Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House
CPSC Recall #82-008 - March 14, 1982
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 82-008 |
| Recall Date | March 14, 1982 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose |
| Units Affected | Estimated 137,000 to 239,000 |
Product
Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Creative Playthings had renewed its efforts to replace all estimated 137,000 to 239,000 Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House ladders following a recent strangulation death. The product was manufactured prior to 1980 by Creative Playthings, a unit of Gabriel Industries, a division of CBS Inc., New York, N.Y. Consumers are urged to remove and destroy the ladder immediately. The replacement program was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission which advised the firm of the death of a two-year-old California boy on February 9, 1982, in an accident associated with a Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House. The firm first took corrective action for the product in February, 1980, after learning of an accidental death and an incident causing brain damage which later resulted in death to a child playing with the product. The firm then urged owners of the product to obtain a free replacement ladder because the original ladder posed a strangulation hazard. The Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House consists of a hollow, fiberboard-and-wood box 20 inches in height which supports a two-step wooden ladder on one side and a short slide on the opposite side. The top of the box or "platform" serves as a bridge between the ladder and the slide and is protected on two sides by wooden railings. The product is intended for use by children ages 18 months through 3 1/2 years, according to the manufacturer. It was sold for approximately $29 to $50 in toy stores and other retail outlets nationwide in knocked-down form to be assembled by the owner. The ladder that was being replaced was manufactured from 1962 through 1979. The gym houses with ladders that were being replaced are those with "Creative Playthings" printed on the side or with no lettering. The space between the upper rung of the ladder and the platform was small enough for a child's head to be inserted and become entrapped creating a potential for strangulation. The replacement ladder that had been offered by the firm was redesigned to reduce the likelihood of head entrapment. The Creative Playthings company that conducted the recall no longer exists. The replacement ladders are no longer available, and consumers should discard or destroy the ladder if they have the product. Creative Playthings had undertaken additional efforts to advise owners to destroy the old ladder. The firm sent letters and posters to pediatricians and daycare centers throughout the United States, advertised in magazines, provided a public service announcement to major networks, aimed a news campaign to consumer affairs editors, and sent advisory bulletins to organizations serving parents of young children. Creative Playthings "Indoor Gym House"
Hazard
The space between the upper rung of the ladder and the platform was small enough for a child's head to be inserted and become entrapped creating a potential for strangulation.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm first took corrective action for the product in February, 1980, after learning of an accidental death and an incident causing brain damage which later resulted in death to a child playing with the product. The replacement program was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission which advised the firm of the death of a two-year-old California boy on February 9, 1982, in an accident associated with a Creative Playthings Indoor Gym House.
Remedy Instructions
The Creative Playthings company that conducted the recall no longer exists. The replacement ladders are no longer available, and consumers should discard or destroy the ladder if they have the product.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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) 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.