News from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs 
Washington, D.C. 20207
| For Immediate Release | Firm's Recall Hotline:(888) 559-4653 |
| November 6, 2007 | CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 |
| Release #08-065 | CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 |
Swimways Corp. Recalls "Skippy" Pool Toys Due to Laceration Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)
Name of Product: "Skippy" Pool Toys
Units: About 31,000
Manufacturer: Swimways Corp., of Virginia Beach, Va.
Hazard: The elastic tongue of the fish can break and forcefully come out and cut the users' hands during launching of the toy.
Incidents/Injuries: Swimways has received 24 reports of the pool toy breaking during use. There were five reports of injuries to children including one requiring stitches to a child's hand. Another child's thumb nail was ripped back from the nail bed.
Description: This recall involves a rubber pool toy shaped like a fish. The fish are blue, purple or green colored and measure 8 ½ inches long by 5 inches wide. A loop of elastic tubing shaped like a tongue comes out of the mouth of the fish and is used for launching the fish across the water like a slingshot. "WARNING. Do not aim at another person. Made in China" is printed on the bottom of the fish.
Sold at: Mass merchandisers and independent pool supply stores nationwide from February 2007 through September 2007 for about $10.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should take the toy away from children immediately and contact Swimways for a free replacement toy.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Swimways toll-free at (888) 559-4653 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or submit an online claim by clicking here to go to the contact page.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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