Parents need to be on top of things when it comes to the potential dangers of products their children get in constant contact with.
The latest on this front is a major one, because it involves one of the most popular—if not the most—baby products out there: pacifiers.
Manufacturer Munchkin Latch has recently announced that it was recalling over 180,000 of their LatchTM lightweight pacifiers and clips. According to CPSC, the danger involves the clip cover detaching from the pacifier’s clip, posing a choking hazard for young children.
The affected products are:
"The designer pacifiers and clips 0m+ and 6m+ are in three color patterns: blue and white strips, orange and with white polka dots and pink with white polka dots. The rattle pacifiers and clips 0m+ and 6m+ are green with beads in the pacifier cover to make a rattle sound and have a polka dot strap. The heartbeat pacifiers and clips have a red, heart-shaped pacifier cover and red and white polka dots on the strap."
Over ten complaints about the cover detaching have been filed before the company took action and officially ordered a recall.
Some of the complaints date back as early as June 2015.
The company responded by saying, “Analysis of the pacifier clip by our Quality & Engineering team, will be crucial in identifying root cause.”
Meanwhile, other complaints involve children getting their fingers stuck in one of the small plastic holes in the product.
Thankfully, no reported incidents of children hurt by the defect has thus far been reported, but since choking hazards remain as one of the deadliest threats to children aged 12-months to five, it’s still a cause for concern.
Manufacturer Munchkin also offers replacement and refund for the defective pacifiers.
An article on She Knows says, “to request a refund or replacement at 877-242-3134 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.”
Choking first aid
- Give up to five back blows. Hit them firmly on their back between the shoulder blades. If back blows do not dislodge the object: This creates a strong vibration and pressure in the airway, which is often enough to dislodge the blockage
- Give up to five abdominal thrusts. Hold the child around the waist and pull upwards and inwards above their belly button: Abdominal thrusts squeeze the air out of the lungs and may dislodge the blockage
- If abdominal thrusts do not dislodge the object, repeat steps one and two
- Call emergency hotlines if the object has not dislodged after three cycles of back blows and abdominal thrusts
Emergency services
112 or 911
Philippine National Police (PNP)
117 or 168
Philippine Red Cross Hotline
143, (02) 527-0000, (02) 527-8385 to 95
Disaster Management Office: 134 (Staff), 132 (Manager), 133 (Radio Room)
Telefax: 527-0864
READ: Toddler chokes to death after swallowing Kinder egg toy
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