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CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Recall to Replace Toy and Youth Basketball Nets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Franklin Sports, Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products are announcing a voluntary recall to replace the nets on 900,000 toy and youth basketball sets. Children could strangle on loops or openings in nets that come unhooked from the rim or have knots that slide. If children put their heads into these openings, the net can get tangled around their necks.

Franklin Sports has received one report of a 3-year-old boy getting his head and neck caught in a basketball net. Huffy Sports and Lifetime Products have received no incident reports. No injuries have been reported.

In December 1998, Fisher Price, Little Tikes, Ohio Art and Today's Kids recalled 10.1 million toy basketball sets to replace their nets. This recall followed 20 reports of children under 5 getting their heads and necks caught in the nets, including the death of an 18-month-old child.

Consumers should immediately inspect their basketball sets for nets that can unhook from the rim or have knots that slide.

The basketball sets with nets that need to be replaced come in a variety of colors and include a nylon net and plastic or metal hoop attached to a plastic, youth-sized pole. The pole is set in a plastic base and adjusts from 3 to 6 feet high. Franklin Sports recalled basketball sets are called "Slam Dunk Youth Basketball Set." Huffy Sports recalled basketball sets are called "Youth One-On-One." Lifetime Products recalled basketball sets are called "Shoot Case." The manufacturer's name is on the backboard, base or hoop of each toy. The manufacturers will help consumers determine if the nets need to be replaced.

Toy, sporting goods, mass merchandise and discount department stores nationwide sold the basketball sets since 1993 for $13 to $40. Basketball sets sold in stores today, by the participating manufacturers, have nets that are attached securely to the rim and are not involved in this recall. In addition, nets on full-sized portable or in-ground sets over 6 feet high are not recalled.

Consumers should remove and throw away nets that can unhook or have knots that slide. Manufacturers will send consumers new nets that securely attach to the rim and do not have sliding knots. The basketball set can be used without a net until the new net arrives. Consumers should not return the product to stores.

Today's announcement is the result of reports to CPSC following the December 1998 recalls. The press release about those recalls also contains a video clip showing the hazard.