NHTSA complaint: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN — CHILD SEAT:HARNESS:STRAP/WEBBING
CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO CAR SEAT HARNESS PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW CAR SEAT MANUFACTURERS HAD VAGUE WARNINGS ABOUT STRANGULATION IN THEIR MANUALS, PARENTING MAGAZINES OR WEBSITES. OCCASIONALLY, THEY INCLUDED INFORMATION ABOUT GENERAL CAR SEAT SAFETY, AND HOSPITALS OFTEN PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT ENSURING THAT CAR SEATS WERE INSTALLED PROPERLY. HOWEVER, SHE HAD NEVER SEEN ANY PIECE OF COMMUNICATION THAT REINFORCED HOW STRANGULATION COULD OCCUR IF THE TOP AND BOTTOM PART OF THE HARNESS WERE NOT FASTENED. THE CONSUMER STATED HER FRIEND'S 11 MONTH OLD SON DIED, AFTER THE BABYSITTER SITTER PLACED HIM IN THE CAR SEAT, BUCKLED THE TOP PART OF THE HARNESS, BUT DID NOT LATCH THE BOTTOM CONNECTION, BECAUSE SHE DISCOVERED HIS DIAPER NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. WHEN THE BABYSITTER RETURNED, SHE DISCOVERED THE BABY, HAD WIGGLED DOWN WHERE HE BECAME TRAPPED IN THE TOP PART OF THE HARNESS AND DIED OF ASPHYXIATION. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation