| |
|
Family Voices
Joseph and Juliann
submitted by their mother, Karen
In May of 1999 my town was holding a car seat safety day. The local
police department was holding the event, and I decided to try and venture out
alone with my 6-month-old twins. I thought it would be a good idea to make
sure the car seats that were second-hand had not been recalled, and also make
sure we were properly installing them into our car.
In order for the police to check the seats they needed me to take the kids
out of the car. I could not comfortably hold them both, so I needed to take
out my carriage from the trunk of the car. I had a Cosco Rock-N-Roll side to
side stroller. The stroller was giver to me as a gift bought from Babies-R-Us.
I set the stroller up, making sure it was locked and the brake was on. I took
Joseph out of his car seat first and buckled him in the sitting position, then
I did the same for Juliann.
I turned back to the car to get my pocketbook, then turned back to the carriage
and noticed that the two seats with my children had fallen face first to the concrete
below. I was horrified. I screamed for someone to help as no one was making any noise,
and I couldn’t lift both babies and seats up at the same time. Police officers rushed over.
Luckily my daughter and son appeared okay (alert), though my daughter was bleeding from her
forehead and my son’s leg was bleeding.
An ambulance was called, and they checked over my children and said it appeared no one
had a cracked skull. I took my children to the hospital. My daughter at 6 months old
had a concussion and my son had sprained thumbs, and both had scrapes. The police officer
did check over the carriage. It appeared that the rocking mechanism, after barely 6 months
of use, had worn away and became disconnected from the base of the stroller — which is
why the seats fell forward.
I still get shaky thinking about this incident, and angry at how little compassion the company has.
My children’s injuries were unnecessary. My first thoughts were — Are my children alive?!
It took me 4 years to have these children, and it hurt me to see them hurt. My heart goes
out to all the parents and children who were not as lucky as my own. God Bless.
|
|
|
 |
Joseph and Juliann
May 1999
Six-month-old Juliann’s concussion and twin brother
Joseph’s sprained thumbs resulted from a Cosco Rock-n-Roll Side to Side Stroller.
After barely six months of use, the stroller’s rocking mechanism had worn away
disconnecting from its base.
|
For more information, check out:
Product Hazards/Strollers
|
|
