September 7, 2001 - What number of dead children does the federal government consider acceptable?

---

In May, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the recall of 3.4 million combination infant carriers/car seats that had injured 97 children. (It had recalled nine baby products since 1997, after a reported 530 injuries.) Later that month, it announced the recall of 4,300 changing tables because some were not properly assembled and could come apart, as well as 4,100 child rockers. In June, the Commission announced the recall of 190,000 backyard swings to repair seats that can fall off, causing children to fall to the ground.

Last month, Congress defeated the nomination of President Bush's nominee for chairman of the Commission, on the ground that she showed insufficient zeal for federal regulation of baby walkers, baby bathtubs, and bunk beds. Also last month, the Commission released figures about various recalls of toys given away by fast-food restaurants. Such toys have produced six injuries and two deaths. Finally, a few days ago the Commission said children under 12 should not ride motorized toy scooters because last year roughly 1,700 children using them were injured seriously enough to require an emergency-room visit.

All of which leaves one wondering when the Commission is going to do something about air bags. Five years ago, passenger-side airbags killed 35 children. A new report says only 18 children were killed by air bags last year. The government credits parents and design changes for the decline. Yet as seen in the examples above, mere injury - or even the possibility of it - is enough to bring about a recall of consumer goods. So why is the federal government sitting on its hands while youngsters die violent deaths? Probably because the federal government itself mandated the use of air bags as a safety measure. Even worse, Washington knew about the problem. Auto makers warned that air bags could inflict serious injury on children and small adults. In 1991, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration circulated an internal memo repeating those warnings. It mentioned "severe spinal cord injuries" and "ruptured aorta, rib fractures, severe myocardial contusions, etc." Nothing was done.

Air bags have saved a few thousand lives. They also have killed scores of individuals, both children and adults. Any private corporation selling a product with such a track record would find itself in court faster than you can say class-action lawsuit. But no one has called Washington to account, and in all likelihood no one can. Keep it in mind the next time D.C. safety experts advocate a great leap forward in consumer protection - because you could be standing at the edge of a cliff.

<< back

---

The Gunn Law Group handles cases involving Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Property Insurance Coverage and Disputes, Insurance Bad Faith, Hurricane Insurance Claims, as well as the most serious of Personal Injury such as: Automobile Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability and Wrongful Death. The Gunn Law Group serves the following Florida areas: Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Arcadia, Atlantic Beach, Bartow, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Casselberry, Clearwater, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Crestview, Crystal River, Dade City, Dania, Daytona Beach, Deerfield Beach, Deland, Delray Beach, Destin, Dunedin, Englewood, Eustis, Fernandina Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Gulf Breeze, Hallandale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Hudson, Inverness, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Key Biscayne, Key Largo, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake City, Lake Mary, Lake Wales, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Largo, Leesburg, Live Oak, Longwood, Lutz, Maitland, Marathon, Marco Island, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Miami, Miami Beach, Milton, Mount Dora, Naples, New Port Richey, New Smyrna Beach, Niceville, North Fort Myers, North Miami Beach, North Palm Beach, Ocala, Okeechobee, Orange Park, Orlando, Ormond Beach, Oviedo, Palatka, Palm Bay, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm City, Palm Coast, Palm Harbor, Panama City, Pensacola, Perry, Plant City, Pompano Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Port Saint Lucie, Punta Gorda, Quincy, Rockledge, Safety Harbor, Saint Augustine, Saint Petersburg, Sanford, Sanibel, Sarasota, Satellite Beach, Sebring, Seminole, Shalimar, Spring Hill, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Tavares, Tavernier, Titusville, Venice, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Weston, Winter Haven, Winter Park, Winter Springs Copyright 2008 © Gunn Law Group, P.A. , All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Site Map