Mom Dies in Pool Accident: Pool Slide Recalled

A 29-year-old Colorado mother died in Andover, Mass. after fracturing her neck going down a Banzai in-ground pool water slide which had been placed over the concrete edge of a pool. The woman hit her head at the bottom of the slide because it had partially deflated.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. and Toys R Us Inc., of Wayne, NJ, in cooperation with The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are announcing a recall of about 21,000 inflatable Banzai in-ground pool water slides. During use, the slide can deflate, allowing the user to hit the ground underneath the slide and become injured. The slide is also unstable and can topple over in both still and windy conditions and carries inadequate warnings and instructions.

The CPSC and the retailers have been notified of two other injuries which occurred in a similar manner, including a 24-year-old man from Springfield, Mo. who became a quadriplegic, and a woman from Allentown, Pa. who fractured her neck.

The recall involves Banzai in-ground pool water slides designed for use with in-ground pools. The vinyl slides have a blue base, yellow sliding mat and an arch going over the top of the slide. By connecting a hose to the top of the slide, water can be sprayed on its downward slope. The words ‘Banzai Splash’ are printed in a circular blue, orange and white logo, shaped like a wave on either side of the slide.

The recalled slides, which were manufactured in China by Manley Toys, Ltd, were sold at Walmart and Toys R Us nationwide from January 2005 through June 2009 for about $250. The recalled slides have the barcode number 2675315734 and model number 15734. Both the barcode and model number appear on the original packaging but are not on the actual slide.

What to do if you own the Bonzai slide:
Immediately stop using the slide and return it to the nearest Walmart or Toys R Us for a full refund. Consumers can also cut the two safety warning notices out of the slide and just return that portion. For additional information from Walmart, call (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.walmartstores.com. For additional information from Toys R Us, call (800) 869-7787 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, or visit the firm’s website at www.toysrus.com.

To report an incident involving the Bonzai slide:
Contact the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov or call the CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Barb M.

4:04PM PDT on Jul 16, 2012

Love and kind thoughts go out to all the families of the injuried! Did I'd say safe for adults? It was most likely tested up to a certain weight!

July 16
send a green star

Cathy E.

5:37PM PDT on Jul 12, 2012

IAM SO SORRY FOR THE FAMILY. THIS PRODUCTand any OTHERS LIKE IT, i HOPE ARE TOTALLY OFF THE MARKET!! yOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, THE FAMILY OF YOUNG, MOM WHO IS PASSED ON NOW, AS A RESULT OF THIS HORRIFIC ACCIDENT!!

July 12
send a green star

Dana W.

11:21PM PDT on May 15, 2012

I feel for the families who suffered injuries from this product but think the comments blaming the product because it was manufactured in China are unfair. Perhaps it is a case of a poorly conceived and designed product that shouldn't have been sold - period.

Secondly, it is impossible for a manufacturer to make any product 100% safe; even if the directions and warnings are concise, not every user will read or follow them, or use a product in the manner in which it was designed.

May 15
send a green star

Terry V.

4:37PM PDT on May 15, 2012

Makes a person wonder what products NOT made in the USA are safe

Heather O.

10:20AM PDT on May 15, 2012

You would think since they are made for kids they would have been better tested. sad. makes you realize how lucky you are to be alive. You can die anytime

Kari K.

10:13AM PDT on May 15, 2012

Thanks for the warning!! Praying for her family & for the others injured!!

Teresa C.

6:10AM PDT on May 15, 2012

This is horrible--thanks for letting us know!

Carole R.

9:33PM PDT on May 14, 2012

Just awful.

May 14
send a green star

Frances D.

1:48PM PDT on May 14, 2012

How sad. I would have thought that these products would have been rigoursly tested Safety standards, and to thatr end they are as much to blame as the makers.

Julie R.

12:43PM PDT on May 14, 2012

Yes most things seem to be made in China so why do they need to be skinning dogs alive they must be making enough money.Tragic accident...