Dorel Asia Dangerous Crib Recalled: Causes one infant death, 10 injuries to infants

As a child safety attorney, I am writing today to get the word out on this The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall as soon as possible. Dorel Asia SRL, of Barbados, is announcing a voluntary recall to replace this dangerous product: drop side and non-drop side cribs that pose suffocation and strangulation hazards to infants and toddlers.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cribs until replacement kits are obtained and installed.

A 6-month-old boy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, strangled after getting trapped by this defective product when the drop-side hardware broke. His parents had
continued using the crib after trying to repair it themselves.

In typical corporate fashion, Dorel attempts to shift the blame to the parents child’s death by describing the circumstances leading to this death as "highly unusual," because the crib was known to be broken and had been held together with duct tape, according to investigators of the incident. Anyone who wonders why we need strong attorneys opposing big corporations need look no further. You can be sure that if Dorel Asia were not worried about lawsuits, they would not be voluntarily recalling these cribs.

In addition to the death of a child, other cribs were recalled because a child can be trapped if one of the slats is broken or damaged. This damage can occur while the crib is in use as well as when it is being put together, taken apart or shipped.

CPSC and Dorel Asia SRL have received 31 reports of incidents involving drop-side cribs. There are six reports of incidents of children being trapped between the mattress and the drop side, including three reports of bruises. The agency and company have also received 36 reports of broken slats, including two reports of trapped children and seven reports of bruises and scratches. To receive a free repair kit to prevent this hazard, contact Dorel Asia at 866-762-2304. More information is available online at http://www.dorel-asia.com.

The following Dorel Asia cribs are involved in the recall:

Sold at: K-Mart, Sears and Wal-Mart stores nationwide from January 2005 through December 2009 for between $120 and $700.