Smart baby monitor maker Owlet has disclosed that a child died after becoming entangled in a camera cable and asked all camera users to run a safety check in its app. The company said it will send cable guards free of charge and reissued its guidelines on managing cords around cribs.
According to Philadelphia TV station 6abc, Owlet, a smart baby monitor maker, posted a safety notice on social media on Friday saying a child died in a household that was using its product. The child became entangled in a loose, exposed camera cable. The company asked all camera users to complete a "safety check" in its dedicated app and said the check is required for every camera registered to an account.
Owlet said the family involved was not using a cable guard at the time. A cable guard is a protective piece that covers the cord and secures it to the wall. The company said it is aware of 91 complaints since the release of its first camera that the guard had come loose or detached from the wall entirely because of adhesive problems, which can create a strangulation hazard. It plans to send new cable guards at no cost.
According to the company, the check takes only a few minutes. No type of cable should be placed within 3 feet (about 90 centimeters) of a crib, and if that is unavoidable, it should be covered and firmly secured to the wall. Owlet said that starting on the 13th, it will include replacement cable guards with the Dream Sight and Dream Duo products sold on its website. Camera users can find details in the Dream App.
Owlet is best known for the Dream Sock, a wearable health monitor worn on a baby's foot. The product is often used together with the camera system and shows pulse, oxygen levels, sleep trends and room conditions in real time.