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Risk Management Alert Topic: Swimming Pool Dive Stick Recall The following includes a quotation from a Consumer Product Safety Commission press release regarding the recall of certain dive sticks. Numerous YMCAs are currently using or allowing the use of such sticks in their pools. The use of these dive sticks should be stopped immediately in YMCA pools. Additional information can be obtained through the Consumer Product Safety Commission website or through our website (www.redwoodsgroup.com) by clicking on CPSC on our HOT LINKS page. "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 recover the sticks under water. According to CPSC Chairman Ann Brown, these dive 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. · 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 to 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 these dive sticks immediately and throw them out. "Depending on the sticks owned, consumers can receive a refund, replacement or repair." This type of stick really should be destroyed so that they can not be used by others who have not learned of the product recall and the potential dangers. YMCAs should not allow such dive sticks to be even present in their pools or swimming facilities. However, these sticks should not be confused with the longer (approximately 36") flexible device that is often called by the same name. Please call us at 800-463-8546 if you would like to discuss any Risk Management safety tips, or visit our web site at www.redwoodsgroup.com to learn more about YMCA risk management related issues. We would appreciate any feedback you might have to offer concerning this article. Please click here to send your feedback.
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