Recall: Mini-Hammocks Recalled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Hannah Simone
August 8, 1996	(301) 504-7908
Release # 96-183

CPSC, EZ Sales, Twin Oaks Hammock Company, and Safesport Manufacturing Company Announce Recall of Mini-Hammocks

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), EZ Sales of Gardena, Calif., Twin Oaks Hammock Company of Louisa, Va., and Safesport Manufacturing Company of Chapin, S.C., are recalling 75,000 light-weight, net mini-hammocks that do not have spreader bars. Some EZ Sales hammocks were marketed using the "Hang Ten" label and trademark.

These manufacturers join 10 other manufacturers and importers of mini-hammocks without spreader bars who are recalling 3 million of the potentially dangerous products this year.

Without spreader bars to hold the mini-hammock bed open, the mini-hammock can twist around a child's neck as he/she is getting into or out of the mini-hammock, resulting in strangulation and death. When a net mini-hammock is attached to an indoor or outdoor location such as trees, decks, porches, or recreation rooms, it hangs like a thin rope. The mini-hammock can suddenly become twisted around a child's neck and strangle him. This can happen when children are attempting to climb into or out of, are playing on, or are swinging on mini-hammocks like swings.

Between 1984 and 1995, CPSC received reports of 12 children between the ages of five and 17 years old who became entangled and died when using net mini-hammocks without spreader bars. CPSC is also aware of an injury to a seven-year-old girl who suffered permanent brain damage from a near-strangulation in a mini-hammock. Another near-fatal incident involved a five-year-old boy who was found entangled in a mini-hammock but was resuscitated by his mother.

Mini-hammocks are light-weight, portable, thin net hammocks that are made without spreader bars. They measure between five to seven feet wide and seven to 20 feet long. This recall affects the EZ Sales "Hang Ten" mini-hammock, Twin Oaks Backpacker mini-hammock, and the Safesport Portable Hammock.

Sporting goods stores, such as Herman's World of Sports, sold the EZ Sales "Hang Ten" mini-hammocks nationwide from 1979 to 1991 for $6 to $16. Small outdoor equipment stores sold the Twin Oaks mini-hammocks nationwide since the early 1980s for $8 to $14. The Twin Oaks mini-hammocks were also sold through catalogues. Surplus and sporting goods stores sold the Safesport mini-hammocks nationwide from 1994 through 1996 for about $8.

Consumers should immediately take down mini-hammocks from porches, decks, trees, recreation rooms and other locations. Consumers should return the mini-hammocks to the store where they were purchased for a full refund or a replacement hammock. If consumers do not know the retailer or manufacturer of their net mini-hammock, they should destroy the mini-hammock immediately to prevent strangulation death or injury.