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[IN] HOU REA
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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO NATIONAL EDITORS:
CPSC, Lane Home Furniture Urge Renewed Search for Cedar Chests: Two
Recent Deaths Reported
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In cooperation
with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lane@ Home
Furniture is calling for a renewed search for cedar chests with lids
that automatically latch shut when closed, locking children inside.
CPSC is aware of the recent deaths of a Franklin, Mass. brother and
sister ages seven and eight who suffocated inside one of the chests.
To prevent a similar tragedy, CPSC and Lane are urging consumers to
check their "Lane" and "Virginia Maid" brand cedar chests. CPSC's
investigation has determined that the lid on the 75-year-old Lane
cedar chest closed and automatically latched shut, locking the
children inside the chest. The second-hand Lane cedar chest was bought
from a local resale store about 13 years ago.
In 1996, the Lane Company, Inc. recalled 12 million chests with
latch/locks that automatically secure the lid when closed. They began
offering new latch/locks free of charge that prevent children from
being trapped inside the chest. The new latch/locks, which Lane
continues to make available to consumers, do not automatically latch
and trap children inside the chest when the lid is closed. The
original recall included reports of six children suffocating to death
inside these chests. A seventh suffocation death and two near
fatalities occurred between 1996 and 2000.
The old style latches on all "Lane" and "Virginia Maid" brand cedar
chests manufactured between 1912 and 1987 need to be replaced. Chests
can be identified by the brand name "Lane" or "Virginia Maid" located
inside the cedar chest. These chests are often handed down through
families or purchased second-hand.
Consumers should immediately remove the latch from Lane/Virginia Maid
cedar chests and contact Lane to receive new replacement hardware.
This new hardware is easy to install by consumers in their homes and
does not automatically latch shut. For certain chests made between
1912 and 1940, consumers will receive hardware that does not latch.
For chests made from 1940 to present, consumers will receive hardware
that does not automatically latch when closed and requires a person
outside the chest to latch and lock the lid. If you own a similar hope
chest or cedar chest that is not part of the recall, disable or remove
the latch/lock. Contact Lane toll-free at (800) 327-6944, Monday to
Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, or access their web site at
www.lanefurniture.com to order the free replacement hardware.
Consumers should have the chest's serial and style numbers, which are
branded on the outside bottom or back of the chest, available when
contacting Lane.
Photos are available at:
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/CPSC-Lane-Home-Furniture-Urge-Renewed-Search-for-Cedar-Chests/
CPSC Consumer Information Hotline Contact us at this toll-free number
if you have questions about a recall: 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime Call to get
product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe
products.
Media Contact Please use the phone numbers below for all media
requests. Phone: (301) 504-7908 Spanish: (301) 504-7800 Link Text:
View CPSC contacts for specific areas of expertise
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO
SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
-0- 02/27/2014
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.cpsc.gov
CO: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
ST: District of Columbia
IN: HOU REA
PRN
-- DC73669 --
0000 02/27/2014 17:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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