"The Dolphin Baby Float"

CPSC Recall #95-123 — May 25, 1995

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-123
Recall DateMay 25, 1995
Remedy TypeDispose, No Remedy Available
Units AffectedApproximately 18,000

Product

"The Dolphin Baby Float"

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Torpedo, Inc. of South Paris, Maine is voluntarily recalling certain baby flotation devices known as "The Dolphin Baby Float." A child sitting in the device could drown if water leaks into the hollow center of the float's innertube, causing the device to tip over. CPSC and the firm are aware of 24 non-injury complaints about the product including 11 tipover incidents. Approximately 18,000 dolphin-shaped flotation devices were sold nationwide through catalogs and retail stores from February 1993 through December 1994 for $69.95 to $89.95. They measure about 37 inches from nose to tail, about 28 inches from side fin to side fin, and 9 inches in depth. The white plastic dolphin has a detachable red umbrella and blue nylon seat which can be adjusted for babies from six months to two years. Dolphins manufactured and shipped by Torpedo since January 1995, have reinforced walls which prevent water penetration and therefore are not included in this recall. Consumers with affected products should destroy their defective Dolphin Baby Float since the firm - Torpedo - went out of business in 2003. Free replacements are no longer available. Memorial Day marks the beginning of the summer pool season, and CPSC reminds consumers that all levels of water are dangerous for babies. Therefore, adults should never leave a baby in water without constant adult supervision. CPSC Chairman Ann Brown said, "Flotation devices may make caregivers believe that a baby is relatively safe in the pool. Any such belief can have devastating consequences because these products -- regardless of how sturdy they look -- will not prevent drowning. A baby reaching for a toy can lose his or her balance in a matter of seconds and the product can tip over. Always keep the baby at arm's reach."

Hazard

A child sitting in the device could drown if water leaks into the hollow center of the float's innertube, causing the device to tip over. 

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and the firm are aware of 24 non-injury complaints about the product including 11 tipover incidents.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers with affected products should destroy their defective Dolphin Baby Float since the firm - Torpedo - went out of business in 2003.  Free replacements are no longer available.

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.

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.