"Splash Club" Deluxe Inflatable Kiddie Boats

CPSC Recall #98-148 — August 12, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-148
Recall DateAugust 12, 1998
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 90,000

Where It Was Sold

Kmart stores nationwide sold the kiddie boats from September 1996 through July 1998 for about $10.

Product

"Splash Club" Deluxe Inflatable Kiddie Boats

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kmart Corporation of Troy, Mich., is conducting a recall of approximately 90,000 "Splash Club" Deluxe Inflatable Kiddie Boats. The seat of these pool toys can tear, causing small children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown. Kmart has received four reports of the boat's seats tearing and causing children to fall into the water. No injuries have been reported. The Deluxe Inflatable Kiddie Boats are vinyl and consist of an orange inflatable circular tube with blue handles and a seat in the middle. The boats also have an inflatable, clear plastic barbell with various colored balls inside attached to the front of the boat. Writing on the boat includes, "KIDDIE BOAT . . INTRODUCES YOUR CHILD TO WATER . . . SPLASH CLUB," and has a picture of a dolphin jumping through a hoop. The boxes in which the boats were packaged are labeled with UPC Code 016438897204 or 016438100205 and Kmart Code 372954-115. Kmart stores nationwide sold the kiddie boats from September 1996 through July 1998 for about $10. Consumers should immediately stop using these kiddie boats, and return them to their nearest Kmart store for a refund. For further information about this recall, contact Kmart at (800) 63KMART anytime.

Hazard

The seat of these pool toys can tear, causing small children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown.

Incidents & Injuries

Kmart has received four reports of the boat's seats tearing and causing children to fall into the water. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using these kiddie boats, and return them to their nearest Kmart store for a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.