FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2001
Release # 02-051 |
Aqua-Leisure Recall Hotline: (866) 807-3998
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
|
CPSC, Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc. Announce Recall of Inflatable Baby Floats
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc., of Avon, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 90,000 "SunSmart" baby floats. The leg holes in the seat of the float can tear, causing children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown.
Aqua-Leisure and CPSC have received 12 reports of the floats' seats tearing and causing children to fall into the water. There were four incidents of children becoming completely submerged before a caregiver was able to reach them. No injuries have been reported.
The recalled floats are packaged as "SunSmart" Baby Adjustable Sunshade Boats. The baby floats are blue and white circular tubes with a seat in the middle, and a detachable protective sunshade. The vinyl floats, intended for ages 6 months to 18 months, have pictures of purple crabs and various colored fish along the top. The word, "SunSmart" is printed across the front of the float. The recalled boats can be identified by the lettering "C/S" molded on the valve.
Juvenile products, specialty and discount department stores nationwide, including Target, K-Mart, Bed Bath and Beyond and Baby Central, sold the baby floats from August 2000 through September 2001 for between $10 and $13.
Consumers should stop using these recalled floats immediately and contact Aqua-Leisure for a free replacement. Consumers can contact Aqua-Leisure at (866) 807-3998 between 9 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's web site at www.aqualeisure.com.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.