Agency urges new elevator guidance from vacation rental companies after child's death

A government agency is urging vacation rental companies to require owners to disable at-home elevators or make safety modifications following the death of a child in North Carolina earlier this month.

  • US gymnast tests positive for COVID-19 days before the games

    US gymnast tests positive for COVID-19 days before the games

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a close up of a rock mountain: Utah man dies after falling into canyon while hiking

    Utah man dies after falling into canyon while hiking

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a close up of a sign: Senate holds field hearing on Georgia elections law amid voting rights battle

    Senate holds field hearing on Georgia elections law amid voting rights battle

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a man wearing a suit and tie: Biden pushes back on inflation fears, touts infrastructure plans

    Biden pushes back on inflation fears, touts infrastructure plans

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a person standing next to a window: Delta variant driving up COVID infections

    Delta variant driving up COVID infections

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a blue sign in front of a building: On Location: July 19, 2021

    On Location: July 19, 2021

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • Major opioid epidemic trial begins

    Major opioid epidemic trial begins

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a truck that is driving down the street: Multiple 1st responders injured, 1 person dead after shooting spree

    Multiple 1st responders injured, 1 person dead after shooting spree

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a person holding a sign: Hayley Arceneaux shares how surviving cancer prepared her for SpaceX mission

    Hayley Arceneaux shares how surviving cancer prepared her for SpaceX mission

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a group of people in front of a building: Biden pushes Congress on infrastructure

    Biden pushes Congress on infrastructure

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a man wearing a uniform: Chicago police unveil new gun task force

    Chicago police unveil new gun task force

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a close up of an airport: 2-year-old killed after wrong-way driver slams into car on freeway

    2-year-old killed after wrong-way driver slams into car on freeway

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a man swinging a racket at a ball: COVID-19 virus hits US Olympic athletes

    COVID-19 virus hits US Olympic athletes

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a man wearing a suit and tie: American Academy of Pediatrics recommends everyone wear masks in school

    American Academy of Pediatrics recommends everyone wear masks in school

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • a group of people standing in front of a building: Biden announces infrastructure deal

    Biden announces infrastructure deal

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • Jeff Bezos in a blue shirt: Jeff Bezos speaks out hours ahead of historic trip to edge of space

    Jeff Bezos speaks out hours ahead of historic trip to edge of space

    ABC News Logo

    ABC News

  • US gymnast tests positive for COVID-19 days before the games
    US gymnast tests positive for COVID-19 days before the games
    US gymnast tests positive for COVID-19 days before the games

    ABC News Logo
    ABC News

  • a close up of a rock mountain: Utah man dies after falling into canyon while hiking
    Utah man dies after falling into canyon while hiking
    Utah man dies after falling into canyon while hiking

    ABC News Logo
    ABC News

  • a close up of a sign: Senate holds field hearing on Georgia elections law amid voting rights battle
    Senate holds field hearing on Georgia elections law amid voting rights battle
    Senate holds field hearing on Georgia elections law amid voting rights battle

    ABC News Logo
    ABC News

UP NEXT

In a letter to Airbnb, Vrbo and others, The Consumer Product Safety Commission said residential elevators “can pose a deadly but unforeseen hazard to children.”

“Small children can be crushed to death in a deadly gap that may exist between the doors,” the letter said.

CPSC said if the gap between the exterior door and inner door is too deep, a child can become entrapped between the two, resulting in serious injury and even death.

“Children, some as young as two and as old as 12, have been crushed to death in this gap, suffering multiple skull fractures, fractured vertebrae and traumatic asphyxia,” the letter said. “Other children have suffered horrific and lifelong injuries.”

The letter comes after a 7-year-old Ohio boy was killed in an elevator accident at a rental home in the Outer Banks. The child became stuck between the elevator door and shaft, according to The Associated Press. First responders were able to free the child but could not resuscitate him, the AP reported.

CPSC said the gaps can be made safer by placing space guards on the exterior doors or by using electronic monitoring devices that deactivate elevators when a child is detected in the gap.

“These fixes are relatively inexpensive and can save lives,” the letter said.

The agency said companies should notify rentals about the potential hazard as well as require all hosts to lock outer access doors or disable at-home elevators until the hazardous gaps are remedied. CPSC said the companies should also require elevator inspections at any listed homes in the future.

Vrbo told ABC News it will “soon share important elevator safety information with property owners who have residential elevators” including a recommendation to disable elevators until they can be properly inspected.

“Our terms require property owners to abide by all safety-related laws and to keep equipment safe and in working order with regular maintenance,” Vrbo said.

Airbnb said it is currently reviewing the letter from CPSC.

Source: Read Full Article