But if we had any of the toys or baby products listed in the new Fisher Price recall, do you think I’d stop using them? Hell no!

This recall is the result of approximately two dozen injuries in the past TEN years. The recalled highchairs, for example, are a danger allegedly because there were 14 kids in the US who fell against pegs on the back legs, causing “lacerations” (AKA scrapes or cuts), of which SEVEN needed stitches, and one damaged a tooth.

Now I’m sure that the parents whose children needed stitches or had a tooth injury were upset, but there are a couple of points to be made here:

1. Was it really the fault of the highchair that the child fell against it? Children fall. A LOT. Especially at the age when they’re using highchairs. A short list of things my children have fallen on or against and caused themselves injuries? Coffee tables, bed posts, floors, tv stands, dressers, jello… okay, maybe not jello, but you get what I mean. Kids hurt themselves. I honestly believe it’s a part of teaching them how to function in the world. You have to learn that if you jump from the top of the couch to the seat, you may fall off and crack your chin on the coffee table when you bounce off said seat. (Child #2) So, should all of those things on my list be banned? Maybe we should just get rid of all furniture and sit on pillows? It works in some cultures, why not here?
2. In ten years, there were FOURTEEN injuries from this particular item, only eight of which could even conceivably be considered “severe.” So, less than one child per year was “severely” injured by the product. By contrast, between 1997 and 2007 there were over 4.1 MILLION injuries in children between the ages of 5 and 19 while playing basketball. That’s over 375,000 per year, in case you didn’t want to do the math. (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2009-2497v1) If you’ve watched the new TLC show “Sister Wives,” you’ll know that wife #3 helpfully pointed out that several hundred people per year are killed worldwide by TOASTERS (she refused to use a toaster because of this, then proceeded to set bread on fire in the oven, I might add).

The thing is, these recalls are much more about risk mitigation than they are about public safety. You get one parent whose child was injured “by” one of these items starting a campaign against it and if the company doesn’t respond “appropriately” they risk class-action lawsuits or getting the reputation of not caring about kids. Social media, as much as I love it, only adds fuel to the fire since we know how quickly word of mouth can travel now. The recent Pat Burns death “misinformation” on Twitter shows that.

The media has to take some responsibility for all of this overreaction. We all know how the news loves a good headline. “Dora Trike Causes Genital Bleeding” is going to get sell a whole lot more papers, or get a bunch more “clicks” than “Toddler Sorta Hurt By Falling on Trike.” If you’re riding a bike of any kind, and fall against the top tube, it’s going to hurt. If this Dora/Barbie trike has something extra added to it (an “ignition”) then yep, if the kid falls against it, it’s going to hurt. Lesson learned, right kid?

I don’t mean to sound callous, I honestly don’t. I’m not immune to children’s pain, and I certainly feel for parents who have lost a child due to a REAL danger from a toy or piece of baby equipment. I just know that so much of what children learn is by trial and error, and a few scrapes, bumps and bruises are just part of growing up.

The other problem with all of these unnecessary recalls is that it feeds into this fear that so many parents live with. We are constantly told of the dangers “out there” and feel that our homes should be risk-free. I sometimes wonder if some children live in homes where everything is covered in bubble wrap. Then again, what if the bubble wrap came loose and somehow magnetically attached itself to the child’s face, suffocating it?

I get really tired of hearing how things have “changed”: how more strangers are lurking behind every bush, just waiting to steal your child. Overall, the world isn’t more dangerous, the media just wants us to believe it is. That way you’ll read their articles. Doesn’t that make you feel safer?

An article in today’s National Post talks more about this. I encourage you to take a look.

The Similac Recall

Those of you who have read this blog for a long time may be shocked that I haven't yet commented on the Similac recall. Truthfully, I have a lot to say, but my computer time is severely limited right now (six people, five of whom are computer addicts, with only one computer - MINE - is SO not a good thing!) so I'm having to pick and choose my topics. I have a draft article that has been sitting there for way too long, but eventually, someday, I'll get to finish it, I swear!

Anyway, the whole point is that I haven't got a lot of time to write on the Similac recall. Overall, it's a sad situation, and I feel so sorry for the parents affected (I say parents, because on the whole I think the parental guilt is probably worse than any "abdominal discomfort" that the babies MAY suffer). What I don't like is the self-righteous lactivists claiming "at least breastmilk doesn't have beetle larvae" as if that is somehow helpful. That angered me much more than the original situation, truth be told.

I'd like to direct all of you to another mom-blogger's site, Mommy Melee, and Maria's article on the situation. It truly was a well-written post, and says a lot of the things I was thinking. Be sure to take a look!

The Similac Recall is Not a Punchline

A few months ago when Children’s Tylenol, Motrin and Claritin were recalled, I ended up tossing almost everything in my medicine cabinet. It pissed me off to throw money away like that, but what bothered me more was knowing that I’d just finished up an entire bottle of Motrin and an entire bottle of Zyrtec that had been part of the recall. What had I given my allergy-ridden little dude who was just getting over a virus with a high fever...

Children's Motrin, Tylenol Recalled

Several common brand name medications are being recalled in Canada, the US and 10 other countries after it was determined that some bottles may have a higher concentration of the active ingredient than indicated on the bottle. In Canada, all bottles of Children's Motrin and Infant Motrin are being recalled, as well as Children's Tylenol Cough and Runny Nose suspension liquid. In other countries, children's versions of Benedryl, Zyrtec, Tylenol and Tylenol Plus are being recalled as well.

The FDA called the chance of medical problems "remote" but advises parents to stop using the medications as a precaution. It suggested generic brands as an alternative in the meantime. If a child has recently taken the medication and is exhibiting "unexpected symptoms" parents should consult a medical professional.

Parents can check the McNeil Product Recall website for details. As a note, I'm a little frustrated that it doesn't say anywhere that I can find what to do with the recalled meds. If anyone has more information, please post it in the comment section. If I'm able to find more information (I'll check with my pharmacist-mom) I'll post an update.

Health Canada recalls wooden Evenflo baby gates - Parentcentral.ca

Another recall...

Health Canada recalls wooden Evenflo baby gates - Parentcentral.ca

Salmonella recall for snacks, soup mixes... so far

Foods are being recalled worldwide after salmonella was found in hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) produced by Basic Food Flavors Inc. in Las Vegas. HVP is a flavour-enhancing, grain-based additive used in processed foods such as soups, hot dogs, chilis, stews, dips, salad dressings, gravies, frozen dinners, and snack foods.

Health Canada says that it is "low risk" and unlikely to cause damage to anyone's health, but it's highlighted the importance of knowing where the ingredients in foods come from. HVP is "often used" in Canadian foods, and the recall seems likely to grow in the coming days.

Basic Foods, according to the FDA, continued to distribute bulk HVP even after the company was warned of salmonella found during an inspection.

The Canadian list of recalled foods can be found here.

The US list can be found here.

More information about HVP and the recall can be found on the Healthzone.ca website.

More Drop-Side Crib Recalls

Similar problems as reported with the Storkcraft cribs. In this case, there have been "incidents" in Canada, but none resulting in injuries. In the US there were 10 children bruised or scratched, and one killed, but in that case the crib had already malfunctioned a month earlier and the parents had tried to repair it with DUCT TAPE. Sigh. In that case the parents were charged with child endangerment with death.

The recall affects two models of Dorel Asia crib: the 3-in-1 Carlisle in dark cherry colour with the model number 10H020; and the white Tara crib with the model number DAKM5132C.

The cribs, manufactured by the Barbados-based Dorel Asia in China and Vietnam, were sold at Sears Canada, Babies R Us and other retailers between December 2006 and January 2010.

Owners of the crib are not being asked to return them, but instead to get a free repair kit from Dorel, which will turn the drop-side into a fixed side. Anyone who wants the kit can call the company at 1-866-762-2304.

Graco Stroller Recall

1.5 million strollers in the US, and 28,000 in Canada are being recalled after seven children lost their fingertips in the stroller's canopy hinge mechanism.

The Passage, Alano, and Spree models were all included in the recall. It only affects those models where there is a plastic jointed hinge mechanism with indented canopy positioning notches. They were sold starting in October 2004 and have been sold right up to the present.

Consumers are advised by Health Canada to either stop using the recalled brands or use caution when opening or closing the stroller and to ensure that children are at a safe distance when doing so.

Owners can get a free hinge cover from Elfe Juvenile Products by calling 1-800-667-8184 or sending an email to service@elfe.ca.

Model numbers of the specific products recalled can be found at www.gracobaby.com.

Crib Recall

I had two of these cribs, now only one. I will not be discontinuing its use. I find this recall somewhat ridiculous, but as that is only my opinion, I'm posting this article for information purposes.

http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/newsfeatures/article/729947--information-scarce-on-crib-recall

Exclusive: Early recall 'blindsided' Stork Craft CEO

Vancouver–The CEO of Stork Craft, the Vancouver-area company at the heart of a massive recall of cribs linked to at least four infant deaths, said he was blindsided by the early release of the recall.

Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission had planned to announce the release today of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs, the largest crib recall in history. About 1 million of those cribs were sold in Canada.

The early release meant concerned parents had little luck Tuesday morning trying to get more information about the recall.

Calling the toll-free number (1-877-274-0277) given out by safety authorities in both countries for parents to order a free repair kit resulted in a constant busy signal.

he U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free information line, meanwhile, produced a litany of automated recall information but nothing substantive on the crib recall. The Health Canada website directed parents to the toll-free number or the manufacturer's website.

The manufacturer's website, storkcraft.com, appeared to not be working.

Jim Moore, president and CEO of the Richmond-based manufacturer told the Toronto Star Tuesday morning that someone at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission leaked the information Monday night.

"This is a well thought-out voluntary recall," said Moore Tuesday morning. "We've worked long and hard with CPSC to come up with a special part to turn the Stork Craft drop-side crib into a rigid-side crib."

Moore said the release was supposed to be a joint announcement with Health Canada and CPSC, but the Canadian agency, like his company, was "blindsided" by the earlier-than-expected announcement of the recall Monday night.

Moore said the suddenness of the recall meant that not everybody was prepared to deal with the announcement.

Interviewed on morning news shows, Inez Tenenbaum, the head of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the agency had not been "acting as quickly as it should."

Tenenbaum also said that all drop-side cribs by any manufacturer are unsafe and parents should stop using them.

She told NBC's Today show that she recommends that parents replace their drop-side crib.

Up to 5 million drop-side cribs by various manufacturers have been recalled in the last few years, and ASTM International, a voluntary industry-standards organization in the U.S., on Nov. 15 decided it would no longer certify any drop-side crib in North America. Canada is a member of the organization.

ASTM "has for some time been investigating incidents related to drop-sides," said Len Morrissey, director of the technical committee of the operations division. Their decision has no power of law but strongly influences government regulators and manufacturers "to take these cribs out of their product lines."

Toys "R" Us earlier this year stopped selling drop-side cribs, he said. ASTM toughened its stand after determining that no design modification could mitigate the hazard of misassembled cribs or malfunctioning hardware, he said.

Health Canada had no comment Tuesday morning on whether it would ban all drop-side cribs. Nothing on its website advised parents on the concerns about drop-side cribs.

Bill C-6 before the Canadian Senate would update the Canadian Product Safety Act for the first time in 40 years and give the government the power to order a recall, said Pamela Fuselli, executive director of Safe Kids Canada. Currently, a recall can only be voluntary.

Monday's recall involves cribs dating back to 1993.

A Star reporter found Stork Craft drop-side cribs with movable sides on the sales floor at Sears in the Eaton Centre on Tuesday. The company had no immediate comment.

Meena Hundel, who is expecting her first child next week and was shopping at The Bay at the Eaton Centre, said she has avoided drop-side cribs because "I knew there were lots of recalls already."

Marlene Krybus, co-owner of Marlene's Just Babies at 631 Dupont St. in the Annex, said in the 35 years she's been in business, she has never purchased from Stork Craft, and she has never sold drop-side cribs with plastic parts.

"I didn't particularly like the hardware, I never trusted it, I never liked it," she said, referring to Stork Craft's recalled cribs.

Krybus, who co-owns the store with her husband, Manny, said she doesn't sell any drop-side cribs anymore, but when she did, she would only sell those with metal hardware.

"By eliminating the drop-side on a crib, you've eliminated 95 per cent of the risk of any problem occurring," she said, citing the precariousness of the plastic movable parts.

Krybus said she doesn't see very many drop-side cribs on the market anymore because crib-beds – cribs that convert into toddlers' beds – have become more popular.

"I don't have anything on my floor that even has a drop-side now."

Cribs get passed down through generations, but "it's not worth it" if the crib is drop-sided, Tenenbaum said. "They are shown to not be reliable. In the future, you will not see cribs with drop-sides. These drop-sides will be banned."

Moms To Be and More owner Karen Judd has been fielding calls from concerned parents ever since the recall was announced, despite the fact that the Leaside store doesn't sell the Stork Craft model.

"We're talking them through it, putting them at ease," Judd said.

Moms To Be and More does sell other drop-side cribs, and Judd said she has spent time convincing customers that "not every drop-side crib is going to be a death trap for their children."

She said the drop-side cribs she sells are more stable than the Stork Craft model, which "are generally not sold in boutique-style stores," she said.

Judd said she and her other staff members are working with parents who have purchased the cribs under recall to make sure they stop using the product, get the repair kit and make the necessary repairs before letting their child use it again.

The cribs are being recalled because the drop-side plastic hardware can break, deform or parts can become missing. In addition, improper installation of the drop-side can result in broken or disengaged plastic parts.

Those problems have resulted in the drop-side getting detached in one or more corners resulting in infants and toddlers getting trapped in between the drop-side and the mattress. In four of those cases, all in the U.S., babies have died after suffocating.

The U.S. and Canadian governments are aware of 110 incidents of the drop-side breaking off, including 67 in the U.S. and 43 in Canada.

Of 12 infants who got trapped in the cribs in the U.S., four died of suffocation, including two aged 7 months, a 9-month-old and a 6-month-old. Three babies became trapped in Canada, but all survived. There were 20 cases of babies falling from the cribs, including eight in Canada, with injuries ranging from concussion to bumps and bruises.

It is the second time this year the company has recalled cribs. In January, Health Canada recalled Stork Craft cribs with a manufacturing date between May 2000 and May 2008 and bearing the firm's insignia "storkcraft baby" after it found a problem with the metal support brackets for the mattress frame.

The massive recall includes cribs sold in Canada through Sears and Wal-Mart, among them two models of Stork Craft cribs with drop-sides and plastic brackets, the Holly and the Lily.

The recall includes Stork Craft cribs with manufacturing and distribution dates between January 1993 and October 2009. Nearly 150,000 of the cribs carry a Fisher-Price logo. It also includes Stork Craft cribs with the Fisher-Price logo manufactured between October 1997 and December 2004.

Stork Craft has an 85,000 square-foot plant in Richmond, near Vancouver. According to a company profile, 10 per cent of its 50 products are made in Canada. The rest are built in China and Indonesia.