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(NBC News) -- Every year 300 products are recalled, many of these can be dangerous to children.
While new items can be pulled off the market, Diana Gonzalez tells us why the consumer product safety commission has a warning to all those who buy toys at thrift shops and consignment stores.
Here's what can happen when playpens don't latch securely. Older car seats can also be dangerous. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns if people are unaware of product recalls.
Glenn Dunlap, Product Investigator: “Consumers continue to use them in their homes. What then happens is many of these products end up in thrift stores and consignment stores. “
In 1999, the Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted a nationwide study of resale and thrift stores and found 69 percent were selling products that had been recalled or banned or didn't meet current safety standards. Unsafe cribs for example result in 20 deaths, and 11,000 injuries each year.
Cathy Skola, The Children's Exchange: “We don't sell cribs and we stopped selling playpens for a while, when they were having problems but now they've taken care of it all.”
At the Children's Exchange in South Miami owner Cathy Skola says she won't sell used car seats that have been in accidents. She also tries not to take items that are older than 2 or 3 years.
Cathy Skola, The Children's Exchange: “And then my business partner looks on the internet and checks things and also our customers will tell us if soemthing has been recalled but its hard to keep track of everything. “
Consumers also need to keep track.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission web site is an easy way for store owners and customers to check any recalled products, not just baby items.
