Pixieland metal playground equipment
CPSC Recall #83-062 - December 4, 1983
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 83-062 |
| Recall Date | December 4, 1983 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Manufacturer | Pixieland, Incorporated, of Swainsboro, Georgia |
Product
Pixieland metal playground equipment
Description
Washington, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pixieland, Incorporated, Swainsboro, Georgia, today announced a voluntary repair program on five different models of its metal playground equipment which may present head entrapment hazards to children. The products involved are the Double Climber Slide, Single Climber Slide, Toddler Climber, Fence Climber and Rainbow Climber.The five models of metal playground equipment, which range in cost from approximately $85 to $450, are intended for use by pre-school children, and are sold to day care centers, child care centers and other similar facilities.The spacing between some of the rungs on these five models pose a potential entrapment hazard because they are wide enough to allow a child's body to pass all the way through, but are too narrow for the head to follow. Consequently, a child could be hung, with his head trapped between the rungs and his feet off the ground. This could result in head injuries, neck injuries, or strangulation. All spacings ranging from 4.5 inches to 7.5 inches represent potential entrapment hazards.The Commission has investigated three incidents in which children's heads became entrapped between the rungs on these playground structures. One victim received contusions and abrasions to the neck and head, while another victim had to be resuscitated because his breathing and pulse had been stopped.Pixieland has been manufacturing these playground structures since 1978, with distribution to 21 states east of the Rockies. In 1978, the firm began to redesign this equipment to eliminate the potential head entrapment hazard. However, some of these units still have spacing between the rungs which are in the potential entrapment range of 4.5 to 7.5 inches.The Double Climber Slide, Single Climber Slide, and Rainbow Climber all are rainbow-shaped with apex approximately 4' from the ground. Each is approximately 4'4" wide and 15' to 16' in length. The Single Climber and Double Climber Slides have one and two sliding boards respectively, while the Rainbow Climber has no slide. The Toddler Climber is 3' high, 3' wide, and 4' long, while the Fence Climber is similar in design but measures 4' high, 4' wide, and 6' long. A sticker label with the Pixieland name and address may be found on some of these structures.All day care centers, child care centers, etc., are urged to determine whether they have any of the five models of playground equipment. If they do, the spacings between all rungs should be measured. If any spacing measures from 4.5 inches to 7.5 inches, discontinue use of the equipment immediately. Firm is out of Business.Further information on this playground equipment can be obtained by calling the Commission's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
The spacing between some of the rungs pose a potential entrapment hazard because they are wide enough to allow a child's body to pass all the way through, but are too narrow for the head to follow. Consequently, a child could be hung, with his head trapped between the rungs and his feet off the ground. This could result in head injuries, neck injuries, or strangulation.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission has investigated three incidents in which children's heads became entrapped between the rungs on these playground structures. One victim received contusions and abrasions to the neck and head, while another victim had to be resuscitated because his breathing and pulse had been stopped.
Remedy Instructions
Update: Firm no longer in business. Recall remedy no longer available. Discard the product. Do not donate or resell.All day care centers, child care centers, etc., are urged to determine whether they have any of the five models of playground equipment. If they do, the spacings between all rungs should be measured. If any spacing measures from 4.5 inches to 7.5 inches, discontinue use of the equipment immediately.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.