Convenience Isn't Always Where It's
"At"
Over the past 10 years baby gear manufacturers have determined that
developing travel "systems" for babies (which include the
car seat/carrier combos) are more "desirable" than having
separate car seats and infant carriers.
As a result of this marketing "ploy" hundreds of babies
have been injured and even worse, killed, as a result of the carrier
portions of these "systems" becoming dislodged when there
is a collision and causing the baby to "catapult" out of
the car seat base. In addition, the hollow, injection molded handles
are developing hairline "cracks" due to the exposure to
the UV rays of the sun during normal use and suddenly "breaking
apart" while people are carrying their babies about--resulting
in head trauma and severe contusions to hundreds more babies.
Why do we think that "convenience" should take the place
of ensuring our babies' safety? Why not keep the car seat separate
and apart from the carrier function and use a carrier that is
DEVOTED to just that.
Sharon Abendschoen/CEO
See Shell Baby Products LLC
At "See Shell Baby Products LLC" our main focus is the
SAFETY of our products. That is why we have decided to make the HANDLE
of the "See Shell" from STRONG but lightweight METAL alloy,
instead of the PLASTIC used by the mfrs. of the popular car seat
carriers now on the market.
Please refer to the article below taken from the www.imsafe.com
website entitled "Century Car Seats and Carriers".
Be assured you will NOT have that problem with the
"See Shell Baby Carrier" handle. We are covering the handle
with a CUSHIONY ¼" thick polyfoam sleeve for your ease in
carrying -- thus greatly reducing the strain on your arms and back.
As we mentioned earlier, our main focus is SAFETY --
we welcome your comments.
"IMPORTANT UPDATE: On September 17, 2002, the See Shell
Baby Carrier passed the very important Handle Integrity Test and other
important portions of the latest ASTM Spec. F2050.01 for Hand Held
Baby Carriers. This test was conducted by an independent testing lab,
ACTS Testing Labs of Buffalo, NY. See Shell Baby Products LLC is now
confident we have the most TRULY safe infant carrier available today.
See our new press release for
additional information.
The See Shell Baby Carrier has been tested for
design safety by an independent consumer safety laboratory, ACTS
Testing Labs, Buffalo, NY as of May 7, 2001. This was done for
reassurance that our design innovations have indeed added to the
safety of our infant carrier.
Century Car Seats and Carriers
| Recall Type: Car
Seats & Carries |
| Safety Risk: Fractures |
| Company: Century Products Co. |
| Phone: 800-837-4044 |
| Web-Site: www.centuryproducts.com |
(Oct 13, 2000) WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation
with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Century
Products (Century) of Macedonia, Ohio, is recalling about 4 million
infant car seats/carriers. When the seat is used as an infant carrier,
the handle can break. An infant inside the carrier can fall to the
ground and suffer serious injuries. "The break can happen
unexpectedly and the seat can drop to the ground,"said CPSC
Chairman Ann Brown. "Century is providing parents with new
handles for their carriers. Installing the new handle will help keep
your baby safe and secure."
Century has received more than 2,700 reports of
handle-related problems, including handles breaking, cracking or
possibly not being locked while the seat is being used as a carrier.
In addition to these reports, Century has also received over 200
reports of injury, including concussions, skull fractures,
lacerations, broken bones, bruises, and scratches as a result of such
handle-related problems.
"Riding in a child safety seat on the car's
rear seat for every trip is the safest way to transport young children
in a motor vehicle," said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Sue Bailey.
"The recall announced today is only related to using the seat as
a carrier(not how the seat performs while in a car. Parents should
continue using these carriers as car seats." The recall involves
all Century rear-facing infant car seats/carriers with one-piece
handles manufactured from January 1991 through July 1997. The date of
manufacture, written as month, day, year (010191 through 073197), can
be found on a label on the side of the seat. The recalled car
seats/carriers have a molded, one-piece, one-color plastic handle
colored white, gray, or tan.
Juvenile product, mass merchandise and major
discount stores nationwide sold the car seats/carriers for about $40
when sold alone to about $130 when sold with a stroller.
Century will provide consumers a free
easy-to-install replacement handle. Consumers should not carry the
seat by the handle until it has been replaced. Consumers can continue
to use the product as a car seat. CPSC, NHTSA and Century remind
parents and caregivers to always restrain infants according to
instructions when in the car seat/carrier. Always be sure the handle
is locked in the carry position before picking up the carrier.
To receive a free replacement handle, call Century
toll-free at (800) 865-1419 anytime, or visit Century's web site
www.centuryproducts.com. Consumers should have the car seat in front
of them when they call. Consumers with questions about this recall
campaign should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or visit CPSC's
web site www.cpsc.gov. Information also is available at the NHTSA's
toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT (327-4236) or visit
NHTSA's web site www.nhtsa.dot.gov. The NHTSA number to call in the
Washington, DC area is (202) 366-0123.
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