Fire and Burn Hazard Leads to Baby Monitor Recall
Nearly everything a new parent does is with the intent of keeping their baby safe. And one of the best investments new parents make to keep their child safe comes when they buy a baby monitor. By listening in on or watching the child, a parent can know their child is safe. On the other hand, the last thing any new parent wants in their baby’s room is a fire hazard. Unfortunately, one type of baby monitor is being recalled for just that.
Earlier this week, Canadian electronics distributor Lorex Technology Inc. announced a voluntary recall of about 34,000 of its Care ‘N’ Share baby monitors. That number includes 26,000 sold in the United States and 8,000 sold in Canada. The rationale for the recall was safety concerns over the burn or fire hazard caused by a faulty battery.
While there haven’t been any reported injuries to date, at least 488 incidents have been reported in which the monitor’s blue lithium-ion polymer batteries, which power the units, have overheated and swelled. In 140 of those cases, the battery’s plastic casing came off. When that happens, it is possible for a consumer to be burned. It’s also possible for the batteries to catch fire.
Three models of baby monitors are affected by this recall; model numbers WL3520, WL4320 and WL3401. The model numbers can be found printed on the back panel of the product. The monitors, which are sold bundled with a camera for between $60 and $140, are about four inches tall and five inches wide and they have a white plastic back, with either a white or black border, with either the word “LOREX” or “The Lorex Baby” printed just below the monitor screen. The products were sold nationally between May 2013 and April 2016 at a wide variety of stores, including Babies “R” Us, B&H, Best Buy, Target, The Home Depot and Wal-Mart, as well as specialty baby stores. The units were also sold online at sites like Amazon and lorextechnology.com.
If you have one of these monitors, you should stop using it immediately and return it for a full refund. Some experts are also offering warnings regarding any and all products operating with lithium-ion batteries, suggesting that you only purchase those products that have been properly vetted by independent third parties, like Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) that conduct safety checks. It is also recommended that people keep an eye on such products during charging, to make sure they don’t overheat.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a defective consumer product, especially a product made for children, please contact the Consumer Product Defect Lawyer at The Hill Law Firm immediately, so that we can get to the bottom of things and get you the compensation you deserve.