Ht4EALTH ALERTS

Cedar chest locksThe Lane Co., of _ E

Altavista,Va.,incoop- 11eration with the U.S.lConsumer ProductSafety Commission(CPSC), is callingfor arenewed search toreplace cedar chestlocks.

In 1996, Lane recalled 12 nmiilion chests with lids thatautomatically latch shutwhen closed, following reportsof six chfldren suffocating inside the chests. CPSC andLane have since become aware of another suffocationdeath and two near fatalities to children who becameentrapped in the chests when the lid closed and auto-matically latched shut.

All "Lane" and "Virginia Maid" brand cedar chestsmanufactured between 1912 and 1987 need to have theirlocks replaced. Ifthe lid latches shutwithout depressinga button on the outside ofthe chest, the lock needs to bereplaced.

Contact Lane toll-free at (888) 856-8758 or access itsWeb site at www.newlock.net to order the free replace-ment lock. Consumers should have the chest's serial andstyle numbers, which are branded on the outside bottomor back of the chest, when contacting Lane.

Baby wipe warmersA d v a n c e

Thermo Control_

Kong, in cooper- ; 1ation with the_ * * _U.S. Consumer _;

recalling 152,000babywipewarm-ers distributedby

Prince Lionheart Inc. ofSanta Maria, Calif., because con-sumers can receive an electric shock. Cracks in thewarmers' interior tubs can allow water to contact theelectrical components.

Prince Lionheart has received four reports of electricshockswhen consumers touched the wipes in thewarm-ers with cracked tubs.The recall involves Prince Lionheart Baby Wipe

Warmers with style number 0224 and date codesbetween 9803 and 9901 with cracked tubs. Toy, depart-ment and baby specialty stores, including Toys "R" Usand Burlington Coat Factory, and mail order catalogs,sold the $25 wipe warmers nationwide from February1998 through December 1999.Consumers should unplug the warmers, remove the

wipes and check to see ifthe interior tub is cracked. Ifso,stop using thewarmer and cafllATC at (888) 843-8718 forinformation on receiving a free replacement unit. If thetub is not cracked, consumers can continue using theappliance.

Silver-plated rattlesRuss Berrie & Co._

Inc. of Oakland, _N.J., in cooperation e_ l lwith the U.S. Con-sumer Product_lSafetyCommission_(CPSC), is recallingl13,400 rattles be-cause the handles canbecome lodged in babies' throats,posing a choking hazard.No injuries involving these rattles have been reported

to CPSC or Russ Berrie.The Precious Keepsakes silver-plated "NewBaby" rat-

tle consists of a spinning ball on top of an ornate han-dle, which includes a small bear and a bow. Specialtystores, drugstores, and flower and gift shops nationwidesold the $14 rattles from November 1998 throughDecember 1999.

Consumers should take these rattles away frombabies and return them to the store where purchasedfor a refund. For more information, call Russ Berrie &Co. at (800) 272-7877 or write to Russ Berrie & Co. Inc.,Attn: Customer Service Dept., 111 Bauer Drive,Oakland, NJ 07436.

Wooden pull toyIn cooperation

with the U.S. Con-sumer ProductSafety Commissionl(CPSC), Maxim En-terprise Inc. of _Middleboro, Mass.,_and Zany Brainy W/1Inc. of King of _Prussia, Pa., are _recalling 4,900wooden pull toysbecause the wheelscan break off and the bead can detach from the pullstring, posing a choking hazard to children.The firms received a report of a detached bead found

in a child's mouth, but no injuries were reported.The Wooden Pull Along Bead Coaster has a wooden

platformwithwoodenwheels. On top ofthe platform aretwisting red and blue plastic wires threaded with multi-colored beads. The red pull string that attaches to theplatform has a bead at the end. The pull toy was part ofa toybox set from the "Childhood ClassicsWooden Chest& Toy Collection." The other toys in the set includedwood puzzles, a pounding bench and a block set.Zany Brainy stores nationwide sold the toy set from

November 1999 through February 2000 for about $70.Consumers should take the pull toys away from chil-

dren and retumn them to anyZany Brainy store for a $15refund. For more information, callMaxim Enterprises at(888) 266-2946 or visit the Zany Brainy Web site atwww.zanybrainy.com.

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Tips to protect your chlIfromNearly half of all U.S. children have been bitten by a dog, and boys 5 to 9 years old

appear to be at greatest risk, according to researchers from the University of Pittsburgh'sCenter for Injury Research and Control. In addition, all children are more likely thanadults to receive dangerous bites to the head, face and neck.

Still, many bites are preventable if families follow basic safety tips and demonstrateresponsible dog ownership, which is the goal of National Dog Bite Prevention Week,May 16-22. The event is sponsored by The Humane Society of the United States andother organizations, including the Academy.

Research by Charles F. Weiss, M.D., FAAP, and Deborah Mulligan-Smith, M.D., FAAP,has shown dog bite data are incomplete because only information on medically treatedcases generally is available.

"I am convinced this may be a neglected area of child safety," Dr. Weiss hasremarked.You can reduce the risk of your child suffering a potentially dangerous dog bite by

following these guidelines:* Choose a good breed for children. Some dogs are naturally more aggressive than

others. Consider a good-natured breed like a golden or Labrador retriever, col-lie, old English sheepdog or basset hound.

* Socialize your pet. Expose a puppy to a variety of situations and people, and con-tinue that exposure as it grows older. But do not leave it unsupervised with youngchildren. Many bites occur during playful roughhousing when a child doesn't real-ize the animal is overexcited.

* Train your dog. It should be willing to respond to commands consistently.* Teach children never to disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for pup-

pies.* Warn children never to approach a strange dog. Teach them to ask for permis-

I 0 2000 American Academy of Pediatrics. This information may be freely copied and distnbuted with proper attribution.ILmm m m mm mm m m __ _m m m m _ m _ m_ _ m m mm_ m mm m_ __ m m _mmmm _ m _ m m _m mm m

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36 AAP News May 2000

poentiall serious do bitesion from a dog's owner before petting it.

* Tell children not to run past dogs. Canines naturally like to chase things, and thisgives them a reason to become excited and aggressive.

* Tell children never to stare a dog in the eye. The animal interprets it as a chal-lenge and a sign of aggression.

* If a dog threatens your child, tell him or her to remain calm. Children should notturn and run. Tell them to avoid eye contact and stay still until the dog leaves. Ifthey fall or are knocked to the ground, tell them to curl into a ball with their handsover their heads and necks.

For more information on National Dog Bite Prevention Week, call The HumaneSociety of the United States at (202) 452-1100 or visit www.nodogbites.org.

-Valerie Wright

Take Care Yof ursel So You Canl Tak<e Care Yofcur Baby.

Graco recalls 7 million infant swings after 6 deathsGraco Children's Products _top design. Some models

n c., of ElIve rso n, Pa., i n have removable seats that can I.

cooperation with the U.S. _be used asinfant carriers.Consumer Product Safety _Mass merchandise, juve- ||| jCommission, is providing new _M nile products and major dis- M }safety restraints for 7 million _ count stores nationwide sold iinfant swings made before _ lltheGraco swings throughE \November 1 997 because _ approximately January 1998 Jinfants can slip down into the f$7t$10rD-6

seat and strangle or fall fromI111oo. _;;the swing. b _|l 11 X ~Consumers should stop <fi0Sixheahswin

d mrthn20injre aebe using the swings immedi-Sireaothsadmrehad. nuie aebe

ately. To receive the free safety restraint, callThe restraintsystemson the recalledswingsconsistof Graco at (800) 934-9082, visit its Web site at

a waist belt only and a hinged or removable tray, which www.gracobaby.com/serv/ga3rcal7.htm or writeservesas arestraint. Theswings are battery-powered or to Customer Affairs, Graco Children's Productswind-up, and are either the traditional A-frame or open I nc., P. O. Box 1 00, Elverson, PA 1 9520.

InSTEP LLC ofMendota Heights, Minn., in cooperationwith the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, isrecalling 44,000 jogging strollers because the brakes canfail, causing the stroller to roll away.InSTEP LLC has received five reports ofbrakes failing,

but no injuries have been reported.The recall involves InSTEP and HEALTHRIDER single

and double jogging strollers manufactured fromDecember 1998 through July 1999 with model numbers:ZS100, ZD200, ZS100WS, ZD200WS, ZS100HR, ZD200HR,PR100O or PR200.

Burlington Coat Factory, J.C. Penney, Healthrider, TheSports Authority and Target stores nationwide, amongothers, sold single joggers for about $100 and double jog-gers for $250.Consumers should stop using the strollers and contact

InSTEP LLC at (800) 242-6110 to receive a free, easy-to-install repair kit. For more information, access the com-pany'sWeb site at www.instep.net.

Baby mattresses, padsThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

(CPSC) is warning consumers that certain baby mat-tresses and mattress pads encourage the potentiallydeadly practice of placing babies to sleep on their stom-achs and claim the products reduce the risk of SuddenInfant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Despite the claims, CPSC is not aware ofany evidencethat babies can safely be placed to sleep on their stom-achs on these products, or that using the products willreduce the risk of SIDS. The Academy recommends thatparents and caregivers never put babies to sleep on theirstomachs, whether on these products or any others.The firms have stopped manufacturing and distribut-

ing these four products: Baby Air (Breathable Mattress),Kid Safe, Van Nuys, Calif.; Breathe Easy Vented InfantSleeping Surface, U.S. Family Products, Willard, Mo.;Sleep Guardian Sleeping Pad, Sleep Guardian,Charleston, S.C.; and Sleep Safe Mattress Cover, JupiterIndustries, Ontario, Canada.CPSC also has requested that retailers stop selling the

products.The products were sold for $30 to $100 in baby, drug

and discount department stores; in catalogs; and on theInternet, including the following Web sites: www.sid-sprevent.com, www.kidsafeprod.com and flashmall.com.

FutonsIn cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission (CPSC), The Standard Mattress Co. ofHartford, Conn., is recalling 47,000 futons because somemay fail cigarette ignition resistance tests, resulting inburns or injuries if they catch fire.CPSC and The Standard Mattress Co. are not aware of

any fires or injuries involving these futons.Furniture and futon stores nationwide sold the ftitons

for It]4A tn $250 hetween MaynrandOtnhber I1998. Theyhave model numbers 605, 608, 611 and 613, and thebrand names of Gold Bond, IKEA and Verlo. The futonscome in varied sizes and are covered in a cotton/polyesterfabric in an off-white color.Consumers should callThe Standard Mattress Co. toll-

free at (888) 512-6169 to obtain a free replacement futon.

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Jogging strollers

It's a thin line between having a healthy baby and a baby that's sick. Don't take dthe risk.

If you're pregnant- or even think you are -getting prenatal care early is the

most important step you can take. Call 1-800-31 1-2229. We'll put you in touch widithe many services available to you. The call is free and it's completely confidential.

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