The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in conjunction with BigLots of Columbus, Ohio, has announced the recall of approximately 30,000 metal futon bunk beds sold by BigLots due to a child's entrapment death.

The problem with this bunk bed is that a child (behind the futon or in the ladder area) can and did become entrapped when the futon and its metal frame were lowered from the seated to the flat position. A three-year old Burlington, Iowa, boy died after becoming entrapped at the head and neck in the bunk bed in March of 2010. The weight of the futon's metal frame prevented the child from breathing and escaping. Another hazard with this particular bunk bed is that the space between the last rung on the bunk bed's ladder and the futon mattress is too small, creating a space for a child's head and neck to become entrapped.  So, in a word, these bunk beds are "hazardous" to young children.

The bunk beds hold twin mattresses, and the bottom bunks have a convertible futon bed.  The model number BFB1008 can be located on a label on the bed's upper bunk support rail. The recalled metal futon bunk beds were manufactured in China, imported and sold exclusively by Big Lots stores nationwide from January 2009 through April 2010 for approximately $200 unassembled.

As with any recall, consumers are advised to stop using these bunk beds immediately and to contact BigLots for a repair kit which contains new ladders and other parts which can be assembled at home. For additional information on this recall, consumers may

contact Big Lots toll-free at (866) 244-5687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, e-mail the firm at talk2us@biglots.com or visit the firm's website www.biglots.com

To view a photo of the particular metal bunk bed, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11250.html 

In Childsafetyblog.org's opinion if we had purchased such a set of bunk beds, rather than repairing it or using it at all, we would pack it up and send it back to BigLots!  We also think that at some point in time this country is going to have to take a stand vis à vis the safety of Chinese products being imported into the U.S.