A report from a group that advocates for child safety says recalls on children’s products are not very effective.
The report from Kids in Danger, based in Chicago, says only ten percent of recalled children’s products such as cribs, car seats, clothing and toys were returned, replaced or repaired. The group says that means many dangerous products remained in households.
The report noted that the number of recalled children’s products recalled increased 18 percent from 2012 to 2013. There was a decrease in the number of incidents and injuries but an increase in the number of incident-related deaths.
“The return rate of recalls is really abysmal,” Nancy Cowles, KID’s executive director, told USA Today. “The government makes announcements, but people don’t hear about them or don’t respond.”
Kids in Danger says the requirements for issuing a recall can sometimes slow down that process, and that companies and regulators often miss out on opportunities – such as social media – to share recall information with consumers.
Cowles agreed, saying companies should generate as much publicity about recalls as they do about their products.
Consumers can help themselves by checking their children’s products against the list of recalled products on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website. You can also report problems with products, whether they have been recalled or not, at SaferProducts.gov.
