"SunSmart" baby floats

CPSC Recall #02-166 — May 20, 2002

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-166
Recall DateMay 20, 2002
Remedy TypeReplace
Units AffectedAbout 90,000

Where It Was Sold

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.

Product

"SunSmart" baby floats

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the summer season approaches and swimming pools begin to open, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc., of Avon, Mass., reminds consumers of a voluntary recall of about 90,000 "SunSmart" baby floats announced in November 2001. The leg holes in the seat of the float can tear, causing children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown.Baby floats purchased after September 2001 are not involved in this recall.Aqua-Leisure and CPSC have received 12 reports of the float’s 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. Only floats with the "C/S" lettering are involved in the recall, subsequent floats have been corrected.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 website at www.aqualeisure.com.The baby float recall was originally announced on November 28, 2001.

Hazard

The leg holes in the seat of the float can tear, causing children to unexpectedly fall into the water and possibly drown.

Incidents & Injuries

Aqua-Leisure and CPSC have received 12 reports of the float’s 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.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these recalled floats immediately and contact Aqua-Leisure for a free replacement.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.