In 2001, the Washington State Legislature passed SHB 1365, RCW 43.70.660. This law directed the Department of Health (DOH) to establish and maintain a product safety education campaign to raise awareness about the dangers associated with recalled children’s products such as cribs, playpens, walkers and strollers. The ultimate goal of the campaign is to reduce injuries and deaths to children due to recalled products.

Since September 2001, the Washington State Department of Health’s Injury Prevention Program, has worked closely with the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, and key stakeholders to implement a statewide child product safety campaign. In December 2001, DOH Injury Prevention Program contracted with Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center to assist with the development, research, implementation, and evaluation of a public awareness and education campaign.

Initial research found a high level of awareness about recalled products in general, a high degree of concern about the dangers associated with recalled children’s products, but a low level of knowledge about resources available to learn more or check for a recalled product.

The campaign specifically targeted parents, foster parents, other caregivers, child care providers, consignment and resale stores selling infant and childcare products, and charitable and governmental entities serving infants, children, and families as required by RCW 43.70.660(2).

Campaign messages and materials were developed and pre-tested with parent focus groups. These include a full size poster, two-sided fact sheet, flyers and magnets. All materials are in English and Spanish. The campaign launched in June 2002.

The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness of recalled children’s products and encourage parents, guardians, childcare providers to check for recalled products in their homes and day care facilities. The campaign also directs people to the CPSC toll-free hotline, Web site, and email alert service.