Inflatable Baby Floats Recall Reminder by Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc.
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2002
Release # 02-166
Aqua-Leisure Recall Hotline: (866) 807-3998 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058
CPSC, Aqua-Leisure Industries Inc. Remind Consumers about Recall of
Inflatable Baby Floats
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 floats'
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 web site at www.aqualeisure.com.