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### Infant Cushions Are Banned

**In 1992, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC) banned infant cushions that were involved in 36infant suffocations. The Commission took action previouslyto remove existing products from the marketplace and fromconsumers.The CPSC's action stemmed from the concern that othermanufacturers might begin production of the same or simi-larproducts. A ban of infant cushions can assure that thisproduct does not reappear into the marketplace.There are five essential features that define the infantcushions of concern.  The cushions:- have soft fabric coverings;   
- are loosely fitted with a granular material such as plasticfoam beads or pellets;   
- are easily flattened to create a nest so that the infantlies prone on them;   
- are capable of conforming to the face or body of aninfant; and   
- are intended or promoted for use by children underone year of age.   
 Of these features, the key characteristic that probably con-tributesmost to deaths is the ability of the cushions to con-form to an infant's face or body.Almost all of the incidents reported to CPSC involved chil-drenlying in a prone, stomach down position. In all but twoof the incidents, the infant was less than four months old.A death that occurred two years after the initial recallannouncement underscores that infant cushions notdestroyed may find their way back into infant use at a laterdate. **

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

 To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054, or visit CPSC's web site at www.saferproducts.gov. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.