MEDIA ADVISORY - IMPORTANT SAFETY ADVISORY BRITAX CHAPERONE INFANT RESTRAINT
- CHEST CLIP BREAKAGE

OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - Transport Canada is advising the public of a potential safety issue with respect to the Britax Chaperone Infant Restraint system. A total of 2,350 units manufactured between April 01, 2009 and May 31, 2010 inclusive are affected. These models are:

Frontier Models Chaperone E9L95P2, E9L95P3 and E9L95P5

Issue and Safety Risk: There is a potential safety concern with respect to possible breakage of some of their chest clips manufactured for the Chaperone infant restraint.  The resin used in the manufacturing process of the chest clips was incorrectly processed which resulted in a more brittle chest clip.  In the event of breakage, the sharp edges of the chest clip could injure an infant. 

Company Action and Consumer Recourse: Britax Child Safety, Inc. is issuing a voluntary recall of this product in both the United States and Canada.  The company has replaced approximately 400 chest clips in response to consumer requests.  Once the problem was identified, Britax Child Safety, Inc. changed the material used in the chest clip.  The company has tested the new chest clip and the company is satisfied with its performance.  Transport Canada has received no related reports of chest clip breakage or injury to an infant as a result of this defect. 

To identify if the chest clip is subject to the recall, flip the chest clip over and look for a moulding stating "PC" (polycarbonate plastic).  If such moulding is present, then contact the company.  If the moulding states "POM" (polyoxymethylene plastic) then the chest clip is not affected by this recall.

All owners of affected Chaperone infant restraints should contact Britax Child Safety, Inc. at their toll free number (1-888-427-4829) or visit www.ChaperoneSeatRecall.com to receive, free of charge, a new chest clip, as well as installation instructions.  Restraints that are still with retailers will be retrofitted prior to sale.

Until the repair kit is received, Britax Child Safety, Inc. recommends that the Chaperone infant restraint can continue to be used, but urges parents and caregivers to regularly verify that the chest clip is intact.

A public information notice was issued by Transport Canada on November 3, 2010, and further information on the Britax Chaperone Infant Restraint system can be found on Transport Canada's website at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-notices-2010p05-1100.htm

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information:

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055