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Play Set "Fun Buckets" Recalled

Feb. 20, 2003

Playnation Play Systems of Kennesaw, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 1,400 "Fun Buckets," a vinyl bucket attached to a rope used to lift small items up to backyard play sets' forts. As children play on the play set's slide or platform, the 6- to 8-ft free- hanging rope can become entangled around the child's neck. This presents a strangulation hazard to young children.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Playnation is aware of two incidents where the bucket's rope became entangled around the necks of two 4-year-olds. Both of the children were freed without injury. However, CPSC knows of 135 children who have died in the last 10 years from all types of ropes, leashes or jump ropes that were attached to backyard play sets.

This recall involves "Fun Buckets" sold as an add-on option for backyard play sets. The 14-inch-deep buckets are either yellow or green vinyl and have a black nylon strap attached to the rope. The "Fun Bucket" was sold with a heavy wood bracket to attach it to the roof of a play set fort.

Distributors of backyard play sets nationwide sold the fun buckets from February 1998 through February 2003 for about $25.

Consumers should take down the "Fun Buckets" immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or a credit toward another product. For more information, consumers can contact Playnation at (770) 792-9300 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's web site at www.playset.com.

CPSC warns consumers never to allow free-hanging ropes on play sets because of the serious potential for strangulation to children. Any free-hanging rope should be taken down immediately. Consumers should contact CPSC about any such items purchased from a retailer.

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