CPSC Warns About Suffocation and Death of Children in Old Refrigerators:
Safety Alert
Consumer Product Safety Commission
CPSC Warns About Suffocation and Death of Children in Old Refrigerators
CPSC Document #5072
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges that all unused
old-style refrigerators around the home be rendered "childproof" or, if on
public property, appropriate authorities be called to safely dispose of
the products. CPSC continues to receive reports about the tragic deaths of
young children who are suffocated because of entrapment in old
refrigerators.
The Refrigerator Safety Act was enacted August 2, 1956. The Act's
regulations which became effective October 30, 1958 require a mechanism
(usually a magnetic latch) which enables the door to be opened from the
inside in the event of accidental entrapment. This type of latch,
therefore, makes the hazardous refrigerators manufactured before that date
easy to identify. The serious entrapment hazard occurs when children,
during play, climb inside the old abandoned or carelessly stored
refrigerators to hide. Many of these refrigerators are still in use, and
when they are carelessly discarded or stored where they are accessible to
children, they become a danger.
Double deaths are not uncommon because children naturally enjoy playing
together, and old refrigerators provide an interesting place to play.
However, when the door slams shut, it is dark and the normally innocent
and familiar refrigerator becomes a death trap. Suffocation then ensues
because the tight fitting gasket, which is on the inside of the door to
seal in the cold, cuts off the child's air. This along with the insulated
construction of a refrigerator also prevents the children's screams for
help from being heard.
There are several ways to "childproof" these old discarded refrigerators.
The surest method is to take off the door completely and in most cases
this is a simple process using a screwdriver. If the door will not come
off, chain and padlock the door permanently and tightly closed. A third
alternative is to remove or disable the latch completely so the door will
no longer lock when closed. A wooden block screwed to the door to keep it
from closing is also a possibility. Another helpful deterrent is to leave
the shelves in the refrigerator to discourage children from getting
inside. It is unlawful in many local jurisdictions to discard old
refrigerators without first removing the door.
Old electric refrigerators are not the only killer of children.
Self-locking ice refrigerators can also present a suffocation hazard to
small children because they can not be opened from the inside.
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