A mother whose infant son was strangled to death in his playpen earlier this month is warning other parents about buying child-care items in garage sales.
Euan Artus Elston, just 11 months old, was napping in his playpen on August 7 when the middle bars collapsed, choking him at the throat.
"It kind of looked like he fell asleep on the bar or something, said his mom, Laura Artus.
Artus told CTV British Columbia that she didn't realize what had happened at first.
"I walked in the room and I noticed the bars were folded down in the middle and I thought, 'oh great, he got out of his crib. How did he do that?'" she said. "Then, when I walked over -- because it's beside my bed I couldn't see it -- his neck was in the middle of two of the (bars), you know where the bars fold down."
She bought the playpen just a few months before at a local garage sale.
Because it was bought from a neighbour, she didn't know the Century Fold-N-Go model had been recalled and pulled off the shelves in 1996. There was a second recall in 2004 after an 18-month-old baby died in his playpen.
Many of these products are still out there for resale, in garage sales or on sites such as eBay and Craigslist.
That's why Health Canada issued an in early May on the dangers of buying second-hand baby items, including infant bath seats and bath rings.
Tips to keep in mind when purchasing second-hand items, (for a complete list click ):
- Playpens - Do not sell playpens that have protruding bolts, worn or faulty mechanisms, or torn vinyl or mesh. Playpen mesh must be small mosquito-type netting. When selling a folding playpen, ensure that all locking mechanisms work and set-up instructions are included. To meet regulations, playpens must be accompanied by information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture.
- Children's Jewellery - Lead is a soft, heavy, bluish-grey metal, which is often used to make inexpensive jewellery. Lead is very toxic. A child can suffer from lead poisoning if they suck, chew or swallow jewellery containing lead.
- Cribs - To meet the regulations, cribs must come with information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, date of manufacture and assembly instructions. Cribs made before September 1986 do not meet current safety standards and are not allowed to be sold under the law. Cribs with visible signs of damage, missing parts, or missing warning information should be destroyed.
- Strollers - Carriages and strollers made before 1985 may not meet current safety standards and must not be sold. Strollers must come with a lap belt, or safety harness that is solidly attached to the seat or frame. Ensure the brakes, as well as locking mechanisms on folding models, are in working order. Make sure that the wheels are securely attached. To meet the regulations, strollers must be accompanied by information that identifies the manufacturer, model number, and the date of manufacture.
- Toys - Toys that are in poor repair or broken, have sharp edges or points, or have loose eyes or noses are not safe and must not be sold.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Janet Dirks
