Surgeon had to sew Bristol toddler's finger back on
When Scarlett was nearly two-years-old, the inquisitive toddler was eager to get into her Maclaren pushchair one day.
She was so eager, in fact, when mum Kirsty went to snap the hinges in place, the little finger on Scarlett's right hand got caught and was cut clean off.
The company which made the pushchair has made news across the world recently as parents have questioned the safety of their prams. Owners of one million buggies in the US were told to stop using them after it emerged a dozen children had lost fingertips in hinges.
US customers are now being sent safety kits, including a fabric cover for the hinge mechanism, but UK owners of identical models need to request one by emailing or calling the company.
Initially, Maclaren was not going to give out the kits here, but so many incidents have been reported that mums and dads can now get them.
Mum-of-three Kirsty said: "I want to appeal to parents and grandparents to get these free safety kits because accidents do happen. It is happening, and it happened to my daughter.
"It was horrific, especially having to go back to hospital every couple of days to check there was no gangrene setting in."
Immediately after the accident in the hall of their house in West Town Lane, Brislington, Kirsty and her husband Scott could not find the missing three-quarters of Scarlett's finger anywhere. By the time they were at Frenchay hospital they were told they had just 20 minutes to go back and find it or Scarlett would lose it forever. Scott went home and found it still trapped in the push-chair, packed it in ice and brought it to the hospital.
Fortunately, surgeons were able to save her finger and after a series of check-ups, it is now disfigured, but OK.
Kirsty, 34, added: "When it happened I didn't report it because I just thought it was an accident. But now so many people have come forward it shows there is a problem. Fortunately, Scarlett was so young she can't remember what happened that day."
With daughter Imogen, five, son Henry, 18 months, and another baby on the way, Kirsty now makes sure she only uses the Maclaren Quest Mod pram, made in 2007, when getting the children out of the car while keeping an eye on them.
Dylan Johnson, general manager of Maclaren UK, said: "We have heard from hundreds of customers and we have been able to reassure them about the quality and safety of our products.
"Most parents understand that they have to be vigilant when operating mechanical products around children, similar to the care they show when securing children in cars or protecting them around the home. We stress our buggies are completely safe and fully compliant, but if parents remain concerned, we urge them to talk to us."
Any pram up to 10 years old can use the protective hinge covers. To request them, call 01327 841320.
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