Recall of Evenflo Wood Gates

Parents and Caregivers take heed – another child “safety” device was recalled on Thursday, March 25, 2010.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada, in cooperation with the manufacturer, Evenflo, announced the recall of Evenflo’s Top-of-Stair wood gates after receiving 142 reports of the slats breaking or detaching from the gates.

Nearly 200,000 of these gates have been recalled, after reports of children gaining access to the stairs through the defective slats and children being injured by the slats themselves or from falls relating to the slats.

According to the CPSC, “The slats on the gate can break or detach, posing a fall hazard to children… Evenflo has received 142 reports of slats breaking and/or detaching from the gate.

Three children gained access to stairs. One of those children fell through the gate and down five steps; another fell down one step. Injuries included four children who sustained bumps and bruises to the head and seven children who sustained minor injuries including scratches, scrapes and bruises.”

The model numbers affected by the recall, produced between October 2007 and July 2009, include 10502 and 10512.  The model number is located on the bottom rail of the gate. The defective wooden gates were sold by Toys “R” Us, Burlington Baby Depot, Kmart and other juvenile product and wholesale retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The CPSC urges parents and caretakers to cease use of the recalled gates and contact Evenflo toll-free at (800) 233-5921 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at safety.evenflo.com to receive a complimentary replacement Evenflo Top-of-Stair™ Plus Wood Gate.