Slide Guards To Prevent Strangulation From Clothing String Entanglement

August 6, 1992 Release # 92-117 PRODUCT: Hedstrom "Big T" swing sets, Blazon Flexible Flyer "T-Type Play Centers", and Sears brand T-style gym sets. PROBLEM: Strings from children's clothing may become entangled in the area where the handrail attaches to the slide. This presents a strangulation hazard. WHAT TO DO: Hedstrom, Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc. and Turco are out of business. Consumers should discard or destroy these products immediately. WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hedstrom Corporation of Bedford, PA provided consumers with guards to prevent entanglement of strings on children's clothing in the handrail attachment area of certain slides. The plastic guards offered by the companies fill in the handrail-to-slide area where a child's clothing may catch and possibly result in strangulation. The slides involved are on the "Hedstrom Big T" swing sets and on Sears brand T-style gym sets manufactured by Hedstrom. Guards are not available for any of these slides since all of these firms are out of business. If you own any of these products, stop using and discard them immediately.The Hedstrom Corporation received a report that a three year- old-girl strangled when her mitten strings, which were strung through her coat, caught at the point where the handrail attaches to the Big T slide. In addition, the Commission is aware of a hood string of a child's jacket that became entangled in the handrail attachment area of an older, similarly-designed slide whose brand could not be identified. While Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc. and Turco are unaware of any reports of entanglement, their products are considered by the CPSC to be functionally identical to that of the Hedstrom Big T slide involved in the incidents. Hedstrom Big T and Blazon-Flexible Flyer T-Type Play Center swing sets with slides were sold nationally in retail stores from 1986 through 1991. They sold for approximately $100-200 each. Turco swing sets wer