By Zanub Saeed
The Contours Options three- and four-wheeled strollers were recalled by Kolcraft Enterprises due to having caused fingertip amputations to several small children, as well as adults, as a result of hinge mechanism locking system.
The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission announced on Thursday that the company, based in Chicago, Ill., was told to recall the nearly 36,000 sets in the U.S. and 270 products in Canada of the strollers as reports came in of lacerations and amputations to consumers and their children, said a press release issued by the U.S. CPSC on Thursday. The products were sold nationwide at retailers like Target and Toys "R" Us from January 2006 to June 2012 for suggested retail prices ranging from $150 to $160.
More information was released on the details of the stroller, including that the "strollers included in the recall have model numbers starting with ZL002, ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018. On the ZL002 model, the model number and date of manufacture is printed on a sticker above the left wheel. On the ZL005, ZL008, ZL015 and ZL018 models, the model number and date of manufacture is printed on a label sewn into the edge of back of the stroller seat pad," said the press release.
The hazardous issue in question, said the press release, was that a finger of a child or customer could get caught in the opening formed when locking and unlocking the hinge mechanism that is used to adjust the handlebars length on the strollers. This unhinging mechanism is what could cause a potential amputation or injury to those operating or riding in the Coutours strollers.
So far, Kolcraft and the CPSC received five separate reports of injuries and amputations, said the press release, involving the hinge mechanism on the stroller. This included three small children having lost parts of their fingertips in the contraption, as well as two adults whose fingers were either smashed or lacerated, noted the press release.
The U.S. CPSC notes that those who have purchased the dangerous strollers should contact Kolcraft via their hotline or website, and that recalled products are not allowed to be sold or resold, as noted under federal law.
