Don't be a dummy about safety
SAI Global experts took to the streets around Sydney in a bid to raise awareness safety and children's products. Each year parents purchase products for their children seemingly unaware of the potential dangers they may face. Thousands of children’s products such as dummies, prams, cots, nightwear and highchairs are available in the Australian marketplace that may not meet Australian Standards.
As more than 14,000 parents gathered in Sydney in April 2005 for the Parents, Babies and Children’s Expo. SAI Global, with its expertise in product safety, issued a warning against children’s products that do not meet Australian Standards.
Dummies are a potential choking risk for young children. It is important that they comply with Australian Standard AS 2432-1991, which specifies that:
- The dummy has no loose fixtures;
- That the shield has 2 or more ventilation holes; and
- Dummies should always be sterilised before use.
The dummies should carry the following warning:
WARNING
1 USE ONLY UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION
2 DO NOT TIE DUMMY AROUND THE BABY’S NECK AS IT PRESENTS A STRANGULATION DANGER.