Sportspower Trampoline and WaterSlide Recalls Issued Due to Injury Risks

Sportspower Ltd. has recalled certain models of its inflatable waterslides and trampolines, following reports of a neck injury and design defects that may pose a risk of injury for consumers. 

A Sportspower trampoline recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on November 28, after a report was received that indicated the trampoline legs separated from the frame while in use, causing a consumer’s leg to puncture through the jumping surface.

The recall includes 23,400, 14 feet in diameter Sportspower Parkside trampolines with model number TR-14FT-COM. The trampolines have a safety matting, enclosure net and enclosure pole sleeves that are blue and have “Parkside” written on the net.

Sportspower trampolines were sold exclusively at Sports Authority stores nation wide from April 2007 through May 2012 for about $540.

A Sportspower waterslide recall, also announced by the CPSC on November 28, indicated that 1,500 inflatable slides were being removed from the market due to an inaccurate weight limit on the warning label. The label also fails to tell consumers to never slide head first and was issued after one incident report where a man suffered a neck injury after sliding down the slide head first.

The recall involves the Sportspower Liquid Motion waterslides with item number INF-1375 and UPC 687064031340 that are inflatable and to be sprayed with water before sliding down. Recalled waterslides measure 18 feet long by 9 feet high by 5 feet wide and have “Liquid Motion by Sportspower” printed on the outside inflatable walls. These waterslides were sold exclusively at Menards Inc. from April 2010 through July 2010 for about $300.

Both the waterslides and trampolines recalled were distributed by Sportspower Ltd., of Hong Kong and manufactured in China.

The CPSC warns consumers to stop using the waterslides immediately and contact Sportspower to receive a new label with accurate weight capacity and instructional use. The new label informs that consumers over 13 years old and/or over 100 pounds should not use this product and no one should ever slide head first.

Consumers with recalled trampolines should contact Sportspower to receive a free repair kit that will support the legs and not allow them to become loose and separate.

Consumers with questions can contact Sportspower by calling (888) 965-0565 or by visiting the company website at www.sportspowerltd.net. They can also email the company at customerservice@sportspowerltd.net.

In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a report and a new position statement against the use of trampolines as recreational toys for children. The AAP said that efforts to make them safer for children had failed and said there is no real way for children to use them safely for play.

The recalls of the children’s outside play furniture also come on the heels of a recent study tracking an increase in injuries among children using inflatable bounce houses. The study indicated that at least 65,000 children have been injured in bounce houses between 1990 and 2010. No deaths were reported, and the most common injuries that led children to the emergency room were fractures, strains and sprains to the lower portion of the body.