China-Built Strollers Recalled for Amputation Hazard

Washington, DCA stroller that has sold nearly a million units was voluntary recalled by the manufacturer after a dozen children caught their fingers in the hinge mechanism and were forced to have their fingertips amputated.


Yesterday the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued an alert to consumers who purchased Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller strollers. The units—which are extremely popular— were assembled in China and retailed for $100 to $400 at stores such as Target and Babies R Us.

Although the strollers met all safety requirements, according to the manufacturer, there have been 12 reports of babies or toddlers suffering from fingertip amputations. The affected strollers open with an "umbrella" mechanism which "poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding," the CPSC said in statement issued jointly with Maclaren. The CPSC urges that consumers stop using the strollers immediately.

Maclaren, based in Britain, has offered consumers a free repair kit to fix the hinges themselves. However, this may not placate the parents of children who have already sustained severe injuries.

"Our advice is that consumers should take the same level of caution and care as when opening or closing a car door or any other moving part that can be found in many other baby and toddler products," states the manufacturer.

"There are a lower number of similar reported incidents amongst the considerably higher number of Maclaren buggies sold in Europe. If a buggy is folded or unfolded in line with our operating instructions the risk of injury is non-existent."