Children’s Weighted Blankets Recalled after Two Deaths

The United States has an administrative agency called, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  It strives to “protects the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products . . . .”

The CPSC along with the retail store, Target, announced a “recall of about 204,000 Pillowfort Weighted Blankets, where a young child can become entrapped by unzipping and entering the blanket, posing a risk of death by asphyxiation.” One died in North Carolina, where KBA’s Whitney Butcher is licensed.

Recalled Pillowfort Weighted Blankets

The CPSC/Target recall covers several weighted blankets. The recall notes that, “[t]he blankets weigh 6 pounds, measure 60 inches long and 40 inches wide and have a removable, waterproof, washable cover. The blankets come in eight prints or colors including unicorn white, space navy, pink, blue, gray, buffalo plaid red, blue constellation, and unicorn pink.” The following are the relevant item numbers that appear on the fabric tag attached to the removable covers:

• 097-02-0140 (Unicorn – White);
• 097-02-0148 (Space Navy);
• 097-02-0361(Pink);
• 097-02-0363 (Blue);
• 097-02-0364 (Gray);
• 097-02-1603 (Buffalo Plaid – Red);
• 097-02-3904 (Blue Constellation); and
• 097-02-3905 (Unicorn – Pink).

Target sold the blankets from December 2018 through September 2022.

The Recall Provides for a Refund

The notice encourages consumers to

“Contact Target at 800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily to receive a prepaid return label to return the blankets by mail or return to any Target store. Go online at https://help.target.com/help/RedirectArticleToDetail?articleId=kA95d000000sY5c&clickSearchVar=Search+Results&searchQuery=Recalled%3A%20Target%20Childrens%20Pillowfort%20Weighted%20Blankets&articleTitle=Target+Childrens+Pillowfort+Weighted+Blankets or www.target.com and click on “Recall Information”, then on “Home Goods” for more information.

Target is also contacting all known purchasers directly to arrange returns. The consumer will receive a refund of $40 in the form of a credit for use at Target stores or online at www.target.com, or the amount on the purchase receipt if higher. Consumers can also click the “Products Recalls” tab on Target’s Facebook page for more information.”

Children injured by the blankets may have a legal claim and parents should contact a lawyer after seeking medical care

CPSC and Target’s remedy is “urging consumers to stop using the recalled weighted blankets immediately and contact Target for a refund.” A $40 refund is not going to compensate the families of dead children, obviously. Not all injuries here result in death serious brain injuries also arise from suffocation that does not result in death. Clearly, any child injured by these products should seek medical care; parents should also consider contacting an attorney afterwards.

KBA is Here to Help with Wrongful Death and Brain Injuries

The attorneys at KBA have handled death and brain injury cases. KBA has worked closely with families suffering from death and brain injuries. They require special work-up of the damages and full scope of loss. It takes more than just legal acumen. We also often work with other law firms to bring lawsuits against large companies in complex cases. So, KBA is here to help.

This post is informational. Personal injury attorneys such as those at KBA Attorneys have decades of experience navigating the many intricacies of personal injury claims and how they affect every aspect of your life. To learn more about our team and see how we can guide you, contact our office by clicking here.