Based on the statistics by CPSC or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, many infant deaths are occur in bed and are caused by having too many pillows and unsecured mattresses. The death toll in the ast 16 years, in fact, is an astounding 531 deaths.

This month is Baby Safety Month and everyone is encouraged to observe this by becoming aware and vigilant of the dangers cribs pose to infants.

The following are some guidelines CPSC says we should observe with when it comes to Baby Safety:

— To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place baby to sleep on his or her back in a crib that meets current safety standards.

– To prevent suffocation never use a pillow as a mattress for baby to sleep on or to prop baby’s head or neck.

– Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components, broken slats and other parts of the crib and their head and neck become entrapped in the space.

- Do not use old, broken or modified cribs.

- Regularly tighten hardware to keep sides firm.

– Infants can suffocate in spaces between the sides of the crib and an ill-fitting mattress; never allow a gap larger than two finger widths at any point between the sides of the crib and the mattress.

– Never place a crib near a window with blind or curtain cords; infants can strangle on the cords.

The role of the CPSC is to make sure that the public is protected from risk and injuries that may lead to death and are caused by products below quality.

The CPSC encourages you to report any incidence related to this via the hotline at (800) 638-2772 or their website.

Tags: babies, consumer product safety commission, mattress, mattresses, safe in bed

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am and is filed under MATTRESS Safety, MATTRESS Tips.
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