Government Warns of Playpen Dangers

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The government is teaming up with toy-maker Mattel to warn parents about

keeping pillows and blankets out of playpens.

A new campaign called Sleep Safe, Play Safe warns parents that bedding

materials left in playpens could cause babies to smother.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says it suspects soft bedding could

be responsible for the deaths of nearly a hundred babies since 1988.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01196.html

Report Finds Soft Bedding a Factor in Playpen Deaths

CPSC, Mattel Launch Campaign to Alert Caregivers

WASHINGTON, D.C - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

released a report (pdf http://www.cpsc.gov/library/playpen.pdf) today on

deaths in playpens. Since 1988, CPSC has reports of more than 200 babies who

died while in playpens. In almost 100 of these deaths, soft bedding or

improper or extra mattresses were present in the playpen and the babies died

of suffocation or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). More than 70 percent

of these deaths were to babies less than 12 months old. Twenty-six of the

playpen deaths occurred in a daycare setting.

Over the years, playpens, portable cribs and play yards have evolved into

virtually identical products. Parents use playpens today as places for

babies to both sleep and play. To educate caregivers, CPSC and Mattel, Inc.

are launching a " Sleep Safe, Play Safe " campaign to address the two

greatest hazards revealed by the study: 1) adding soft bedding and 2) adding

extra mattresses or cushions.

For years, CPSC has warned about the dangers of soft bedding such as quilts,

comforters and pillows in cribs. Soft bedding can become molded around an

infant's face and cause suffocation. As many as one-third of baby deaths

attributed to SIDS, in fact, may be suffocation in soft bedding.

" Many parents and caregivers know the dangers of soft bedding in cribs, "

said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. " This study shows, for the first time, that

the same dangers exist when using pillows, quilts, and comforters in

playpens. "

The findings emphasize the need for caregivers to be aware that the same

safe sleeping guidelines that they follow for their babies' cribs should be

followed in these playpens. That means placing baby on his back on a firm,

flat mattress and not adding extra mattresses or any soft bedding, such as

pillows, quilts, or comforters.

" At Mattel, the well being of children is an inherent part of the reason for

our organization to exist and we reflect this in all that we do, " said Jim

Walter, vice president of corporate product integrity for Mattel. " We are

happy to be working with the CPSC on the 'Sleep Safe, Play Safe' campaign. "

Today, CPSC, in partnership with Mattel, is kicking off a " Sleep Safe, Play

Safe " campaign to educate parents and caregivers about the dangers

associated with soft bedding and extra mattresses or cushions in playpens.

The campaign includes a Public Service Announcement (PSA), featuring a

lullaby by singer/songwriter Tom Paxton, that will be distributed to 3,400

radio stations nationwide. CPSC will reach out to practicing pediatricians

and organizations that are influential in educating parents about ways to

keep their infants healthy and safe. Mattel will send more than a million

posters and brochures to practicing pediatricians across the country and to

organizations who work with or serve parents and childcare providers.

Other hazards identified in the study were playpens that were in poor

condition, had broken or protruding hardware or had side rails that

collapsed creating an entrapment hazard.

To prevent deaths or injuries to children in playpens, parents and

caregivers should take these precautions:

Before using a playpen, make sure it has not been recalled. Contact CPSC at

1-800-638-2772 or check the recalls section of CPSC's web site.

Always put a baby down to sleep on his back in a playpen or crib with no

soft bedding, such as quilts, comforters and pillows. This can help reduce

the risk of SIDS and prevent suffocation.

Use only the mattress provided by the manufacturer. Do not add additional

mattresses in playpens. Children can suffocate in the spaces formed between

mattresses or from ill-fitting mattresses.

Check that the playpen is in good shape. Using a modified or improperly

repaired unit can create hazards.

Make sure the top rails of the units lock into place automatically. More

than 1 million older playpens with top rails that had to be manually rotated

into a locked position have been recalled.

Do not use playpens with catch points, such as protruding hardware. More

than 9 million older units with protruding hardware have been recalled.

If using a mesh-sided playpen, make sure the mesh is less than 1/4 inch in

size and that it is attached securely. This will help prevent strangulation.

For more information on playpen safety, visit the publications section

(Children's Furniture) of CPSC's web site or call (800) 638-2772. Here are

links to PDF versions of the Sleep Safe/Play Safe brochure or poster, or you

can get a free copy by writing to CPSC, Washington, DC 20207. PDF versions

of both the brochure and the poster are also available in Spanish.

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Special Media Advisory:

Video Alert:

SATELLITE COORDINATES (C-BAND) ALL TIMES EASTERN

Thursday, July 12

2:30-3:00pm ET

Telstar 5, Transp. 16

4020 MHz

6.2 & 6.8

Friday, July 13

10:30-11:30am ET

Telstar 6, Transp. 9

3880 MHz

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For technical problems with the satellite feed, please contact Vitale

at 1-800-666-7882. Feed is provided by CPSC for your free and unrestricted

use.

Audio Alert:

Call (888) 531-9070 to hear folksinger Tom Paxton's Public Service

Announcement, Sleep Safe, Play Safe

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from

unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products

under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a

product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's

teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at

http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand

service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/103.html. To order a press release through

fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and

enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall

information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

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