Kolcraft strollers recalled after fingertip amputations
Kolcraft is recalling more than 36,000 strollers after receiving reports that three children's fingertips were cut off and two adults smashed or cut their fingers in a hinge, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
It is similar to a recall of Maclaren stroller that was reissued last year after children continued to get hurt.
The injuries with the Kolcraft strollers happened when the hinges were being locked or unlocked, the CPSC said.
The recalled strollers were sold between 2006 and this month for $150-$160. The model numbers of the Kolcraft Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers being recalled include: ZL002, ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018. They were made in China between 2006 and 2009.
If you have one of the strollers, stop using it until you receive a free repair kit from the company. Contact Kolcraft at (800) 453-7673 between 8 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
This recall also highlights the continuing problem of consumers using strollers for an extended period of time, including buying them secondhand. It is typically harder to know a product has been recalled since the date of original purchase isn't usually known and the owner is less likely to know model numbers and place of purchase.
In addition, older strollers pose a risk of for a child to get trapped between a stroller's tray or grab bar and the seat bottom. The CPSC says it knows of 30 deaths since 1980 that were caused like that.
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Mitch Lipka is one of America's leading consumer journalists and advocates. He is an expert in product safety, recalls, scams, and helping consumers get out of jams. He is a nationally known consumer columnist and runs TheConsumerChronicle.com. He lives in Worcester. You can find him on Facebook or reach him at ConsumerNews@Aol.com
