Ban Drop Side Cribs: CT Lawmaker
Mass recall spurs talk of ban
By LAUREN PETTY
Updated 10:45 PM EST, Wed, Nov 25, 2009
Every parent wants to know their children are safe in their cribs.
That's why this week's recall of more than two million drop side cribs has raised an alarm in Connecticut.
"You go about normal lives, everyday lives not thinking about sometimes the most obvious danger that could be in your own home," said Sen. Toni Boucher, (R) 26th District.
Sen. Boucher says the legislature should consider banning drop side cribs from being sold in our state.
"Certainly as ranking members of the Children's Committee, I'm sure it's something the entire committee would support, if not the entire legislature," Boucher said.
Four children died and at least 100 were hurt, leading to this latest recall involving Stork Craft cribs, some labeled Fisher Price.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says plastic hardware that allows the side to slide up and down can break, causing a gap.
"They have all been entrapment issues," explained Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Jerry Farrell. "The children were young, they moved in the crib and got entangled in the crib and couldn't cry for help."
Dozens of children have died in drop side cribs accident nationwide in the past 10 years.
Two children from Suffolk County, NY suffocated in drop side cribs. Officials there responded this week by being the first to ban retailers from selling them.
Sen. Boucher says stores in Connecticut should consider voluntarily deciding not to sell the cribs. If that doesn't happen, Boucher says the General Assembly should act.
"I think it's a good cautionary move to make and I think it would have a lot of support," said Sen. Boucher.
Boucher says the legislature should consider banning the cribs when they are called into special session on Dec. 15 to deal with the state's budget crisis.
First Published: Nov 25, 2009 10:33 PM EST
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