Australian health department recalls customised seats for disabled children due to safety issues
Mobility equipment supplier Medifab has issued a recall for its Shuttle Discovery Seats because they might cause injury to users, announced Australia’s Health Department through its Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA, website.
Designed for children with special needs, the Shuttle Discovery Seat is part of an ergonomic seating system for kids between the ages of six months and four years. The seat can be attached to different bases, such as a stroller, high chair or rocking chair, for different functions.
The New Zealand-based company said that there are two issues that can potentially lead to user injury when the seat is used with a stroller frame that has tie-down fittings within a vehicle. It was discovered that on some Shuttle Discovery Seats, the rear "S-tubes" may move in and out excessively when the backrest is rocked backward and forward.
While some movement is considered normal, the "S-tubes" might come out of the mounting block if the vehicle in which the stroller is being transported is involved in an accident. This might pose potential serious injury to the user, although the likelihood of such occurrence is very low, the company said.
Another potential safety issue involves the seat’s "Tilt in Space" plungers, which may not engage correctly in the plastic sides. This may happen when the vehicle in which the stroller is being transported is involved in an accident, which can cause the seat to tilt back and cause serious injury to the user.
To address the issues, Shuttle Discovery Seats manufactured before August 28, 2015 will be recalled for corrective actions. While all such seats should be upgraded, Medifab said it is prioritising the ones where fittings have been supplied for use in a vehicle with tie-downs.
To date, the company said that there have been no reports of injuries as a result of either of these safety issues.
In September 2014, the Shuttle Discovery Stroller & Seating System won first prize in the commercial category at the Better Technology Awards, funded by the National Committee on Rehabilitation Engineering in Australia, according to Medifab's website. Apart from being stylish and highly functional for young children with complex posture needs, the judges said care had also been taken by Medifab to ensure that the new system met current standards for the products in Australia and New Zealand.
Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or tell us what you think below.
