Jul 2, 2009 7:22 pm US/Eastern
Pool Floats Recalled On Drowning Hazard Concerns
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The Consumer Products Safety Commission and the toy manufacturer Aqua Leisure are recalling more than a dozen inflatable boats and rings for a possible drowning hazard.
CBS
After weeks of gloomy weather kids are finally soaking up some fun in the water--but now word of a dangerous toy may change how families are celebrating this Fourth of July weekend.
"Anything can happen in a split second," Manhattan resident Jocelyn Gomez says.
Jocelyn and Jason Gomez say their two-year-old, Maritza, loves the local pool, but they know that fun can quickly turn to near tragedy, as has happened to dozens of children who've been plunged into the water when the seats on baby floats suddenly gave way.
Now the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the toy manufacturer Aqua Leisure are recalling more than a dozen inflatable boats and rings for a possible drowning hazard.
"It's definitely momentarily terrifying," father Jason Gomez says. "I'm sure a parent's heart would stop right there."
"You can never 100 percent rely on these sort of devices to keep your child safe," Pawel Puczko says. "It relies entirely on the parents."
Puczko, a swim instructor with the Parks Department, says even with lifeguards, parents can never let their attention wander.
"If your child is holding to one of these toys, or something that floats, and they let go or they slip – or if it's an inflatable toy and it deflates – your child might be stuck in a situation that they may not be able to get out of," Puczko says.
Nearly four million floats are being recalled, all made between August 2002 and July 2008 – the dates are on the valve, with the letters "NP."
While no injuries or deaths with any of the 30 children who slipped out of the floats, the company wants all parents to return the product for a full refund.
Parents need to cut out the portion of the float around the valve for a full refund from Aqua Leisure. For more information on the recall, as well as the model numbers for the recalled items, check out the the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall resources
here.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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