Trampoline Defect

Stamina Products are paying a civil penalty for  failing to report product defects with the mini  trampoline.  The following is the  release by the CPSC:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that a Missouri-based manufacturer of trampolines has agreed to pay the government a $105,000 civil penalty. The penalty settles allegations that Stamina Products, of Springfield, Mo., failed to report in a timely manner injuries from defective mini-trampolines. In April 2006, CPSC and Stamina Products announced the recall of about 668,000 mini-trampolines.

Between April 2002 and June 2005, Stamina Products received eight reports from consumers who alleged that the trampoline sprang back during the folding/unfolding process causing facial lacerations that required stitches, broken teeth, bruises, headaches, neck pain, broken facial bones, loss of mouth sensation, and blurred vision. Stamina Products failed to report these incidents to the CPSC in a timely manner. CPSC was finally informed of the incidents in July 2005.

Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining information that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.

In agreeing to settle the matter, Stamina Products denies that it violated federal law.

Picture of Recalled Trampoline

Choking Hazard & Car Seats

The Office of Defects Investigation at the NHTSA opened an investigation on July 17, 2007 involving Evenflo / Triumph car seats.  Apparently there have  been 12  complaints since 2003 of a choking hazard involving child seats from  this manufacturer.  The complaint alleges children are able to  gain access to the  styrofoam from underneath the seat padding/ cover and break it  into  pieces. In 10 of the 12 cases, it  was stated that the child placed these pieces into their mouths. 3 of those children were reported to choke and 1 reportedly gagged.  We'll be watching  to see what happens with this  investigation.