Hazardous Space Prompts Recall Of 3,100 Bunk Beds

Manufacturers are recalling 3,100 wooden and metal bunk beds because openings on the top bunk can trap a child’s head, federal officials said Monday.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 38 children have died after getting their heads caught in such a space.

Since November 1994, manufacturers have recalled more than 511,400 wooden bunk beds with similar hazards. Manufacturers also have identified dangers in metal bunk beds.

The voluntary standard for bunk beds is at less than 3.5 inches between the guardrail and bed frame and in the head and foot boards on the top bunk. The beds also must have guardrails on both sides of the top bunk.

The manufacturers involved in this recall are:

Acme Trading Corp., of Vernon, Calif. Metal bunk bed, model 2441; distributed from July 1996 to January 1997 in California, Colorado, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas.

Chicken & Egg Furniture of Seattle. Horizontal and Spindle and Rung Blakely wooden bunk beds; distributed from 1987 to 1997 in California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.

IEM Furniture of City of Commerce, Calif. Metal bunk beds, models 2155B, 2155G, 2155W, 2153B, 2153G, 2153W; distributed from 1994 to 1996 in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Lewis Furniture Manufacturing Co. in Williamston, S.C. Wooden bunk bed, model 202; distributed from 1989 to January 1997 in Georgia and South Carolina.

Silver Eagle Corp., of Sacramento, Calif. Wooden bunk beds and loft beds when used in bunk configuration, model Loft-1, CBD-BunkTT, CSH-Bunk-TT, RBD-Loft, REC-BunkTT; distributed from 1995 to 1997 in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.