嬰兒頸浮圈本該保護寶寶在水里的安全，但專家卻警告，這種充氣產品實際上非常危險，其接縫的密封性可能很差，如果使用不當或意外漏氣，會增加溺水風險，造成致命后果。

They may look cute and seem harmless, but neck floats for babies can have deadly consequences, an expert warns. Kyran Quinlan, associate professor of pediatrics at Rush University, made the claim as the trendy gadgets continue to flood social media.
嬰兒頸浮圈造型可愛，看似也沒有傷害性，但隨著這款潮物在社交媒體上不斷泛濫，拉什大學小兒科副教授柯瑞?昆蘭警告道，它們可能帶來致命后果。

The former chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said seams on the inflatable gadgets, sold across the world, can be poorly sealed.
昆蘭曾任美國兒科學會（AAP）主席，他稱，這些充氣產品的接縫密封性可能很差。這款產品在全球有售。

Speaking of the growing sales of the dangerous devices, he said: 'Neck floats for babies scare me to death, and I hope they scare parents.
這款危險的產品銷量日益增長，對此，昆蘭表示：“我非常害怕這種頸浮圈，我希望家長們也一樣害怕。”

'These are potential death traps... To have your precious baby one poorly sealed seam away from going under at the pool is frightening.'
“它們是潛在的死亡陷阱……為了防止你珍愛的寶寶沉入水池底，而給ta一個接縫密封性差的頸浮圈，這是很可怕的事情。”

Such gadgets, designed originally as medical aids for disabled children, are often used by parents to support their baby's neck while in the water.
頸浮圈原本是為殘疾兒童設計的醫療輔助器材。家長們經常把嬰兒頸浮圈套在寶寶的脖子上，讓他們浮在水里。

But officials have long warned of the threat of swimming and flotation aids and have said they should not be confused with safety devices.
但官方長期以來一直警告人們這款游泳漂浮輔助設備的危害，并表示不應該將其與安全設備混淆。

Risk of drowning increases if the gadgets, used to support a baby's neck in the water, are used incorrectly, or if they accidentally deflate.
如果使用不當或意外漏氣，寶寶溺水的風險會增加。這款產品被家長用來支撐游泳的寶寶的脖頸。

The AAP warns any air-filled swimming aids can pose the same risk, as any deflation takes away their buoyancy immediately.
美國兒科學會提醒，任何充氣游泳輔助設備都會帶來同樣的風險，因為一旦設備漏氣，就會立即失去浮力。

Other experts have condemned neck floats as being unstable.
其他專家認為頸浮圈穩定性很差。

It is believed uneven surfaces in water, created when other people swim close by, can cause the baby to tip over.
據信，當其他人游近時，水面上的波紋會讓嬰兒翻倒。

Parents are often keen on using the devices as it allows them to stay poolside while their baby plays in the water.
家長們往往熱衷于使用嬰兒頸浮圈，因為這樣他們就可以待在泳池邊上，讓寶寶們在池里玩耍。

The warning comes after two types of popular 'floats' were recalled in Australia by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.
在專家發出警告之前，澳大利亞昆士蘭公平貿易辦事處召回了兩款火爆的頸浮圈。

Two weeks ago it found two separate products sold on eBay increased the 'risk of drowning' if not used correctly, or if they deflated during use.
兩周前，該辦事處發現易趣網上銷售的這兩款不同產品如果使用不當，或在使用中發生漏氣，會增加“溺水的風險”。

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission states children who cannot swim may drown if their neck float fails or is not used correctly.
澳大利亞競爭與消費者委員會稱，不會游泳的兒童可能會因為頸浮圈漏氣或使用不當而溺水。

英文來源：每日郵報
翻譯&編輯：董靜
審校：yaning