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KIDS IN DANGER SM
A nonprofit organization for the protection of young children from dangerous juvenile products
PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
KIDS IN DANGER™
A nonprofit organization for the
protection of young children from
dangerous juvenile products
Linda Ginzel
Ely Keysar
Boaz Keysar
Co-founders
(773) 296-9658 Phone/Fax
[email protected]
www.KidsInDanger.org
P.O. Box 146608, Chicago, IL 60614-6608
Sent By: Kids In Danger;
773 296 9658;
Jun-6-00 3:30PM;
Page 2/2
Chicago Tribune
Monday. June 5, 2000
Voice of the people
Preventing consumer deaths
CHICAGO-On May 12, newspaper headlines
bound and gagged, an enforcement agency in a
announced that President Clinton had proposed
straitjacket. We found no state structure to make
legislation to empower the U.S. Consumer Prod-
up for the federal shortfall. In Illinois, there was
uct Safety Commission (CPSC) to crack down on
no system to communicate federal warnings or
errant companies that conceal reports on their
to prevent identified hazards from claiming
products that injure and kill consumers. That
more victims.
date-May 12-was the second anniversary of
These flaws are unacceptable. So, with the
our son Danny's death. In 1998, 16-month-old
help of State Sens. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) and
Danny was one of too many children killed each
Tom Walsh (R-LaGrange Park) and others, espe-
year by lethal products in our homes, child-care
cially the Coalition for Consumer Rights, we
centers and workplaces.
worked to pass the Children's Product Safety
It was not the first time that a headline was so
Act in Illinois. That recently implemented law
clearly tied to Danny's death. Just days after he
prevents the sale or lease of unsafe or recalled
strangled at day care when a portable crib col-
children's products to unsuspecting consumers.
lapsed on his neck; we read that this very crib
and requires DCFS to check for recalled prod-
had been recalled years before. Because of the
ucts as part of its child-care licensing procedure.
faulty product-recall system, however. few peo-
But that bill was just a start, a finger in the
ple knew about the recall or the crib's dangers-
dike. As long as safety efforts remain hampered
not his doting family. not his wonderful child-
on a national level. the market can still be flood-
care provider and not even the Department of
ed with defective products; 250 to 300 are re-
Children and Family Services worker who had
called each year. Most troubling, half of the most
inspected the licensed day-care home only days
serious hazards are uncovered by CPSC investi-
before.
gators rather than reported by manufacturers.
That news story so shocked us that we set out
The White House legislative proposal an-
to prevent other children from dying unneces-
nounced on the anniversary of Danny's death
sary deaths from defective products. As Danny's
could change that. It would lift the lid on penal-
parents, we founded Kids In Danger, a non-profit
ties for failing to report a product danger and
organization dedicated to children's product
give the agency more recall authority.
safety
Absolutely nothing can make up for losing a
In our efforts to warn others, we discovered a
child. That is precisely why Kids In Danger is
system fraught with problems. On a national
committed to protecting our nation's children.
level. the CPSC relies on the good will of manu-
Any deaths we prevent are, in a way, Danny's
facturers to report dangerous products and to
gift to other families-a gift of life.
reach out to customers about recalls. It is ham-
Linda Ginzel
strung by a lid on penalties against renegade
Boaz Keysar
companies that do not comply. The CPSC is
Co-founders
Kids In Danger
Clinton Presidential Records
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of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
safety warning
what every parent and caregiver must
know about recalls to keep children safe.
BY ELLEN LIBERMAN AND MARLA FELCHER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE ALICINO
here was nothing in the bright day in May 1998 to foretell the tragedy that would
define the lives of Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar of Lincoln Park, Illinois. As he did every
morning, Boaz got out of bed at 5 a.m. to kick-start the day's routine for his family of
four. He prepared breakfast and read
The dangers of these portable cribs had been SO well doc-
umented that since 1993, federal regulators from the U.S. Con-
5-year-old Ely and 17-month-old Danny a story,
sumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) had recalled 10
models of portable play yards and cribs manufactured by five
stealing a moment to tickle his younger son. When Linda
different companies, including the Travel-Lite, which was re-
left Danny at Sweet Tots daycare a little later that morning,
called in March 1993. In the past eight years, Evenflo, Centu-
his babysitter was tickling him in his favorite spot, right
ry, Draco, Baby Trend, and Kolcraft sold more than 1.5 million
under his ear. Danny's infectious laugh was ringing in his
of these portable play yards and cribs. (This is in addition to
mother's ears all the way to work.
last November's recall of almost 10 million playpens. See "Re-
When Linda next saw her son, that afternoon, he was
call Alert" booklet, opposite page 33; for specifics.)
silent and still, bundled in a receiving blanket by the emer-
In response to the recalls, some companies (Evenflo, Cen-
gency room nurses at Children's Memorial Hospital in
tury, and Baby Trend) offered free repair kits to prevent the
Chicago. He was dead-asphyxiated by a portable crib that
cribs from collapsing; another (Kolcraft) offered a $60 re-
appeared to have collapsed when Danny grabbed the top
fund (the crib's original price was $89), which in November
rails as he tried to stand. His neck was trapped in the
1998 was increased to $120; and one company (Draco) went
V-shaped wedge of the folded rails.
out of business, leaving its customers no recourse.
Their grief seemed bottomless, but Linda and Boaz could
find no villains in the events that led to Danny's death. His
THE PROBLEM WITH RECALLS
babysitter had been caring for him in her home daycare set-
Yet, the very people who should have been informed about
ting since he was 7 months old. His death had devastated
those recalls-the daycare center staff, child-welfare
her, too. State child-welfare workers had inspected Sweet
workers, Danny's parents-were clueless. The cribs were still
Tots just eight days before the tragedy.
out there, despite two recall announcements by the CPSC.
But Linda and Boaz's sorrow turned to horror when, the
Kolcraft officials emphasize that "the
day before they buried Danny, they discovered from a
company is committed and dedicated to the
Danny Keysar
newspaper article that their son's death was not an isolated
safety of children. We are doing all we can to
(top left) died in a
incident. The portable crib in which Danny died had been
portable crib that
get the word out about the risks associated
had been recalled
implicated in four other fatal accidents since 1990, when the
with the Playskool Travel-Lite."
five years earlier.
manufacturer, Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc., of Chicago, began
Given their experience, Linda and Boaz
Any product you
selling the Travel-Lite crib under the Playskool brand name.
aren't convinced that Kolcraft has done
buy today can be
And portable cribs with similar designs had been associat-
enough. The recall was ineffective, they con-
recalled tomorrow,
ed with the deaths of seven other children.
tend. "We knew we had to do something,"
so be aware.
In one year, more than 137,000 infants and children were rushed to hospital emergency
28 February 1999
Copyright ©1999 Child Magazine
child
OUTFRONT
INTERNMENT CAMPS
MURDOCH UPDATES
HELLRAISER
COMPAQ IS WATCHING YOU
Silent
word out" can be particularly
difficult with infant products (a
uchlcago.es.
$4.42 billion market in 1997).
Recall
Even while new products keep
coming, used ones remain in cir-
culation as hand-me-downs and
ANIEL KEYSAR DIED ON
yard sale staples.
D
May 12 at his babysitter's
Since 1993, more than
home when his portable
Last spring, 17-month-old Daniel
1.5 million portable cribs have
crib collapsed and strangled
Keysar died, caught in the col-
been recalled. Kolcraft sold
lapsed rails of the Travel-Lite
him. It was a freak accident, his
nearly 12,000 Travel-Lites be-
Portable Crib (above). The crib had
parents, Boaz Keysar and Linda
been recalled five years earlier.
fore recalling them and now of-
Ginzel, were certain. The Chicago
fers consumers a $60 refund for
couple didn't blame the babysit-
ers make use of their resources
made the Travel-Lite crib under
the crib, originally priced at
ter: Only eight days before, state
and marketing savvy to sell a
Hasbro's Playskool brand name,
about $89. How many have ac-
child welfare workers had in-
crib, they do not always make the
initially announced the recall in
tually been recovered or discard-
spected and approved her Sweet
same effort later to tell con-
1993, again in April before Dan-
ed is impossible to tell. While
Tots daycare center, and she had
sumers that the same crib could
ny died, and a third time in June.
the CPSC may know, it cannot
loved the 17-month-old toddler
be deadly. The CPSC, the federal
The message still failed to reach
legally release this information;
like one of her own.
agency charged with overseeing
some members of the public. On
Kolcraft declined requests to an-
So there was only sorrow when
recalls, can't make them. Under-
Aug. 19, 10-month-old William
swer specific questions.
Ginzel held her son for the last
funded, understaffed, and buffet-
Curran of Fair Haven, N.J., died
time in the Children's Memorial
ed by political forces, the CPSC
at his babysitter's house, report-
HE CPSC OVERSEES THE
Hospital emergency room. "I
depends too heavily on the news
edly trapped in a collapsed Kol-
T
safety of 15,000 different
touched his little toes and rubbed
media to warn consumers about
craft portable crib. (The CPSC is
types of consumer products,
his belly," Ginzel says. "I was very
potentially dangerous products.
investigating the incident.)
but operates at a fraction of the
calm." [Reporter E. Marla Felcher
"Consumers have a sense that
"We have been doing all that
budget it had 24 years ago. The
is a personal friend of the Keysar-
the product wouldn't be sold if it
we can to get the word out,"
commission suffered severe
Ginzel family. -Eds. ]
weren't safe, that the govern-
Kolcraft president
budget and staffing
The day before Danny's funer-
ment is actively checking," says
Thomas Koltun
cuts in the '80s
al, Ginzel's calm evaporated
Mary Ellen Fise, product safety
said in a state-
under the pro-
when she learned that the
director for the Consumer Fed-
ment released
business
Playskool Travel-Lite Portable
eration of America (CFA). "This
to Mother
thumb of
Crib that killed Danny had been
is simply not true."
Jones.
Ronald Rea-
recalled five years earlier by the
The CPSC and Kolcraft Enter-
Yet get-
gan. Its 1997
Consumer Product Safety Com-
prises, the manufacturer that
ting "the
budget of
mission (CPSC). In three inci-
dents, toddlers apparently
collapsed the crib's top side
Not Ready for
tas to Bush's
Lodge
list of namesakes
Ridgedale, Mo.
rails, wedging their necks in-
Rushmore
this winter by sign-
George Bush
side the folded V of the rails
ing legislation author-
Plate Otto's BBQ,
and suffocating.
George Bush can't seem to emerge
izing the CIA to rededicate
Houston, Texas
from the shadow of his old boss
its Langley, Va., headquarters in his
President Bush's Pizza (arti-
Keysar and Ginzel were
Ronald Reagan, who's been getting
honor. The list already includes:
choke hearts, pepperoni, Canadian
stunned. Why hadn't anyone,
all the choice namesakes (e.g., the
George Bush Intercontinental
bacon, Italian sausage, green pep-
not even the state inspectors,
Ronald Reagan Building and Interna
Airport Houston, Texas (dedicated
pers, mushrooms, onions, and black
known it was dangerous?
tional Trade Center in Washington,
in 1997)
olives), Fuzzy's Pizza, Houston, Texas
A Mother Jones investigation
D.C., and Reagan Washington Na-
George Bush Elementary
George Bush Bonefish
shows that, too often, the recall
tional Airport). But President Clinton
School Midland, Texas
Tournament Cheeca Lodge,
system fails. While manufactur-
could lend some much-needed gravi-
Bush Cabin at Big Cedar
Islamorada, Fla. -Jennifer King
VIDEO STILL COURTESY CPSC (CRIB); ILLUSTRATION BY GARY PANTER
NOVEMBER|DECEMBER 1998
motherjones
17
related injuries is "often sketchy,"
somebody has died, the media
tioned in any news media, its
according to a 1997 General Ac-
ignores recall notices. "The me-
regulations do not require com-
counting Office report.
dia prints lottery results, but not
panies to meet specific numeri-
$42.5 million is still 60 percent
Finally, the agency relies on
recalls," Rader says. "The news
cal goals for recovering recalled
lower than the $90 million (ad-
manufacturers, which are legally
media should be a party in some
products. The CPSC doesn't even
justed for inflation) it had in
obligated to notify the CPSC
of these lawsuits that are going
ask companies to report how
1974; staffing levels are 43 per-
within 24 hours when they learn
after the manufacturers."
much they spend on recalls.
cent lower.
of a product defect that could
A month before Danny Keysar
CPSC compliance officials esti-
Politics also seems to influ-
cause injury or death. CPSC offi-
died, the CPSC highlighted the
mate that the average manufac-
ence the CPSC's enthusiasm for
cials concede that underreport-
Travel-Lite's faulty design in its
turer spends at least $250,000.
regulating manufacturers. In
ing is a serious problem.
annual "Recall Round-Up," a
A Hasbro spokesman said his
1989, the Danny Foundation, a
In 1997, the commission nego-
video news release of high-risk
company spends between "sever-
California-based nonprofit or-
tiated a total of $695,000 in civil
products the agency believes are
al hundred thousand to millions"
ganization dedicated to crib
penalties with companies that
still in people's homes. Nation-
on any given product recall.
safety, petitioned the CPSC to
wide, 140 stations picked it up,
"The reason [manufacturers]
recall all cribs with finials (deco-
"The media should
but not one station in New Jersey
go into this is to make a profit,"
rative corner posts). The finials
be a party in some
or Chicago-where William Cur-
the CFA's Fise says. "In exchange,
represented a clear danger, says
ran's and Danny Keysar's babysit-
they have the responsibility not
Jack Walsh, the foundation's
of these lawsuits
ters live-aired it.
to injure or kill someone. Manu-
executive director. Since the
that are going after
Regardless of impact, manu-
facturers have this enormous re-
mid-70s, more than 30 children
facturers don't like videos, says
sponsibility, yet the CPSC can't
had died from being caught in
manufacturers."
David H. Baker, a lawyer in the
force them to take it. In most cas-
them, and Canada had already
Washington, D.C., office of
es, the CPSC doesn't have the re-
banned the corner-post design.
broke this law. For example, the
Thompson, Hine & Flory, a firm
sources to litigate every case."
But after two years of review, the
CPSC charged Century Products
that represents manufacturers.
CPSC turned the petition down-
with failing to report problems
"You can't consistently be in the
MONTH AFTER DANNY'S
the result, Walsh says, of an
with certain cribs and strollers
consumer's face saying, 'Sorry,
A
death, Ginzel and Keysar
anti-regulatory political climate.
even after 560 consumer com-
we made a defective product."
established Kids in Dan-
"It was outrageous. If there was
plaints, including 29 injuries.
Indeed, bad publicity from re-
ger, a foundation that informs
ever a clear case for a recall, this
While Century denies any wrong-
calls can be bad for the bottom
parents and caregivers about re-
was it," Walsh says.
doing, in February it agreed to
line. Paul Rubin, an economics
called nursery equipment. In
To its credit, the CPSC has
pay a civil penalty of $225,000.
professor at Emory University
June, they filed a wrongful death
greatly increased its watch over
and former chief economist for
lawsuit in Cook County Circuit
products and manufacturers un-
DENTIFYING DANGEROUS
the CPSC, estimates that a com-
Court against Kolcraft and Has-
der its current chair, Clinton ap-
products is only the first step.
pany loses up to 7 percent of its
bro. "I'd so much rather be play-
pointee Ann Brown (who
How the CPSC notifies the
net worth after a recall.
ing with Danny," Ginzel says,
declined Mother Jones' request
public is also controversial. Al-
Consumer advocates believe
"instead of trying to save the
for an interview). In 1997, the
though companies rarely dispute
the CPSC should place more of a
next child." -E. Marla Felcher
CPSC issued 266 recalls of de-
the need for a consumer alert,
burden on manufacturers. While
and Ellen Liberman
fective products, compared with
manufacturers worry about how
the CPSC requires companies to
CPSC Consumer Hotline: 1-800-638-2772,
105 in 1990.
their brand name is perceived
document a recall's progress,
www.cpsc.gov; Kids in Danger, P.O. Box 146608,
The CPSC depends on several
and negotiate the terms of a re-
such as whether it was men-
Chicago, IL 60614, www.kidsindanger.org.
methods for identifying poten-
call with federal regulators in
tially dangerous products; still,
closed-door meetings. "We are
UPDATES
the recall process has fundamen-
always looking for new and inno-
ment that confirms Philip
tal flaws. Consumers can com-
vative ways to do a recall," CPSC
TOBACCO-FRIENDLY MEDIA
Morris' media strategy. In
plain to the CPSC's toll-free
spokesman Russ Rader says. "We
In the September/October Edi-
another 1985 memo, Maxwell
hotline; last year, the agency re-
negotiate notification measures;
tor's Note, we reported the con-
wrote: "A number of media pro-
ceived 3,555 reports of unsafe
it's not a cookbook."
tents of a secret 1985 Philip
prietors are sympathetic to our
products (fewer than 10 a day).
Both the CPSC and manufac-
Morris memo in which former
position-Rupert Murdoch and
The CPSC gathers indepen-
turers rely heavily on the news
CEO Hamish Maxwell detailed
Malcolm Forbes are two good
dent statistical information from
media. Increasingly, the CPSC
the tobacco giant's strategy to
examples. The media like the
a patchwork of sources, including
has put a lot of faith in the power
"exploit ad agencies and media
money they make from our ad-
emergency room data, news-
of video news releases: graphic
proprietors," noting that "[Ru-
vertisements, and they are an
paper articles, medical examiner
demonstrations of product haz-
pert] Murdoch's papers rarely
ally that we can and should ex-
and police reports, and field in-
ards that the agency sends via
publish anti-smoking articles
ploit." To view the full docu-
spections. The commission de-
satellite to local and network
these days."
ment, see the MoJo Wire
scribes itself as "data driven," but
news stations. CPSC officials
Since then, Mother Jones has
(www.motherjones.com/
its information on product-
complain, however, that unless
uncovered yet another docu-
sideshow/murdoch.html).
18
motherjones
NOVEMBER|DECEMBER 1998
Clinton Presidential Records
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This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
[Recall Alert]
(
5
to
risk. For refund information call
sembly instructions, call Menard
Direct Source International (513-
(888-215-3349).
child bonus
793-9379).
Papel Freelance children's pen-
First Alert True Fit Safety Gates,
cils with miniature pacifiers,
FEBRUARY 1999
model CSSGI, sold from 10/96
sold from 9/96 to 4/97. Choking
to 11/98. Potential choking haz-
hazard. For refund call Papel (800-
ard. For information call BRK
634-8384).
Brands (888-777-5599).
Penguin USA/Playskool Color
Graco Children's Products sta-
'N Contrast Crib Books, Kitty
tionary entertainers with white
and Friends (ISBN 0-525-45468-
RECALL
plastic seat rings, manufactured
3) and Puppy and Friends (ISBN
before 3/96. Laceration risk. For
0-525-45469-1), sold from 11/95
free repair kit call Graco (800-
to 3/96. Injury risk from straight
423-9078).
pins. Destroy and discard.
Graco Children's Products sta-
Price Stern Sloan Exploring
tionary entertainers, model #s
Nature Funstation science ac-
ALERT
34429, 4118RA, manufactured
tivity book kits, ISBN #08431-
from 4/98 to 8/98. Choking haz-
3942-0, sold from 3/96 to 8/96.
ard. For free repair kit call Gra-
Kerosene poisoning hazard. De-
A list of the best-selling juvenile products,
CO (800-281-3676).
stroy and discard.
Halcyon WaterSpring Dex Wipe
Shelby Ltd. Division of Wang's
toys, and more recalled in the past six
Warmers, model #WW-01, sold
International children's paper-
from 1/94 to 12/96. Risk of over-
weights and pens. Paperweights
years. Use it to review items in your home,
heating and melting. For refund/
are Antique Car, Floating Eye,
replacement call Halcyon (888-
Magic Diamond, Ocean in the
and keep it handy if you shop at garage
735-5585).
Box, Water Timer; pen is clear
plastic with eyeball in middle.
sales, flea markets, or consignment stores.
Menard "Henry" gym sets,
Sold from 10/96 to 12/96.
model #68, sold from 7/91 to
Kerosene and petroleum distil-
Be sure to refer to it when checking out
8/98. Risk of injury from falling
late poisoning hazard. Destroy
if misassembled. For revised as-
and discard.
daycare centers and hand-me-downs.
Editor's note: These products have all been recalled by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission. The list is not exhaustive. For more informa-
It could save your child's life.
tion call the CPSC at 800-638-CPSC or check its Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
child
TEAR OUT AND SAVE
Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
hicago
a portable crib collapsed
Danny Keysar.
His
recalled by the manufacturer
to prevent another tragic death
by Jonathan Eig
HER WAY HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY LAST
spring, Linda Ginzel steered her car toward the
Sweet Tots daycare center in Lincoln Park,
where her son Daniel had spent the day. The date
was May 12, 1998, and there were several hours
of sunlight left in what had been a beautiful after-
noon. The moment she turned onto Wrightwood
Avenue, Linda noticed five or six police cars. The
closer she got, the more she worried.
Linda stopped, got out of her car, and walked up the steps. Before she could
knock on the door, a police officer greeted her.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"A child has been involved in an accident."
"Here? In this house?" she asked, her voice jumping almost an octave.
"Yes, and you need to go to the hospital."
"I need to go to the hospital? I need to go?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"It was my son?"
Another officer put his arm around Linda's shoulder and asked if she want-
ed a ride. She said OK. The first cop said Linda's husband, Boaz Keysar, was
waiting at the hospital. The short drive to Children's Memorial seemed sur-
real, as if it were unfolding in slow motion. The officer made small talk in an
effort to distract Linda and keep her calm. "So, you teach at the University of
Chicago, huh?" he asked.
The next thing she remembers is the voice of the doctor: "We did every-
thing we could," he said.
"Can I see my baby?" she asked.
CHICAGO NOVEMBER 1998
local heroes
Total Recall
A child's death spurs his parents' fight to see unsafe products taken off the market
SWEET
LITTLE
DANNY
LOVE
MISS
"We're dealing with our grief by working for this cause," says Linda Ginzel (at home with her husband, Boaz Keysar, and son Ely).
n the afternoon of May 12,
was met by a doctor who spoke the
I
1998, Linda Ginzel, a busi-
simple words, "We tried everything
ness school professor at the
we could." Ginzel fell into the arms
University of Chicago, picked
of her husband of nine years, Boaz
up her 4-year-old son, Ely, at his
Keysar, an associate professor of psy-
Hyde Park preschool and continued
chology, who had already been told
on to Sweet Tots daycare to retrieve
by doctors how a portable crib at
her 16-month-old, Danny. But as
Sweet Tots had collapsed inward,
Ginzel rounded the corner, she saw a
strangling Danny in the vise formed
swarm of police cars. Thinking there
by the crib's folding top rails. "I was
had been a robbery, she made her
numb, but I also had this amazing
way to the door, only to be told by a
calm," recalls Ginzel, 40, who took
policewoman that she needed to go
locks of Danny's soft brown hair as a
to nearby Children's Memorial Hos-
keepsake. "I thought this was some
pital. "I have to go to the hospital?"
tragic, freak occurrence that couldn't
she asked in disbelief. "It's my child?"
"He had a way of engaging people," Keysar
have been helped."
At the emergency room, Ginzel
says of Danny (two days before his death).
In fact, nothing could have been
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL L. ABRAMSON
local heroes
further from the truth.
products," says Ginzel. "If
And the realization that
they had known, Danny
Danny's death could have
would be alive."
been prevented was
That June, using
enough to turn his grieving
$20,000 in personal sav-
parents into dedicated ac-
ings, Danny's parents es-
tivists who have vowed to
tablished the nonprofit
do everything possible to
Kids In Danger (Web site
prevent any recalled toy,
KidsInDanger.org), dedi-
crib or stroller from ever
cated to protecting young
killing another toddler.
children from unsafe prod-
"We're talking about chil-
ucts. To that end, the cou-
dren's lives," says Keysar,
ple testified last September
41, whose efforts have led
RANDY
before the Illinois House
to passage of a law to that
Children and Youth Com-
effect in their home state
mittee, proposing a plan to
of Illinois. "We knew we
eliminate deadly recalled
had to do something."
"The system is ready to be changed," says Ginzel (with State Sen.
products from licensed
Ginzel and Keysar's un-
Tom Walsh, appearing before the Illinois Senate last month).
daycare facilities-recom-
welcome education began the day af-
Ginzel. "My sense of calm turned to
mendations that the state's Depart-
ter Danny's funeral, when an article
a focused goal."
ment of Children and Family Ser-
in the Chicago Tribune revealed that
Within days of Danny's death,
vices adopted on the spot.
Danny had been the fifth victim to
Ginzel and Keysar, with the help of
Today, with a corps of some 30
strangle in a Playskool Travel-Lite
friends, sent out more than 5,000
regular volunteers, Ginzel, daughter
Portable Crib manufactured by Kol-
e-mails warning parents about the
of a U.S. Army master sergeant and
craft Enterprises of Chicago-a
crib's dangers. That was only the be-
his Korean wife, a factory worker,
model that had been officially re-
ginning. The couple also learned that
and Keysar, the Israeli-born son of an
called five years earlier after causing
days before Danny's death, state day-
electronics technician and a kinder-
the deaths of three children. At least
care inspectors had visited Sweet
garten teacher, spend evenings and
11 other children had been killed by
Tots but had not checked for danger-
weekends handling fund-raising and
similar products from various manu-
ous products because they weren't
publicity campaigns out of their Lin-
facturers, and there were as many as
required to. "We were shocked to
coln Park row house. On May 13,
1.2 million such cribs still in circula-
learn that even state inspectors didn't
exactly a year and a day after
tion. "We couldn't not react," says
have information about recalled
Danny's death, Ginzel received a
phone call from Illinois State Rep.
Carol Ronen telling her that the bill
Ginzel and her husband had champi-
oned-the Children's Product Safety
Act, which requires that licensed
child-care facilities be inspected for
unsafe products and prohibits any
business from selling or leasing them
-had passed unanimously in the
state senate. "With this legislation in
place," says Ginzel, "no other family
in Illinois will have to suffer this
needless tragedy."
Ginzel and Keysar have earned
praise from the likes of the U.S. Con-
sumer Product Safety Commission
chairwoman, Ann Brown, who calls
them "amazingly courageous.
They've done an incredible job in
raising the consciousness of the pub-
lic." But the couple, who intend to
expand their crusade, see their work
as far from finished. "We do this in
Danny's honor," says Ginzel. "He's
still with us every day."
Susan Schindehette
"Persevering, you accomplish things," says Keysar (with his family at a local playground).
Barbara Sandler in Chicago
Reprinted from the June 28, 1999 issue of People Weekly Magazine by special permission; © 1999 TIME Inc. All rights reserved.
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of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
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ProductAler
A
KIDSIN DANGER™
A nonprofit organization protection of young children from dangerous
for the juvenile products
ProductAlert
roductAlert
ProductAlert
Prod luctAlert
Prod Alert
Prod
MineFields
ProductAlert
Product Alert
How recalled products
Product put your children at risk and
ProductAtert you,can do about
it.
ProductAlert
ProductAlert
ProductAlert
ProductAlert
ProductAlert
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Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
KIDS IN DANGER
SM
ACTION
NEWSL SPRING 2000
INTRODUCTION
alerts the media to report on dangerous
children's products, does research aimed
at improving the recall process, and on
Dear friends and supporters,
and on.
Last year at this time, we gathered with
We are incredibly optimistic because we
many of you to honor Danny's loving
have seen a community of people outside
memory at a fundraising dinner for Kids In
our own circle of friends, who have been
Danger. Those of you who were with US
touched by our story and compelled to
know that it was an evening of tears and
take action. People have put their
sorrow about our loss, filled with hope and
expertise to work for Kids In Danger,
promise for the future of our cause.
lawyers, accountants, professors, business
executives, journalists, public relations
This year, we have chosen to mark the
people, advertising people, legislators,
passing of the second year since May 12,
city government, professional writers,
1998 with this commemorative newsletter.
computer experts, researchers. These are
We are proud to showcase the many
the people whose efforts are honored on
accomplishments of the community of
the pages that follow.
people who comprise the nonprofit
organization that we founded: Kids In
It is rewarding for US to see that the media
Danger.
has begun to highlight the problem with
children product safety. Informing the
Since Danny died hundreds of people, all
public about the dangers of unsafe
very busy with their own professional and
products is our short-term goal. Kids In
personal lives, have devoted many days,
Danger's ultimate goal is to reform the
weeks and months to do the work of Kids
system and work toward a day when
In Danger. This community of friends and
dangerous juvenile products don't reach
supporters maintains the KidsInDanger.org
the market to begin with. As such, we are
web site, creates informational materials
positioning Kids In Danger to attack the
to educate the public about dangerous
root causes of this flawed system. With
products, works with government officials
your help, we raised $100,000 last year.
to pass city, state and federal legislation,
We also expanded our board of directors,
THE FACTS
and are currently recruiting an
executive director. In the two
DON'T LEARN
WHAT IS KIDS IN DANGER?
years since Danny died, Kids In
ABOUT RECALLS
Danger is already poised to
Founded in 1998 in the memory of Danny
FROM YOUR BABY
make systemic and lasting
Keysar and all victims of children's
change. With your continued
encouragement, help and
products, Kids In Danger, a 501 (c) (3)
www.KidsInDanger.org
support we know we can do it.
nonprofit organization, is dedicated to
protecting children from dangerous
Nationwide billboard campaign was made possible by the generosity of the
Chancellor Outdoor Advertising Group and The Nahser Advertising Agency.
-Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar
juvenile products.
KIDS IN DANGER
National Initiatives
Pending Funding
Booklet. Kids In Danger has created an informational booklet: Mine Fields. It informs
people about the widespread danger of unsafe products and gives them tools to protect
their children. The booklet has been written, pilot-tested and professionally designed.
We intend to mass-produce and distribute Mine Fields nationally.
Seminars. Few parents and caregivers know about the dangers of recalled products and
fewer have any idea how to find out about recalled products they might be using. Kids In
Danger is developing a seminar to disseminate this lifesaving information to parents and
caregivers at schools, community centers, childcare facilities, corporate and government
offices -anywhere there are people concerned about the safety of children. Our plan is to
perfect the development of these seminars in the Chicago-area and expand the program
nationwide.
Education. Kids In Danger is also targeting childbirth classes and in-hospital childcare
classes as many parents seek information about child safety through these sources. We
are developing educational materials for the childcare experts who manage these classes.
Our goal is to gain the support of hospitals across the country in order to include
information addressing the dangers of unsafe juvenile products and the importance of
recall information in their curriculum.
Billboards. Kids In Danger has begun a national billboard recall awareness campaign,
with lifesaving recall alerts posted on more than 100 billboards in nine states. To our
knowledge, this is the first time that outdoor advertising has ever been used to publicize
recall information. We intend to expand this community outreach effort to every state in
the nation, with many hundreds of billboards throughout the country.
KIDS IN DANGER
Legislation and Public Policy
The "Children's Product Safety Act." In August 1999, Illinois Governor Ryan signed
into law new state legislation that was initiated and championed by Ginzel and Keysar.
Safety and consumer advocates have hailed it as the most extensive legislation of its kind
passed in any state. This law makes it illegal to sell or lease a recalled or unsafe
children's product. It also requires that the Illinois Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS) ensure that dangerous children's products are not used in licensed
childcare facilities. This model legislation is now being promoted in states across the
nation.
HR 3208: the "Daniel Keysar Memorial and Children's Consumer Product Safety Act of
1999." In November 1999, U.S. Congressman Rod Blagojevich introduced a federal bill
that would amend the Consumer Product Safety Act in order make a number of
improvements in the way that the CPSC handles recalls of defective children's products
and make information about these recalls more accessible to the public.
The City of Chicago Recall Initiative. In February 1999, Chicago Mayor Richard M.
Daley launched a recall initiative for the city, which called for city agencies to make
recall information more available to the public. In September 1999, City Council
members unanimously passed Daley's second-hand dealer's ordinance designed to
protect children from recalled products. Kids In Danger continues to work with
Commissioner Caroline O. Schoenberger of the Department of Consumer Services in this
effort.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Initiative. In September
1998, Ginzel testified before the Illinois House Children and Youth Committee proposing
five specific actions to eliminate deadly and recalled products from licensed childcare
facilities. The DCFS immediately adopted her recommendations and is currently working
with Kids In Danger to implement them.
Development of Voluntary Safety Standards. In September 1998, Linda Ginzel was
named to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Ginzel's vote
represents the interests of parents and consumers in the development of voluntary safety
standards for children's products.
News Release
OF
CITY
utr MARCH 1837
August 25, 1999
Mayor's Press Office
Office of the Mayor
Contact: (312) 744-3334
Richard M. Daley
Mayor
MAYOR DALEY, REP. BLAGOJEVICH INTRODUCE LEGISLATION
TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DANGEROUS SECOND-HAND PRODUCTS
Mayor Richard M. Daley said today he will introduce legislation in the City Council to
protect children from hazardous second-hand products, such as cribs, playpens and car
seats, that may have been recalled by the United States Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) without their parents' knowledge.
The Mayor was joined at a news conference today by U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich
(D-Chicago), who will introduce comparable federal legislation in Congress, Linda
Ginzel, co-founder of the Kids in Danger Foundation and Lori Rose, co-owner of
Chicago's Once Upon a Child Store.
Ginzel's 17-month-old son, Danny Keysar, died May 12, 1998 in a Lincoln Park day-
care center after a portable crib collapsed, suffocating him. It was later determined that
the manufacturer had recalled the crib in 1993 after three similar fatal accidents.
"Often, cribs, playpens and similar items are passed along from one family to another,"
Mayor Daley said at a news conference at Once Upon a Child at 2908 N. Ashland Ave.
"In many instances, people are unaware that an item has been recalled and could result
in tragedy.
"We must ensure that child-care providers, store owners and parents are aware of
recalled products, and are using or selling only the ones that are safe."
The Mayor plans to amend Chicago's municipal code so that any business selling used
infant or children's products would be required to:
Obtain a $125 second-hand dealer's license. The annual fee will be waived for
any not-for-profit second-hand dealer.
Obtain and file notices of recalled products by the CPSC within the past nine
years.
Cease selling any products without proper identification marks such as the
manufacturer's original label. Products will not be required to contain this
identification if the owner can establish the identity of the product manufacturer.
-MORE-
City Hall, Room 602 121 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 744-3334
FAX: (312) 744-2325
370
During the past year, the City's Department of Consumer Services launched a
campaign to increase public awareness of infant and children's products that have been
included in the CPSC's annual recall roundup and of the dangers associated with them.
The Department created posters and flyers listing product recall information and is
distributing those materials through City agencies. Additionally, Consumer Services
Commissioner Caroline Orzac Shoenberger enlisted the assistance of several medical
organizations and community groups which are also publicizing the information.
Teams of Consumer Services investigators visited hundreds of retail and resale stores,
looking for recalled products and sharing recall information with owners. The
Department also assisted retailers in obtaining future recall notices directly from the
CPSC.
"The City's public awareness campaign was a strong start, but we must do more at both
the local and federal levels to ensure the safety of our children," Mayor Daley said. "We
must work together as partners to reach as many people as possible to prevent any
future deaths or injuries."
Gov. George Ryan recently signed a state law, sponsored by State Representatives
Judy Erwin (D-Chicago) and Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), that will prevent the
redistribution of recalled products.
The proposed new ordinance will be introduced at next Wednesday's City Council
meeting. The Department of Consumer Services will have authority to issue citations
for violations to the ordinance, and fines can range from $200 to $1,000.
On the federal level, Rep. Blagojevich will introduce "The Daniel Keysar Memorial and
Childhood Consumer Product Safety Act of 1999" when Congress resumes this fall.
The bill will improve the way the CPSC handles defective products and will make
information about product recalls more accessible to the public.
The bill would:
Establish a comprehensive CPSC listing of all recalled child products that will be
easily accessible to the general public.
Develop a system to rate recalled products according to the dangers they pose.
Initiate a "Point-of-Purchase Registration" pilot program for children's products
that will allow manufacturers to easily notify customers of product recalls.
Require the CPSC to report on the effectiveness of its product recalls.
Increase funding for the CPSC.
###
NEWS FROM
HOUSE
Congressman
U.S.
to
OF
Rod Blagojevich
REPRESENTATIVE
FIFTH DISTRICT - ILLINOIS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Devine
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
773/868-3240
BLAGOJEVICH LEGISLATION: PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
WHEN KIDS' PRODUCTS ARE DEEMED DANGEROUS
Chicago -- U.S. Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Chicago) announced Congressional legislation
that will help parents find out more easily if the federal government has determined that
toys or gifts they' ve bought their kids have bee ruled dangerous.
Blagojevich was joined at a press conference today by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley,
who has embarked on a campaign to raise public awareness of recalled children's
products. and State Representatives Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) and Judy Erwin (D-
Chicago), who passed a state law this year requiring the Illinois Department of Public
Health to maintain a list of recalled products.
Currently, the federal agency responsible for protecting the public against injuries from
dangerous or defective merchandise -- the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
-- relies mainly on free media to inform parents.
Blagojevich said: "On average, 70 to 90 percent of recalled products are never repaired or
returned. It's usually because the parents didn't know about the recall. This is a problem
with a common-sense solution: parents and day care providers need better access to
information. It's a remedy that will provide enormous benefits in prevented injuries and
saved lives."
The legislation, to be introduced in September, is called "The Daniel Keysar Memorial
and Children's Consumer Product Safety Act of 1999." It is named after Daniel Keysar,
the child of Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar, who live in Blagojevich's North Side 5th
Congressional District. Daniel died at a Chicago day-care center in May, 1998, when a
defective crib, which had been recalled by the CPSC, collapsed. Word of the recall had
never reached the day-care center.
The "Daniel Keysar Memorial and Children's
Consumer Product Safety Act of 1999"
Sponsored by Congressman Rod Blagojevich
This legislation, to be introdu. ed when Congress reconvenes in September, will make a
number of improvements in the way the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
handles recalls of defective products and make information about these recalls more
accessible to the public. Highlights of the bill include:
Establishing a comprehensive CPSC listing, easily accessible by the general
public through web site listings, electronic mail, and a toll free telephone
hotline, of all children's products subject to recall or corrective action over
the last 15 years. This listing would include the CPSC's internal hazard
grading system, whereby recalled products are ranked according to the
dangers they pose.
Establishing a CPSC pilot program to work with manufacturers and retailers
to obtain the identity of consumers who purchase specified juvenile or
children's products so that the consumer can be notified in the event of a
product recall.
Requiring the CPSC to report annually to Congress on the effectiveness of its
product recalls (e.g. what percentage of recalled products are actually
returned or repaired).
Increasing the funding authorization for the CPSC to $100 million annually, a
level that reflects its budget, adjusted for inflation, shortly after its
establishment in 1973. The current budget for the CPSC is $47 million.
MAY-19-00 15:16 FROM:
ID:2022255603
PAGE 2/4
HR 3208 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3208
To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to improve the way the Consumer Product Safety
Commission handles defective products and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 3, 1999
Mr. BLAGOJEVICH (for himself, Mr. BERRY, Mr. GREEN of Texas, Ms.
MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. WAXMAN, and Mr. RUSH) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Consumer Product Safety Act to improve the way the Consumer Product Safety
Commission handles defective products and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the Daniel Keysar Memorial and Childhood Consumer Product Safety
Act of 1999'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) On May 12, 1998, Chicago resident Linda Ginzel and her husband, Boaz Keysar, lost
their 16-month old son, Danny, when a defective crib collapsed and strangled him at a
Chicago day care home. Although the licensed day care facility had been inspected just 8
days before the incident and the crib had been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety
Commission in 1993, the day care home was not aware of the recall and it never removed the
defective crib. Danny was the twelfth child to die in this type of defective crib nationwide.
Moreover, the thirteenth child was killed in Fair Haven, New Jersey just 3 months later
(2) The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent Federal regulatory
agency created in 1972 to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths
1 of 3
5/19/00 3:25 PM
MAY-19-00 15:16 FROM:
ID: 2022255603
PAGE
3/4
associated with consumer products. Although the CPSC has jurisdiction over about 15,000
types of consumer products, its budget is less than the Food and Drug Administration's
budget for regulating animal medicines.
(3) The budget for the Consumer Product Safety Commission has failed to keep pace with
inflation. In fact, when indexed for inflation, the Commission's 1974 budget allocation of $30
million would be $98 million today, compared to the current level of $47 million.
(4) Although manufacturers are required by law to report safety problems with their
products, on average only about 260 reports are filed each year. Yet, annual CPSC
inspections of over 2,000 products consistently revealed close to half the products in
violation of CPSC regulations.
(5) On average, the CPSC recalls about 200-300 products each year, the majority of which
are children's products or toys.
(6) In 1998, 38 million individual units of children's products were recalled.
(7) Although the CPSC is able to have recalled products removed from retail stores, it is
more difficult to have recalled products removed from consumers' homes, the secondary
market, including resale stores and child care facilities. On average, only 10 to 30 percent of
the products recalled are repaired or returned. The number of products destroyed by the
consumer is unknown. As a result, children and other consumers are likely to be injured and
some killed by recalled products that have not been returned, destroyed, or repaired.
SEC. 3. RECALLED PRODUCTS.
The Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`RECALLED PRODUCTS
'SEC. 38. (a) Within 180 days from the date of enactment of this section, the Commission shall
establish a comprehensive list of all children's products subject to recall or corrective action under
the statutes it administers over the last 15 years and shall undertake to make the list widely
available to the general public, State and local governments, and the secondary market, including
retail stores and child care facilities through its toll free telephone hotline, electronic mail, and web
site listings. The Commission shall develop a strategy for partnering with State and local
governments to produce and distribute the list under this subsection to individual consumers and
the secondary market, including resale stores and child care centers.
(b) Section 6(b) shall not apply to Commission announcements of corrective actions. All
Commission announcements of corrective actions, including press releases, shall be identified as
recall'. The announcements shall, with respect to the product for which the announcements are
made--
`(1) state clearly and concisely, in the strongest possible language, the nature and extent of
the product hazard and any potential risk of injury; and
2 of 3
5/10/00 no.
MAR-19-00 15:10 FROM:
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PAGE 4/4
(2) shall include the number of known deaths, injuries and incidents associated with the
product hazard being corrected.
In stating the hazard and risk of injury, the announcement shall use clear and unambiguous
language intended to motivate consumers to participate in the recall. In addition, the Commission
shall publicly post press releases and other announcements of corrective action, e.g. annual report
listings in a timely manner.
(c) The Commission shall establish a pilot program to work with manufacturers and retailers to
obtain the identity of consumers who purchase specified juvenile or children's products so the
consumer can be notified in the event of a product recall.
'(d) The Commission shall report to Congress annually on the effectiveness of the recalls ordered
under section 15(d) for each specific product so that the percentage of products sold and subject to
such recall or corrective action and actually recalled or repaired may be determined and made
available to the general public through its toll free telephone hotline, electronic mail, and website.'.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
The first sentence of section 32(a) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2081) is
amended by striking out `not to exceed' and all that follows and inserting `$100 million for each of
the fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003.'.
END
3 of 3
5/19/00 3.25 DM
NEWS
FROM STATE SENATOR THOMAS J.
WALSH
WESTCHESTER 708/531-0390 SPRINGFIELD 217/782-2015
FAMILY TRAGEDY LEADS TO NEW STATE LAW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 6, I 999/ACS
Springfield, III. - Children will be safe from defective baby cribs and other children's products
under a new law sponsored by state Senator Thomas J. Walsh and signed into law this week by
Gov. George Ryan.
Walsh (R-LaGrange Park) sponsored the legislation at the request of Dr. Linda Ginzel
and her husband Dr. Boaz Keysar of Lincoln Park, who formed an organization to get the word
out to parents and caregivers about potentially dangerous products after their infant son was
killed in a recalled crib at a licensed day care facility.
"There is absolutely no reason for another child to die due to lack of information about
unsafe or recalled products," said Ginzel. "With the Children's Product Safety Act in place, my
husband and I have hope that other families will not suffer a tragedy as senseless as the one we
have had to endure."
Walsh commended Drs. Ginzel and Mr. Keysar for their work to get the word out about
dangerous children's products. "They have taken a personal tragedy and turned it into a positive
accomplishment so that other children won't meet the same fate as their son," said Walsh. "The
approval of House Bill 485 is just one of their many efforts to make sure that parents and day
care facilities know which products could pose a danger to young children."
Kids In Danger, the organization founded by Ginzel and Keysar to inform parents, hosts a
- MORE -
ADD ONE
web site listing information about dangerous and recalled products. That address is
www.kidsindanger.org.
According to Walsh, manufacturers recall a high percentage of children's products, and
day care facilities aren't prohibited from using these products.
House Bill 485, modeled after laws in California, Washington and Colorado, makes it
illegal for a commercial user to sell or lease an unsafe crib or other children's product and
prohibits day care facilities from using unsafe products or even having them on the premises.
The law also targets resale dealers who are unaware that certain products have been deemed
unsafe.
Under the new law, the Department of Children and Family Services would be required
to notify child care facilities of recalls and to monitor them for unsafe products. The Illinois
Department of Public Health will also compile a list of children's products that are unsafe and
publish that list on the Internet.
###
HOUSE BILL 0485
91st GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
1999 and 2000
Introduced February 2. 1999. by Representatives Ronen - Erwin - Lopez
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED
New Act
225 ILCS 10/5.2 new
225 ILCS 10/8
from Ch. 23. par. 2218
Creates the Children's Product Safety Act. Prohibits a
commercial user from remanufacturing, selling, leasing, or
placing in the stream of commerce a crib or other children's
product that is unsafe. Provides that a children's product
15 unsafe when it does not conform to certain requirements or
when it has been recalled. Provides for criminal penalties,
civil remedies, and exemptions. Amends the Child Care Act of
1969. Prohibits a child care facility from using or having
on the premises of the facility any unsafe children's
product, except as specified. Provides that a violation
constitutes grounds for revocation or refusal of a child care
facility license. Provides that the Department of Children
and Family Services shall ensure that each child care
facility becomes informed, on an ongoing basis, of unsafe
children's products to enable each child care facility to
effectively inspect children's products and specifically
identify unsafe children's products, and that the Department
shall adopt rules to carry out the new provisions.
LRB9100071WHdv
Fiscal Note Act
may be applicable
Correctional Budget
and Impact Note Act
may be applicable
A BILL FOR
20'd
COALITION CONSUMER RTS RI
20:22 6661-11-8633
LIBSINC
LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM
99/03/31
ENGROSSED LEGISLATION
16:09:30
LIBSINCG HB485
RONEN
AMENDMENTS: HOUSE- 2 SENATE- 0 99/03/26 S REF RULES SRUL
AN ACT in relation to children's product safety.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Children's Product Safety Act.
Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
(a) "Children's product" means a product, including but
not limited to a full-size crib, non-full-size crib, toddler
bed, bed, car seat, chair, high chair, booster chair, hook-on
chair, bath seat, gate or other enclosure for confining a
child, play yard, stationary activity center, carrier,
stroller, walker, swing, or toy or play equipment, that meets
the following criteria:
(i) the product is designed or intended for the
care of, or use by, children under 6 years of age or is
designed or intended for the care of, or use by, both
children under 6 years of age and children 6 years of age
or older; and
(ii) the product is designed or intended to come
into contact with the child while the product is used.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a
product is not a "children's product" for purposes of this
Act if:
(I) it may be used by or for the care of a child
under 6 years of age, but it is designed or intended for
use by the general population or segments of the general
population and not solely or primarily for use by or the
care of a child; or
(II) it is a medication, drug, or food or is
intended to be ingested.
(b) "Commercial user" means any person who deals in
-2-
children's products or who otherwise by one's occupation
holds oneself out as having knowledge or skill peculiar to
children's products, or any person who is in the business of
remanufacturing, retrofitting, selling, leasing, subletting,
or otherwise placing in the stream of commerce children's
products.
(c) "Person" means a natural person, firm, corporation,
limited liability company, or association, or an employee or
agent of a natural person or an entity included in this
definition.
(d) "Infant" means any person less than 35 inches tall
and less than 3 years of age.
(e) "Crib" means a bed or containment designed to
accommodate an infant.
(f) "Full-size crib" means a full-size crib as defined
in Section 1508.3 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations regarding the requirements for full-size cribs.
(g) "Non-full-size crib" means a non-full-size crib as
defined in Section 1509.2 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations regarding the requirements for non-full-size
cribs.
Section 15. Unsafe children's products; prohibition.
(a) No commercial user may remanufacture, retrofit,
sell, contract to sell or resell, lease, sublet, or otherwise
place in the stream of commerce, on or after January 1, 2000,
a children's product that is unsafe.
(b) A children's product is deemed to be unsafe for
purposes of this Act if it meets any of the following
criteria:
(1) It does not conform to all federal laws and
regulations setting forth standards for the children's
product.
(2) It has been recalled for any reason by an
-3-
agency of the federal government or the product's
manufacturer, distributor, or importer and the recall has
not been rescinded.
(3) An agency of the federal government has issued
a warning that a specific product's intended use
constitutes a safety hazard and the warning has not been
rescinded.
The Department of Public Health shall create, maintain,
and update a comprehensive list of children's products that
have been identified as meeting any of the criteria set forth
in subdivisions (1) through (3) of this subsection (b). The
Department of Public Health shall make the comprehensive list
available to the public at no cost and shall post it on the
Internet, and encourage links.
(c) A crib 19 presumed to be unsafe for purposes of this
Act if it does not conform to the standards endorsed or
established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission,
including but not limited to Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations and the American Society for Testing and
Materials, as follows:
(1) Part 1508 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations and any regulations adopted to amend or
supplement the regulations.
(2) Part 1509 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations and any regulations adopted to amend or
supplement the regulations.
(3) Part 1303 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal
Regulations and any regulations adopted to amend or
supplement the regulations.
(4) The following standards and specifications of
the American Society for Testing Materials for corner
posts of baby cribs and structural integrity of baby
cribs:
(A) ASTM F 966-90 (corner post standard).
-4-
(B) ASTM F 1169-88 (structural integrity of
full-size baby cribs).
(C) ASTM F 1822-97 (non-full-size cribs).
(d) Cribs that are unsafe shall include, but not be
limited to, cribs that have any of the following dangerous
features or characteristics:
(1) Corner posts that extend more than
one-sixteenth of an inch.
(2) Spaces between side slats more than 2.375
inches.
(3) Mattress support that can be easily dislodged
from any point of the crib. A mattress segment can be
easily dislodged if it cannot withstand at least a
25-pound upward force from underneath the crib.
(4) Cutout designs on the end panels.
(5) Rail height dimensions that do not conform to
both of the following:
(A) The height of the rail and end panel as
measured from the top of the rail or panel in its
lowest position to the top of the mattress support
in its highest position is at least 9 inches.
(B) The height of the rail and end panel as
measured from the top of the rail or panel in its
highest position to the top of the mattress support
in its lowest position is at least 26 inches.
(6) Any screws, bolts, or hardware that are loose
and not secured.
(7) Sharp edges, points, or rough surfaces, or any
wood surfaces that are not smooth and free from
splinters, splits, or cracks.
(8) Tears in mesh or fabric sides in a
non-full-size crib.
(9) A non-full-size crib that folds in a "V" shape
design does not have top rails that automatically lock
-5-
into place when the crib is fully set up.
(10) The mattress pad in a non-full-size
mesh/fabric crib exceeds one inch.
(e) An unsafe children's product, as determined pursuant
to subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b) of this
Section 15, may be retrofitted if the retrofit has been
approved by the agency of the federal government issuing the
recall or warning or the agency responsible for approving the
retrofit is different from the agency issuing the recall or
warning. A retrofitted children's product may be sold if it
is accompanied at the time of sale by a notice declaring that
it is safe to use for a child under 6 years of age. The
notice shall include: (1) a description of the original
problem which made the recalled product unsafe; (2) a
description of the retrofit which explains how the original
problem was eliminated and declaring that it is now safe to
use for a child under 6 years of age; and (3) the name and
address of the commercial user who accomplished the retrofit
certifying that the work was done along with the name and
model number of the product retrofitted. The commercial user
is responsible for ensuring that the notice is present with
the retrofitted product at the time of sale. A retrofit is
exempt from this Act if:
(i) the retrofit is for a children's product that
requires assembly by the consumer, the approved retrofit
is provided with the product by the commercial user, and
the retrofit is accompanied at the time of sale by
instructions explaining how to apply the retrofit; or
(ii) the seller of a previously unsold product
accomplishes the repair, approved or recommended by an
agency of the federal government, prior to sale.
Section 20. Exception. The commercial user shall not be
found noncompliant if the specific recalled product sold was
-6-
not included on the Department of Public Health's list on the
day before the sale.
Section 25. Penalty. A commercial user who willfully
and knowingly violates Section 15 is guilty of a Class C
misdemeanor.
Section 30. Enforcement. The Attorney General, or a
State's Attorney in the county in which a violation of this
Act occurred, may bring an action in the name of the People
of the State of Illinois to enforce the provisions of this
Act.
Section 35. Remedies. Remedies available under this Act
are in addition to any other remedies or procedures under any
other provision of law that may be available to an aggrieved
party.
Section 900. The Child Care Act of 1969 is amended by
adding Section 5.2 and changing Section 8 as follows:
(225 ILCS 10/5.2 new)
Sec. 5.2. Unsafe children's products.
(a) A child care facility may not use or have on the
premises, on or after July 1, 2000, an unsafe children's
product as described in Section 15 of the Children's Product
Safety Act. This subsection (a) does not apply to an antique
or collectible children's product if it is not used by, or
accessible to, any child in the child care facility.
(b) The Department of Children and Family Services shall
notify child care facilities, on an ongoing basis, of the
provisions of this Section and the Children's Product Safety
Act and of unsafe children's products, as determined in
accordance with that Act, in plain, non-technical language
-7-
that will enable each child care facility to effectively
inspect children's products and identify unsafe children's
products. The Department of Children and Family Services
shall adopt rules to carry out this Section.
(225 ILCS 10/8) (from Ch. 23, par. 2218)
Sec. 8. The Department may revoke or refuse to renew the
license of any child care facility or refuse to issue full
license to the holder of a permit should the licensee or
holder of a permit:
(1) fail to maintain standards prescribed and published
by the Department;
(2) violate any of the provisions of the license issued;
(3) furnish or make any misleading or any false
statement or report to the Department;
(4) refuse to submit to the Department any reports or
refuse to make available to the Department any records
required by the Department in making investigation of the
facility for licensing purposes;
(5) fail or refuse to submit to an investigation by the
Department;
(6) fail or refuse to admit authorized representatives
of the Department at any reasonable time for the purpose of
investigation;
(7) fail to provide, maintain, equip and keep in safe
and sanitary condition premises established or used for child
care as required under standards prescribed by the
Department, or as otherwise required by any law, regulation
or ordinance applicable to the location of such facility;
(8) refuse to display its license or permit;
(9) be the subject of an indicated report under Section
3 of the< >Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act<"> or fail
to discharge or sever affiliation with the child care
facility of an employee or volunteer at the facility with
-8-
direct contact with children who is the subject of an
indicated report under Section 3 of that Act;
(10) fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.1;
(11) fail to exercise reasonable care in the hiring,
training and supervision of facility personnel;
(12) fail to report suspected abuse or neglect of
children within the facility, as required by the Abused and
Neglected Child Reporting Act;
(13) fail to comply with Section 5.1 or 5.2<.>of this
Act; or
(14) be identified in an investigation by the Department
as an addict or alcoholic, as defined in the Alcoholism and
Other Drug Abuse and Dependency Act, or be a person whom the
Department knows has abused alcohol or drugs, and has not
successfully participated in treatment, self-help groups or
other suitable activities, and the Department determines that
because of such abuse the licensee, holder of the permit, or
any other person directly responsible for the care and
welfare of the children served, does not comply with
standards relating to character, suitability or other
qualifications established under Section 7 of this Act.
(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; revised 10-28-98.)
END OF INQUIRY
Testimony given to the Illinois House Children and Youth Committee of the 90th General
Assembly on September 14, 1998 on the subject of "Upgrading Child Care Licensure in
Illinois."
My name is Linda Ginzel. I am a mother.
I am also a professor at the University of Chicago.
This means that, like many working parents, I rely on daycare.
I am here today because four months ago, on May 12th my 17-month-old son, Daniel,
was strangled to death at his licensed day care home in our neighborhood, in Lincoln Park.
I am here today because there is absolutely no reason for this to ever happen again.
Danny's death was completely preventable.
You see, my little boy was killed by a defective nursery product.
His crib.
The Playskool Travel-Lite Portable Crib --where he napped in the afternoons at his day care
home.
These faulty cribs have hinges in the top rails that allow them to collapse and fold flat for
storage. They are defective because they can collapse unexpectedly while the product is in
use. (Refer to copies of the Urgent Alert.)
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Danny was not the first
victim of this defective crib, he was not the second, he was not the third, he was not even
the fourth child to die. My son, Daniel, was the fifth baby whose neck was caught
between the top rails of this defective crib and strangled to death. Three babies were killed
before the product was officially recalled in 1993 and two babies had died since the recall.
How is it possible? How can such a deadly crib be found in a day care facility licensed by
the state of Illinois? You should know that just eight days before this crib collapsed and
strangled my son to death his day care home passed a DCFS inspection.
I went to DCFS to ask this question. How is it possible?
Three weeks after my son was killed, I met with Camille Sleet the head of licensing for
Cook County. Ms. Sleet said that currently there is nothing in their rules and regulations
about recalled products. As for nursery equipment in day care homes, the licensing
standards in section 406.22; item F.1 reads: "The equipment must be must be appropriate
to the developmental needs of the child in care. Safe, sturdy, well-constructed individual
cribs, playpens or port-a-cribs for infants shall be equipped with good firm, fitting
mattresses made of waterproof materials that can be washed. Washable cots may be used
for children 15 months of age and over."
Safe, sturdy and well constructed.
Recalled, deadly nursery equipment is by definition unsafe. Unsafe enough to kill.
Camille Sleet understood the urgent need to get life-saving information about these deadly
cribs to all day care providers and inspectors. As a result of our June 9th meeting and her
efforts, Jesse McDonald sent out the recall information that I had provided to the DCFS.
The mailing included all licensed day care home, centers and foster homes.
I am grateful for this immediate response, but this alone is not enough to prevent another
tragedy. Current licensing standards simply do not protect our children from deadly,
recalled nursery furniture and juvenile equipment routinely used in day care settings such as
high chairs, baby carrier seats and infant swings and other such products.
As parents, my husband and I placed our children in licensed day care with the
understanding that minimal safety standards were being met and monitored by the state.
I know that much of the work of this committee is concerned with issues of quality in day
care.
I want you to understand that Danny had quality day care.
My testimony today is about something much more basic than the broad and complex
issues of "quality."
My testimony today is about an issue that is much easier to define and address effectively; it
is about minimum safety standards for licensed day care facilities in the state of Illinois.
In the four months since my son's death, my husband and I have learned a lot about what
is wrong with the current recall process. And as a result, we founded a non profit
organization called Kids In Danger. The focus of our efforts is on preventing childhood
death and disability due to faulty, recalled nursery equipment. I hope that you will all visit
our website at kidsindanger.org to see what we are doing in order to try and prevent the
next death.
Here's what else can be done:
1. Juvenile product recall information should be provided at orientation sessions for
potential licensees.
2. In their application for a license, providers should be required to complete and sign a
checklist of their juvenile furniture and nursery equipment, such as cribs, play yards,
strollers, high chairs, infant swings. The checklist would be completed when compared
with the recall information. All that is needed are the names of manufacturers and model
numbers for each item.
3. During the site inspection that is required to open a newly licensed day care, the DCFS
inspector would verify the equipment placed on the checklist against the recall information
and sign off on the checklist*. Day care facilities already licensed and in operation would
also complete the checklist and verification procedure.
4. Because recalls can occur at any stage in a product's lifecycle, it is necessary for a
monthly or quarterly newsletter with updated recall information. This information should
be provided on a state-wide basis by the DCFS so that the chain of accountability is
evident. That is, the state agency that provide licenses and oversight should also provide
licensees with critical recall information. Then, when the DCFS performs a check,
everyone knows what is and what is not allowed.
5. Furthermore, recall information should be information posted in a visible location at all
licensed day care facilities. If this is done, parents can serve as a second set of eyes on the
daycare; and know to check their own equipment at home.
The point is that issuing and complying with safety recalls by licensed daycares should be
mandatory and visible to all. Thank you.
*Additional Note: This equipment verification procedure would become part of the
regularly-scheduled DCFS inspections.
Chicago Tribune
MetroChicago TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 1998
State told
"Current licensing standards
simply do not protect our chil-
of fatal flaw
dren from deadly, recalled nurs-
ery furniture and juvenile
equipment routinely used in
in day-care
day-care settings such as high
chairs, baby carrier seats and
inspections
infant swings and other such
products," said Linda Ginzel. 39,
Danny's mother and a Univer-
sity of Chicago professor.
By Cornella Grumman
DCFS Deputy Director Mary
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Sue Morsch agreed to Ginzel's
suggestions that product recall
The state's child-welfare
information be provided at ori-
agency inspected the day-care
entation sessions for potential
center where little Danny Key-
licensees, that special invento-
sar was strangled by a defective
ries of day-care equipment be
crib only eight days before the
compared with product recall
tragedy occurred. according to
lists and that a newsletter be
emotional testimony given to a
mailed to providers and passed
panel of Illinois lawmakers
along to parents with product
Monday.
safety updates.
And had state licensing proce-
The hearing at the James R.
dures required inspectors to
Thompson Center came in
look for recalled equipment
response to news articles earlier
being used in day-care facilities.
this summer and an outcry by
the 17-month-old might still be
child-care advocates about other
alive today, the boy's mother
problems plaguing the state's
told members of the House Com-
day-care licensing system.
mittee on Children and Youth.
"Months and months of delays
Officials with the Department of
were hindering the ability of
Children and Family Services
new programs to come on-line
said they will try to address
and for existing child-care pro-
such shortcomings in their
grams to be re-licensed," said
inspection procedures.
state Rep. Carol Ronen (D-
Chicago), who chairs the com-
The Playskool Travel-Lite por-
table crib model had been
mittee. "These delays caused
recalled in 1993, after three
problems for the providers and
babies were killed in separate
most critically, limited the
incidents when their necks were
options available for parents
seeking child care."
caught between the top rails.
KIDS IN DANGER™
Broadcast Media Overview
National Television
NBC-"Extra"
ABC-"The Oprah Winfrey Show"
NBC-"The Today Show"
ABC-"20/20"
CBS-"This Morning"
Regional & Local Television
FOX6 News-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
UPN9 News-New York, New York
CBS-Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
WLNS6TV-Lansing, Michigan
NBC6-Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
WCIU-Chicago, Illinois
ABC7-Chicago, Illinois
Channel 66-Chicago, Illinois
NBC5-Chicago, Illinois
WFLD(FOX)-Chicago, Illinois
CBS2-Chicago, Illinois
WFBT-Chicago, Illinois
CLTV-Chicago, Illinois
WTTW-Chicago, Illinois
Radio
WPHM-Detroit, Michigan
KMOX-St. Louis, Missouri
KAZU FM-California's Central Coast
US*99-Chicago, Illinois
WMAQ-AM(CNN)-Chicago, Illinois
WBEZ FM-Chicago, Illinois
WBBM-AM(CBS)-Chicago, Illinois
KIDS IN DANGER™
Broadcast Media - Partial List
National Television:
NETWORK SERIES
SEGMENT TITLE
DATE
NBC-TV
Recalls
January 5, 1999
"Extra"
NBC-TV
Parenting
January 11, 1999
"The Today Show"
ABC-TV
Remembering
January 20, 1999
"The Oprah Winfrey Show"
Your Spirit
and various rebroadcast dates
CBS-TV
Kids In Danger
March 8, 1999
"This Morning"
ABC-TV
Playing with Danger
March 22, 1999
"20/20"
Regional Television:
FOX6 News-Milwaukee
Danger for Sale
February 9, 1999
Wisconsin
CBS-Dallas/Ft. Worth
"Positively Texas"
April 8, 1999
Texas
NBC6-Miami/
Recalled Products
May 3, 1999
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
UPN9 News-New York
Product Recalls
August 2, 1999
New York
WLNS6TV-Lansing
The Danger of Recalled
August 4, 1999
Michigan
Products
Local Television:
CBS2-Chicago
Kids In Danger
September 6, 1998
NBC5-Chicago
Play Pen Recall
November 24, 1998
CBS2-Chicago
Dangerous Playpens/Cribs
November 24, 1998
Recalled
Local Television (continued):
NETWORK
SEGMENT TITLE
DATE
WTTW-Chicago
SCG&K Honors
February 4, 1999
Ginzel/Keysar
NBC5-Chicago
Recall Roulette (Part 1)
February 24, 1999
NBC5-Chicago
Recall Roulette (Part 2)
February 25, 1999
WFBT-Chicago
"Building Blocks:
February 26, 1999
The Parenting Show"
WCIU-Chicago
"The Jack Taylor Show"
March 1, 1999
NBC5-Chicago
Billboard Campaign
May 3, 1999
Various Broadcasts:
Kids In Danger, City of
March 30-April 1, 1999
CLTV; WFLD(Fox)
Chicago, and the CPSC
ABC7; NBC5; WGN9
CBS2
Various Broadcasts:
Kids In Danger, Mayor
August 25-August 26, 1999
CLTV; WFLD(Fox)
Daley, and Rep. Blagojevich
ABC7; NBC5; WGN9
Various Broadcasts:
Kids In Danger, Illinois
November 23, 1999
ABC7; WGN9
PIRG and City of Chicago
Channel 66-Chicago
Peligro Olvidado
March 1, 2000
NBC5-Chicago
Danny's Law
May 22, 2000
Radio Appearances:
WPHM-Detroit
"The John Hill Show"
September 24, 1998
Michigan
WMAQ-AM(CNN)
All News 67
March 30, 1999
Chicago, Illinois
WBBM-AM(CBS)
Newsradio78
March 30, 1999
Chicago, Illinois
US*99-Chicago
"Chicago Up Close"
June 6, 1999
Illinois
KMOX-St. Louis
News
Missouri
June 25, 1999
KAZU FM-Central Coast
"The Roadside Café"
July 5, 1999
California
Radio Appearances (continued):
NETWORK
SEGMENT TITLE
DATE
WBEZ FM -Chicago
News/NPR
August 26, 1999
Illinois
WBBM-AM(CBS)
Newsradio78
November 23, 1999
Chicago, Illinois
KIDS IN DANGER
Print Media Overview
Magazine Feature Articles
Chicago Magazine (November 1998)
People Magazine (June 28, 1999)
Child Magazine (February 1999)
Small World (August 1999)
Mother Jones (November/December 1998)
Magazine News Shorts
Baby Talk (March 1999)
Newsweek (May 1999)
Children's Ministry (November/December 1998)
Twins (July/August 1999)
U.S. News & World Report (April 1999)
Consumer Reports (July 1999)
Brill's Content (October; November 1998)
Injury Prevention (1999, vol. 5)
Newspapers
Boston Sunday Globe
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun-Times
Illinois Times
The Hyde Park Herald (Chicago)
The Plainfield Sun (Plainfield, Illinois)
Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)
The Chicago Maroon
Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, New York)
Daily Southtown (Chicago)
Newsletters & Regional Parent Magazines
Boulder County Parent (Colorado)
Illinois Hotel-Motel Association
San Francisco-Peninsula Parent
The Resale Industry Newsletter
Rhode Island Parent's Paper
Chicagoland Safe Kids
Rodfei Zedek Bulletin
The Children's Safety Network
The Newsletter of the Danny Foundation
Mid Town News
Texas EMS Magazine
Hollywood Video Insider
CCR Reports
KIDS IN DANGER™
Print Media - Partial List
Magazines:
BabyTalk, Smalltalk. "Total Recall." March 1999, p. 17.
Brill's Content. Letters to the Editor. Complaint by Kathleen Begala, Public Affairs Director
Consumer Product Safety Commission. October 30, 1999, www.brillscontent.com.
Brill's Content. Letters to the Editor. Response by Jonathan Eig, Executive Editor
Chicago Magazine. November 5, 1999, www.brillscontent.com.
Chicago Magazine. "How Danny Died" by Jonathan Eig. November 1998, p. 62-82.
Chicago Magazine, Letters. "Crib Notes." January 1999, p. 10-11.
Chicago Magazine, "Impact players: The 1998 Chicagoans of the Year." January 1999
p. 63-68.
Chicago Magazine, Letters. "Total Recall." February 1999, p. 10.
Chicago Magazine, Frontline. "Mister Walker; Our heroes: Cheers and tears marked the
awards luncheon honoring our 1998 Chicagoans of the Year." March 1999, p. 26.
Child Magazine. "Safety warning: What every parent and caregiver must know about
recalls to keep children safe" by Ellen Liberman and Marla Felcher. February 1999
p. 28-33.
Child Magazine, Editor's Letter. "Hard Lessons Learned" by Pamela Abrams. February
1999, p. 10.
Child Magazine, Feedback. "Recall Warning." May 1999, p. 11.
Child Magazine, Feedback. "Recall Warning." August 1999, p. 12.
Children's Ministry, Keeping Current with Kids. "Product Recalls." November/ December
1998, p. 12.
Consumer Reports, Frontlines. "Product Safety: Beefing up product recalls." July 1999
p.9.
Injury Prevention, News and Notes. "Kids In Danger media coverage." 1999, Vol. 5, p. 91.
Mother Jones, Outfront. "Silent Recall" by E. Marla Felcher and Ellen Liberman.
November/December 1998, p. 17-18.
Magazines (continued):
Mother Jones. "A little bit louder now" by Tim Dickinson. January/February 1999, p.
21.
Newsweek, Family Briefs. "Online Recall Resources." May 17, 1999, p. 90.
People Magazine. "Total Recall: A child's death spurs his parents' fight to see unsafe
products taken off the market," by Susan Schindehette and Barbara Sandler.
June 28, 1999, pp. 105-106.
Small World. "Investigation: Recalled products under the gun. Armed with media
interest, consumers and not-for-profit organizations are leading a movement to change
the process by which juvenile product manufacturers handle recalls and standardize their
products," by Rose Palazzolo. August 1999, pp. 20-22.
Twins. "Backyard Babies: From bouncy seats to baby boundaries, safe fun in the sun,"
by Jill Klinge. July/August 1999, pp. 44-45.
U.S. News & World Report, Science and Ideas. "The risks of daycare" by Lynn
Rosellini. April 26, 1999, p. 64.
Newspapers:
Boston Sunday Globe, Consumer Beat. "After child's death in crib, couple faults product
recall system" by Patricia Wen and Bruce Mohl. June 28, 1998.
Boston Sunday Globe, Consumer Beat. "Another crib death" by Patricia Wen and Bruce
Mohl. September 6, 1998.
The Chicago Maroon, Vol. 110, Issue 20. "Chicago magazine names three profs
'Chicagoans of the year" by Daniel Kingery. January 12, 1999, p. 1.
Chicago Sun-Times. "Crib death leads city to publicize recalls." February 2, 1999.
Chicago Sun-Times. "Parents who lost infant son spread word about recalls" by Michael
Gillis. February 18, 1999.
Chicago Tribune, Metro Chicago. "Boy's playpen death spurs recall efforts: Second-hand
sales also targeted" by Jon Bigness. June 15, 1998.
Chicago Tribune, Metro Chicago. "State told of fatal flaw in day-care inspections"
by Cornella Grumman. September 15, 1998.
Chicago Tribune. "Thanks for Making our Nurseries Safer" Allstate Insurance Company
Advertisement. October 29, 1998.
Chicago Tribune. "City highlights unsafe products for kids" by Gary Washburn.
March 31, 1999.
Daily Herald. "Study: Food safety a top priority for residents" by Allison Kaplan,
October 26, 1999.
Newspapers (continued):
Daily Southtown. "Defective cribs meet their match: Parents file suit, warn others of
potential dangers" by Kristin Cleary, August 24, 1998, pp. 1-2.
The Hyde Park Herald. "U of C profs named outstanding Chicagoans." January 20,
1999.
The Hyde Park Herald. "U of C profs work for safer kids' products" by John Greenfield.
September 1, 1999.
Illinois Times, Local. "Parents seek to get word out on crib: Couple starts foundation to
warn others about recalled crib that took the life of their son" by Kristin Cleary
August 24, 1998, pp. B1-B2.
The Plainfield Sun (Plainfield, IL). "Recall, Will Robinson: Information is consumers' best
weapon against defective merchandise" by Susan Frick Carlman. July 7, 1999, pp. 33-34.
Press & Sun Bulletin (Binghamton, NY). "Dangerous cribs in use despite recalls, deaths"
by Lee Shepherd. October 15, 1999.
Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). "Popular dive sticks recalled" by Mitch Lipka.
June 25, 1999.
Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). "Consumers often don't get word about dangers"
"Deaths of six babies expose fatal flaws of system"; "Crusading against a crib"
by Mitch Lipka. November 29, 1999.
Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). "Technology to make notification automatic"
by Mitch Lipka. November 30, 1999.
Newsletters:
The Boulder County Parent, Letters to the Editor. "Prevent the death of next child."
July 1998, p. 14.
CCR Reports, News from the Coalition for Consumer Rights, "Children's Product Safety
Act"; "Put tobacco money to work preventing injuries." December 1999.
Chicagoland Safe Kids. "Chicago organization raises awareness about dangerous juvenile
products." February 1999.
Children's Safety Network Notes. "Urgent new alert: Some portable cribs/playpens may
be unsafe." Summer 1998.
Cribnotes, Newsletter of The Danny Foundation, Vol. 11, No. 4. "Deaths in portable
cribs/play yards." Summer 1998, p. 1.
Cribnotes, Newsletter of The Danny Foundation, Vol. 12, No. 2. "Legislative News:
Illinois Recall Legislation" Summer 1999, p. 6.
Hollywood Video Insider, Hollywood Kids, "Did you know
38 million individual
children's products were recalled in 1998 alone?" Holiday 1999 Issue, p. 14.
Newsletters (continued):
INNovations, The Newsletter of the Hotel-Motel Association of Illinois. "Child safety law
to impact Illinois hotels." August 1999, p. 3.
Mid Town News, City People in Focus, Vol. 19, and No. 12. "Grieving parents fighting
for kids in danger." December 1998, p. 3.
Rodfei Zedek Bulletin. "The Pulpit Shelf: Safety-Especially for children."
May 31, 1999, p. 7.
Rhode Island Parents' Paper. "Parents fight for safer kid's products." November 1988,
p. 8.
San Francisco-Pennisula Parent. "Important recall information for parents" by Tara
Aronson. May 1999, p. 16.
Texas EMS Magazine. "Kids In Danger: Recall Web site launched" by Kelly Harrell
September/October 1999, p. 8.
Too Good To Be Threw, The Resale Industry Newsletter, Vol. 16, no. 5. "Beware: Don't
sell danger." September/October 1998, p. 9.
KIDS IN DANGER™
Honors & Awards
1999 Community Champion Award. Kids In Danger was awarded the Civil Justice
Foundation's Community Champion Award for grassroots, progressive consumer
advocacy.
1998 Chicagoans of the Year. Chicago Magazine named Linda Ginzel and Boaz Keysar
"Chicagoans of the Year," along with Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa and blues singer Koko
Taylor.
1998 Allstate Safety Leadership Award. Kids In Danger, winner in the Illinois region, is
cited as "an outstanding honoree
an exemplary model of safety leadership."
Corporate & Foundation Grants
Premiere Benefactor $10,000 - $20,000
The Allstate Foundation
Hollywood Video
Benefactor $1,000 - $5,000
Andrew Greeley Enterprises Ltd.
Bloomberg L.P.
BMW of North America, Inc.
E*Trade
Hauser Bragg Communications, Inc.
Howard G. Haas Associates
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
The Perot Foundation
KIDS IN DANGER
Board of Directors
Kathleen A. Carpenter. President of Chicago Philanthropy Inc., founder of Chicago
Philanthropy Magazine, former vice president of the Museum of Science and Industry, former
director of development at University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Nancy Cowles. Executive Director of the Coalition for Consumer Rights.
Linda E. Ginzel, Ph.D. Clinical professor of managerial psychology and academic director of
corporate education at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Howard Haas. Chairman of Haas Associates; visiting professor in strategic management at the
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business; former President and CEO of Sealy, Inc.
Jennifer Hauser. Founder and principal in the public relations and marketing firm of
Hauser/Bragg Communications, Inc.
Boaz Keysar, Ph.D. Associate professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.
June Rosner. President of Rosner Public Relations Agency.
Chris Sweeney. Senior Vice President of MidTown Bank.
Steven W. Swibel. Principal in the law firm of Schwartz, Cooper, Greenberger & Krauss;
former chairman of the Chicago Bar Association Federal Tax Committee.
Robert R. Tanz, M.D. Attending pediatrician, associate medical director of the Violent Injury
Prevention Center at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, associate professor and
director of Medical Education in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University
Medical School.
Lisa M. Turano. General Counsel of Turano Baking Company.
KIDS IN DANGERSM
A nonprofit organization for the protection of young children from dangerous juvenile products
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