Sling-Type Swing Seats
CPSC Recall #92104 - June 29, 1992
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 92104 |
| Recall Date | June 29, 1992 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, New Instructions |
Where It Was Sold
| Hedstrom sling seats were sold nationally over the past six years as part of Hedstrom or Sears swing sets or separately as swing seat replacements. Approximately two million seats were sold nationally through retailers |
| wholesalers |
| and variety stores. |
Product
Sling-Type Swing Seats
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Hedstrom Corporation, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), voluntarily offered a retrofit kit for Hedstrom sling-type swing seats, to prevent lacerations from hook ends on the swing brackets. The "V"-shaped brackets that attach the sling seats to the swing chains caused serious lacerations when the hook ends of the brackets were not completely closed. The failure to completely close the hooks until the metal touches may result in injury to children. The Hedstrom Corporation had received 18 reports of lacerations to children from open hooks on sling seats. Injuries included leg, arm, face, and groin lacerations. The incidents occurred on seats where bracket hooks were not closed until the metal was touching. Hedstrom sling seats were sold nationally over the past six years as part of Hedstrom or Sears swing sets or separately as swing seat replacements. Approximately two million seats were sold nationally through retailers, wholesalers, and variety stores. The installation instructions for the Hedstrom seats indicate that the hooks should be completely closed. However, because incidents have occurred, swing owners should check their sling seats for "V" bracket hooks that are not completely closed and to close the hooks until the metal touches. The firm is out of business and the additional remedy (free bracket guards to cover the closed hook ends, which were intended to prevent possible injuries from open hooks) is no longer available. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced this repair program as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction. Hook end of bracket, if not completely closed, may cause deep lacerations to children using the swing.
Hazard
The "V"-shaped brackets that attach the sling seat to the swing chains have caused serious lacerations, when the hook ends of the brackets were not completely closed. The failure to completely close the bracket hooks may result in injury to children.
Incidents & Injuries
The Hedstrom Corporation had received 18 reports of lacerations to children from open hooks on sling seats. Injuries included leg, arm, face, and groin lacerations. The incidents occurred on seats where bracket hooks were not closed until the metal was touching.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should check their sling seats for "V" bracket hooks that are not completely closed and to close the hooks until the metal touches.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, New Instructions 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 (Inspect, New Instructions) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.