Important Safety Information on Big Kid Booster
cushions available at Wal-Mart stores across Canada
Transport Canada is advising parents, caregivers and the public of a
marketing material error on certain Big Kid Booster cushions available
exclusively at Wal-Mart stores across Canada.
The booster cushions may include a point-of-purchase hang tag that indicates
that the booster cushion can be used by children weighing less than 18kg (40
pounds), which is prohibited in Canada. The point-of-purchase hang tag is
printed in English and Spanish, and it is loosely attached to the cloth seat
cover.
Transport Canada received 6 complaints with respect to the inappropriate
marketing material. Evenflo was made aware of the problem by Wal-Mart. Evenflo
has not received any complaints and no injuries have been reported.
Evenflo investigated the matter and determined that two lots of Big Kid
Booster cushions imported into Canada were incorrectly produced with marketing
material intended solely for use in the United States. Evenflo further
determined that the product instructions and labels, as well as the carton, do
reflect the correct minimum weight use limit of 18 kg (40 pounds), as required
by the Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations.
The point-of-purchase hang tag attached to affected booster cushions states
that the minimum weight for use is 30 pounds (i.e., 13.6 kg). In Canada, the
Motor Vehicle Restraint Systems and Booster Cushions Safety Regulations require
that every booster cushion have a label affixed to it that indicates that the
booster cushion is for use by children who weigh at least 18 kg (40 pounds) and
who are at least the minimum height recommended by the manufacturer. Provinces
and Territories, who mandate and enforce the use of children’s restraint
systems, require that every child weighing less than 18 kg (40 pounds) be
properly restrained in an infant restraint system or child restraint system, as
appropriate. Should an underweight child be placed in the booster cushion and
the vehicle is involved in a collision, specifically a rollover event, the child
could be seriously injured due to ejection or partial ejection.
About 7,080 booster cushions with the following model numbers were affected:
Big Kid Quantum Booster – 3372482CA; and
Big Kid Everest Booster – 3381601CA.
These booster cushions were manufactured from October 01, 2005 to December
23, 2005.
Evenflo Canada will work with Wal-Mart stores to remove all point-of-purchase
hang tags from units on display and to affix a label to each carton to reinforce
the usage statements in the instructions and labels that require that children
not use the Big Kid Booster until they are at least 18 kg (40 pounds). In
addition, Evenflo will send a letter to consumers who have registered their
booster cushion to inform them about this problem and the safety risks
associated with the premature use of booster cushions, and to reinforce the
minimum weight use limit of 18 kg (40 pounds) for booster cushions
in Canada.
Owners of affected booster cushions should remove and discard the
point-of-purchase hang tag, and they should NOT use this or any booster cushion
until their child is at least 18 kg (40 pounds). For additional information
about correct product usage, please check the product labels and instructions or
call Evenflo at (937) 773-3971. Additional copies of the instructions are also
available at: www.evenflo.com.
Transport Canada reminds Canadians to read the labels and instructions
thoroughly before using a booster cushion.
A public information notice issued by Transport Canada on February 3, 2006
and further information on these booster seats can be found on Transport
Canada’s website at
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/notices/dser/d200601/menu.htm.
Media requiring more information:
Anne-Marie Bouchard
Transport Canada
(613) 993-0055
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