Something More Horrific Than Your Child’s Halloween Costume, The Risk Of Suffocation - Parents Beware
I remember walking with my parents and as I grew older, walking with my friends on brisk Halloween evenings wearing a close fitting Halloween mask with only two small holes for breathing, I remember distinctly the warm condensation building up under the mask as I went door to door “trick or treating". What many parents never think of and should be on alert for is the risk of suffocation by your child under too tight a Halloween mask with spaces too small for proper and safe breathing. This risk can be even greater when children running with their friends up and down steps, doorway to doorway, exert themselves and the body has a greater need for oxygen.
Recently Target recalled thousands of frog theme Halloween masks citing just a suffocation risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for children’s frog masks imported by Target Corporation citing that the plush frog mask lacked proper ventilation when secured in place across a child’s face presenting a suffocation hazard. Thankfully no injuries were reported at the time of the recall. The mask was manufactured in China and sold at Target stores nationwide from August 20 to September 2011 for approximately $1.00. Consumers have been advised to take the masks and return them to Target for a full refund.
I have read other blogs stating that you “get what you pay for". However as an experienced product liability attorney who has handled many dangerous and defective toy cases where children have choked or suffocated due to a loose part, I believe that safety rather than profitability should always be priority number one and if there is a risk of suffocation or hazard to a child, it doesn’t matter what you pay. The product simply should not be on the market.
If you have one of these masks, it is probably best to simply throw it out to avoid your child accidentally putting it on as chance favors the prepared mind. The experienced Pennsylvania child injury and defective toy and product liability law firm of Reiff and Bily have been steadfast consumer stalwarts for product safety for over three decades and always offer a free, no obligation consultation to victim’s and their families of those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed due to the negligence of others or product liability defectively designed or defectively manufactured products.
For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
