In a news release Wednesday, phil&teds USA Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announced the recall of a table-top clip-on child seat due to fall and amputation risks.
Subject to recall are 54,000 “metoo” clip-on chairs. The clamp pads on the affected chairs are either worn or missing, which can cause the chairs to detach from tables, posing a fall hazard. Additionally, in the event that the chair detaches, children’s fingers can become caught between the frame cross bar and clamping mechanism, leading to an amputation hazard. Furthermore, the user instructions for the chair are inadequate, raising the risk of consumer misuse.
Nineteen reports of chairs falling from tables have been received by phil&teds and the CPSC; five of those complaints included reports of injury. Two of the injury reports recounted children’s fingers being lacerated, severely pinched, crushed or amputated. The remaining three injury reports involved a child striking the table or floor after the chair detached, leading to bruising.
The recalled infant/toddler chair has a nylon seat (sold in red, black and navy) and a metal frame. The frame attaches to tables using two metal vice clamps. The upper part of the clamp, which rests on the table, has either a rubber boot covering the clamp or a rubber pad on its underside. Not subject to this recall are chairs with black plastic spacers between the clamps and cross bar.
The chair was sold for between $40 and $50 from May 2006 to May 2011. It was sold in stores and online by Target, Toys R Us and Buy Buy Baby. Online retailers including Amazon.com also sold the chair as did independent juvenile specialty stores.
Consumers are urged to stop using the chair immediately and contact phil&teds to arrange to receive a repair kit and updated user instructions. Consumers who received a prior repair kit with only rubber boots should also stop using the chair and arrange to receive a new repair kit.
I hope no other children have been harmed as a result of the faulty chair. As a Fresno personal injury lawyer, I encourage parents and caregivers to keep children safe by ceasing to use the chair right away.