09-11-2009 - RECAL MACLAREN STOLLERS!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE READ

My mood while writing this blog: !!WANT TO TELL ALL MOMS

1 million strollers recalled by Maclaren after reports of severed fingers

A decade's worth of Maclaren strollers -- 1 million in all -- are being recalled after a reports of a dozen childrens' fingers being lopped off after getting caught in the hinges, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said today.

The injuries occurred when the strollers were being opened or closed. Maclaren strollers are among the most widely used in the country.

"Strollers are mechanical products not unlike bicycles or automobiles and have scissor or pinch points that cannot be eliminated," Maclaren writes on its FAQ about the recall. "Never use your hands to open or close the stroller – they are engineered to be operated by foot. Operators should always read the operating instructions before use - don't force the mechanisms - stop and check the instructions."The CPSC is urging parents to stop using any Maclaren umbrella stroller purchased since 1999 until they obtain a repair kit to cover the hinges. Maclaren says on its site that it is OK to keep using the strollers as long as parents take care to ensure their children are not near it when it is being opened or closed.

Maclaren is a British company, with U.S. operations based in Connecticut. The strollers were made in China.

UPDATE: The company sent the following statement to WalletPop along with a video (below) that shows the proper technique for opening and closing the strollers.

"It's important to note that all umbrella strollers regardless of manufacturer have the same inherent hinge design in the opening/folding mechanism. Based upon the 12 incidents reported we felt it was best to raise consumer awareness to this potential problem and have developed the child proof solution in cooperation with the CPSC. "


All the recalled strollers have the brand name "Maclaren" printed on them. The following models, including single and double strollers, are subject to the recall:

• Volo
• Triumph
• Quest Sport
• Quest Mod
• Techno XT
• TechnoXLR
• Twin Triumph
• Twin Techno
• Easy Traveller

The strollers were sold at large retail outlets and juvenile products stores between 1999 and November 2009 for $100-$360. Babies R Us and Target are two of the biggest retailers that sold the strollers.