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NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
| Office of Information and Public Affairs |
Washington, DC 20207 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 1999
Release # 99-127 |
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
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CPSC, Firms Announce Swimming Pool Dive Stick Recall Because of Impalement Risk to
Children
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.
| Company |
Quantity Recalled |
How to ID |
Throw out or... |
| Florida
Pool |
9 million |
Sold primarily at Wal-Mart |
Get repair kit at Wal-Mart. |
| Poolmaster |
2 million |
"Poolmaster" imprinted on stick |
Call (800) 854-1492 for a replacement. |
| J&M
Industries |
897,000 |
"Made in USA" imprinted on stick |
Get a replacement stick at the store where purchased. |
| All others |
N/A |
All others |
Return to store where purchased for a refund 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.
The CPSC staff is recommending to the Commission that it ban the future production and
importation of these products.
 Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall (transcript). Slower bandwidth users should go for the
>>> "streaming video" format.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of
injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. 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
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