Poco Child Carrier Recall Issued After Children Injured
Following at least one infant skull fracture and several other injuries involving children nationwide, nearly 90,000 backpack baby carriers are being recalled, due to a risk that children may fall through the leg openings.
A Poco Plus and Poco Premium child backpack carrier recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on April 27, following at least four consumer complaints indicating that infants were able to fall through the leg opening.
According to reports received by the CPSC, the falls resulted in three minor scratches and bruising and one child fracturing their skull. Customers are being urged to stop using the carrier immediately, due to the serious risk of injury.
The carriers are being recalled due to the potential for young children to accidently fall and slip through the leg opening harness. If a child is able to maneuver both legs into one opening, they could fall through the backpack, leaving the child to sustain a fall impact that could result in serious and even fatal injuries.
The recall includes Poco Plus and Poco Premium child backpack carriers that are equipped with a metal frame and a gray padded child seat inside. The recalled products were sold in either “Romper Red”, “Koala Grey”, and “Bouncing Blue” colors and are marked with production codes S12SBPR1, S12SBPR1B, S12SBPR2, S12SBPR3, S12SBPR4, F12SBPR1, F12SBPR2, S13SB IPO, S13SBPR1S14SBPR3, S14SBPR4, S14SBPR5, S13SBPR2, S13SBPR3, S13SBPR4, F13SBPR1, F13SBPR2, F13SBPR3, S14SBPR1 or S14SBPR2.
The products were manufactured in Vietnam by Osprey Child Safety Products LLC and Osprey Packs Inc., of Cortez Colorado. They were sold at REI and specialty stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from January 2012 through December 2015 for between $200 and $300.
Customers are being asked to stop using the recalled carrier backpacks immediately and to contact Osprey for a free Seat Pad Insert for use along with the existing safety straps to secure the child within the carrier. Customers may contact Osprey customers service at 866-951-5197 or email them at pocoseatpad@ospreypacks.com or visit them online at www.ospreypacks.com and navigate to the “Poco Safety Notices” link in the top right hand corner for additional information.