Inflatable Air Mattresses (Last Updated 07/16/2008)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is supporting development of a new labeling standard for portable, inflatable air mattresses to address suffocation hazards to infants. ASTM formed a new subcommittee, F15.63, Inflatable Air Mattresses, to develop labeling requirements appropriate for air mattresses.
Since 2002, CPSC has received reports of 16 deaths, mostly infants younger than 8 months of age, who were placed to sleep on air mattresses. Eleven suffocated in a face-down position on air mattresses, and five died due to suffocation after falling into gaps between the mattresses and adjacent furniture or walls. Even properly inflated air mattresses are usually too soft for infants to maintain a clear airway.
Additional Information
Safety Alert:
Press Releases:
Deadly Danger: CPSC Urges Parents to Not Place Infants on Air Mattresses, December 18, 2007
Voluntary Standard and Code Activities
Inflatable Air Mattress Standard - Meeting Log, April 17, 2008
Correspondence to ASTM International
February 14, 2008. Request for new activity to address suffocation hazard.
Contact ASTM International:
For further information, please contact Len Morrissey at lmorriss@astm.org or ASTM International at www.astm.org
Contact CPSC
For additional information or to comment, please contact cpsc-os@cpsc.gov
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