DANGER OF KAPOK PILLOWS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24151, 10 January 1944, Page 6

DANGER OF KAPOK PILLOWS

INQUEST INTO DEATH OF INFANT “The Press" Special Service INVERCARGILL, January 8. The inadvisability of using kapok pillows for infants was strongly emphasised by a doctor and by the jury at an inquest yesterday into the death of Janette Winsome Mitchell, the 10-weeks-old daughter of Mr and Mrs R. T. Mitchell, Invercargill. The inquest was held before the acting-coroner, Mr J. Ward, J.P., and a jury of four. The mother of the child gave evidence that she had last seen the baby alive about 3 p.m. on January 5, when she was asleep in a bassinette. When she went to pick up the baby at about 5,10 p.m. she found her lying face down with her head partly covered by the bed clothes. The child was then dead. Evidence was also given by Dr. D. R. Jennings, who stated that the child had died apparently from suffocation as a result of her burying her head in a kapok pillow. The public should be informed of the danger of using kapok pillows for young children, said Dr. Jennings. These pillows were practically a death-trap, especially for young babies whose arms were pinioned by wrappings. A verdict was returned that the child died on January 5, the cause of death being accidental suffocation. Sympathy was expressed with the parents.