California Company Insists on Selling Products That are Killing Babies
Otteroo is branded as America’s “Number-one trusted baby neck float,” and images of these products depict children happily playing in the water. But beneath the marketing campaigns lies a dangerous pattern of injuries and deaths among the children who use these products. Otteroo is aware of these incidents but insists on continuing to sell the baby floats anyway. Federal regulators are not impressed. But what can you do if your child has been injured by a defective product in California?
What is an Otteroo Neck Float?
Otteroo neck floats are designed to help infants float in the water. The product is designed to be placed around the baby’s neck, allowing them to float with their head above the water. They are marketed for babies over the age of 2 weeks or babies between 6 and 18 pounds. The float is inflatable.
What Do the FDA and CPSC Say About Otteroo Neck Floats?
Federal regulators are of the opinion that Otteroo neck floats are dangerous. The CPSC states that it has received 68 reports involving safety concerns about the product. All of these cases involved babies experiencing dangerous situations, and all babies had to be rescued by their caregivers. Some babies required hospitalization or resuscitation.
The FDA has advised all parents to stop using neck float products, including the Otteroo. The agency states that the device could potentially deflate, posing a drawing hazard. On the other hand, the product may also tighten around the infant’s neck, posing an additional strangulation hazard.
In 2015, Otteroo voluntarily recalled about 3,000 neck floats after the CPSC reported these hazards. However, it seems as though the company is now insistent on moving forward with further sales despite these hazards. Otteroo has issued a statement denying that the product poses hazards to children in a rare case of pushback against federal regulators. Normally, companies voluntarily recall their products upon the recommendation of the FDA or the CPSC. Otteroo’s statement reads:
“We strongly disagree with CPSC’s statement that Otteroo is defectively designed because it could deflate due to a leak — this is indeed the inherent nature of all inflatables. Unfortunately, CPSC has singled out Otteroo and ignored thousands of other inflatable children’s products on the market and has imposed an unrealistic and impossible standard that our float should not carry the risk of deflation.”
Injuries Associated with Otteroo Neck Floats
There are reports of babies losing their lives or becoming injured due to Otteroo neck floats. The product was associated with the drowning death of a 6-month-old child in Maine in 2020, and a 3-month-old child was seriously injured in New York while using the product in 2022.
Where Can I Find an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in California?
If you have been searching the California area for an experienced personal injury attorney, look no further than the Knez Law Group. With our help, you can hold negligent product manufacturers accountable for defective products. If your child has been injured by a defective product, you have every right to explore options for legal action. Book your consultation today to get started.
Matthew J. Knez graduated from the University of Redlands in California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing. He went on to pursue his Law Degree at the University of LaVerne, College of Law in Ontario, California. While pursuing his law degree he earned various awards, including CALI Award in Torts and he was on the Dean’s List. Mr. Knez was also a member of the Justice and Immigration Clinic where he worked with people seeking asylum into the United States from countries where they had experienced persecution or threat of persecution. Additionally, Mr. Knez was a member of Law Review where he was an Associate Editor and published a Law Review article on California family custody move-away cases.