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CPSC, Firms Announce Swimming Pool Dive Stick Recall Because of Impalement Risk to Children June 24, 1999
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SourceUnited States Consumer Product Safety CommissionForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesA Consumer Guide to Product Safety RecallsCPSC Hotline Information For Immediate Release; |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
and 15 firms are announcing the recall of more than 19 million dive
sticks used in swimming pools. In shallow water, children can fall or
land on a dive stick and suffer rectal or vaginal impalement. Facial and
eye injuries also are possible when children attempt to retrieve the
sticks under water. According to CPSC Chairman Ann Brown, these dives
sticks are dangerous and should not be used.
CPSC knows of six impalement injuries and one facial injury to children 6 to 9 years old. Although the number of reported incidents is relatively low, the severity of the injuries that have occurred is very significant. Three of the children suffered rectal and three suffered vaginal impalements from dive sticks placed in backyard pools or, in one case, a hot tub. In four of the six incidents, the injuries that occurred required surgery and hospitalization. The facial injury occurred when a child bobbed down to retrieve a dive stick and lacerated her face just below her eye, requiring stitches. The dive sticks being recalled are hard plastic and are either cylinder-shaped or shark-shaped. When dropped into water, the dive sticks sink to the bottom of a pool and stand upright so that children can swim or dive down and retrieve them. The cylinder-shaped plastic sticks measure about 4 to 8 inches long and about 1 inch or less in diameter. The shark-shaped plastic sticks measure about 7 inches long and have an egg-shaped bottom. The sticks come in a variety of colors. Most are packaged in kits of three to six sticks, and some are packaged with other pool diving games. These dive sticks have been sold at grocery, drug, pool and discount department stores nationwide for about $4 to $7 per set under numerous brand names, most of which do not appear on the dive stick itself. Consumers should stop using dive sticks immediately and throw them out. Depending on the sticks owned, consumers can receive a refund, replacement or repair.
CPSC urges anyone who is aware of injuries with dive sticks or who has questions about the recall to call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or access its web site at www.cpsc.gov. The CPSC staff is recommending to the Commission that it ban the future production and importation of these products. |
