0 Safety 1st toilet and cabinet locks recalled due to locking failures

Safety 1st sliding cabinet lock being recalled.
(Phto: US CPSC)

About 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks from Safety 1st are being recalled, warned two government agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The locks fail to keep children out of toilet bowls and prevent drowning nor do they secure household cabinets which may contain harmful home cleaners and other chemicals.

Dorel Juvenile Group, which markets the recalled Safety 1st locks, has received 110 reports of failing toilet locks and 278 incidents of failing cabinet slide locks. In one of reports, a failing cabinet slide lock enabled a 13-month old child access to a craft kit and swallow small, toxic beads. (The child was treated at a hospital and released after overnight observation.)

As with the recall of 900,000 Safety 1st cabinet locks in March, safety experts recommend that parents should keep the 24-hour hotline to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (800-222-1222) close at hand in case of such toddler emergencies.

This current safety recall involves Safety 1st Sure Fit toilet locks with model numbers 48003 and 48103 as well as Safety 1st cabinet slide locks with model numbers 12013 and 12014. (Model numbers can be found on the back of the locks.) The toilet locks and cabinet locks were sold at major national retail chains such as Home Depot, Target, Walmart and Bed, Bath and Beyond from January 2005 to April 2010 and January 2000 through March 2009, respectively. Amazon.com also sold both lock through April 2012.

Consumer are urged to stop using the recalled safety locks immediately and contact DJG (toll-free: 877-416-8105 website: www.djgusa.com) for free replacement locks. Cleaners and other dangerous household chemicals stored in now-unlocked cabinets should be kept out of reach of children and access to bathrooms should be monitored, warns the CPSC.

For more safety advice, see:

• Simple tips to keep kids safe at their grandparents' house
• Consumer Reports' Babies & kids section
• Consumer Reports video: Poison safety

Sources:
Safety 1st Toilet and Cabinet Locks Recalled Due to Lock Failure [US CPSC]
Consumer Product Recalls [Health Canada]
Safety Notices [Dorel Juvenile Group]