KID, and consumer and child health groups release statement in support of Safe Cribs Act
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
June 13, 2019
Media contacts:
Jamie Poslosky (jposlosky@aap.org, 202-724-3301), Devin Miller (dmiller@aap.org, 202-724- 3308), American Academy of Pediatrics
Rachel Weintraub (rweintraub@consumerfed.org, 202-939-1012), Consumer Federation of America
David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org, 202-719-5916), Consumer Reports
Nancy Cowles (nancy@kidsindanger.org, 312-595-0649), Kids In Danger
Statement from Child Health and Consumer Advocacy Groups Supporting the Safe Cribs Act
American Academy of Pediatrics, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, and Kids In Danger
“As leading child health and consumer advocacy organizations, we are proud to support H.R.3170 and S.1816, the Safe Cribs Act. For almost a decade our organizations have warned parents against using crib bumper pads and supported state and local actions to ban their sale. This legislation would help prevent more families from experiencing the tragedy of losing a child to crib bumper pads by banning their manufacture, import, and sale altogether.
“Crib bumper pads are dangerous. Dozens of deaths have been attributed to positional asphyxia or suffocation involving these products. But they still appear on store shelves where new parents or grandparents assume they are safe – in fact many assume they are a safety product – and end up making their child’s sleep space dangerous. The safest sleeping environment for infants is always on their back, on a separate, flat and firm sleep surface without any bumpers or bedding.
“Together, we urge Congress to advance the Safe Cribs Act without delay and thank Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) for their leadership on this safety issue and many others. We also call on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to immediately call on retailers and manufacturers to stop selling bumper pads, as they did for a similar product, infant sleep positioners. There is no question: crib bumper pads are dangerous, and have no place in a safe sleep environment or on store shelves.”
###
About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow us on Twitter @AmerAcadPeds.
About Consumer Federation of America
CFA is a non-profit association of approximately 280 pro-consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through advocacy and education.
About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit membership organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. For 83 years, CR has provided evidence-based product testing and ratings, rigorous research, hard-hitting investigative journalism, public education, and steadfast policy action on behalf of consumers’ interests. Unconstrained by advertising or other commercial influences, CR has exposed landmark public health and safety issues and strives to be a catalyst for pro-consumer changes in the marketplace. From championing responsible auto safety standards, to winning food and water protections, to enhancing healthcare quality, to fighting back against predatory lenders in the financial markets, Consumer Reports has always been on the front lines, raising the voices of consumers.
About Kids In Danger
Kids In Danger (KID) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children by fighting for product safety. KID’s mission is to save lives by enhancing transparency and accountability through safer product development, better education and stronger advocacy for children.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]