A campaign has been launched in Australia to educate parents about second-hand cots and the dangers they can cause.
It has been recorded that hundreds of children per year are taken to hospital with cot-related injuries.
In a statement from commerce minister Michael Mischin, he said the campaign is an effort to stop the sale and exchange of cots that don’t meet current safety standards.
“The child safety campaign will be directed to parent groups, online classified sites, charity and second-hand furniture stores as well as the wider community.”
“Posters, a video and a smartphone app have been produced outlining the mandatory standards for cots to prevent injuries or deaths; such as the minimum and maximum gap allowed between the bars to ensure an infant won't get its head or limbs trapped.
“New parents are often given cots by friends or relatives, so it's important that these cots are examined carefully and checks are carried out to prevent any injuries or deaths. It is illegal for retail stores to sell a product that fails to comply with mandatory safety standards.”
Injuries can include arms and legs getting stuck between the bards and even the cot breaking and toppling over.
The minister has asked parents to be aware of the cot they are buying and to ensure it meet standards despite whatever financial constraints they might have.
“We don't want cots to become a death trap for infants or be the cause of an injury, so we urge all parents to make themselves familiar with the safety requirements and destroy older cots which do not meet the mandatory standards.”
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