U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues New Safety Standards for Cribs
PHOENIX, Ariz. (June 28, 2011) – Do you know if your baby sleeps in a safe crib? The Injury Prevention Center at Phoenix Children’s Hospital reminds parents there is nothing more important than keeping children safe while they sleep. “When parents lay their babies down to sleep in their cribs, they hope for nothing less than sweet dreams for their child,” explains Erika Gomez, Home Safety Coordinator for the Injury Prevention Center.
Every year thousands of children suffer from crib related injuries. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 14,600 children were injured from cribs or crib mattresses in the United States in 2009. In recent years, millions of cribs have been recalled due to safety concerns. Drop-side cribs with faulty mechanisms have been the culprit of many of these recalls.
“The ABC’s for infant safe sleep are that babies sleep alone, on their back and in a safe crib,” reminds Gomez. Phoenix Children’s Hospital wants to make sure all parents know the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission approved a set of new safety standards for cribs. Beginning June 28, 2011, all cribs sold in the United States must meet new federal requirements for overall crib safety.
The five new federal requirements for cribs are:
- Traditional drop-side cribs cannot be made or sold; immobilizers and repair kits not allowed
- Wood slats must be made of stronger woods to prevent breakage
- Crib hardware must have anti-loosening devices to keep it from coming loose or falling off
- Mattress supports must be more durable
- Safety testing must be more rigorous
For more information please visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov or call 1-800-638-2772.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to children from throughout the state and region. Phoenix Children’s is in the midst of a major expansion to meet the needs of the Southwest’s rapid population growth. The signature element of the expansion is a new 11-story, 750,000-square-foot tower which will enable the hospital to grow from 345 licensed beds today to a total of 626 licensed beds once the project is complete. The hospital’s expansion also includes an aggressive physician recruitment effort and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the hospital’s web site at www.phoenixchildrens.com.
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Media Contact:
Allison Otu
602-546-0824
