Product Recall Number: 78-020
Why was Wham-O "Water Wiggle" toy recalled?
The toy consists of a seven-foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water-jet nozzle which is covered by a bell-shaped plastic head. In one instance, the bell-shaped head came off and the exposed aluminum nozzle became lodged in a child's mouth, resulting in his death by drowning. Wham-O stated that it had no knowledge of how or why the toy was dismantled or how the nozzle became lodged in the child's mouth.
Product Recall Number: 78-020
Product Safety Warning Number:
Date: 1978-04-12
Product Safety Warning Date:
Name Of Product: Wham-O "Water Wiggle" toy
Description: WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 13) -- Wham-O Manufacturing Co., San Gabriel, Calif., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, today announced it is voluntarily stopping sale and recalling its "Water Wiggle" toy. Approximately 2 1/2 million of these toys have been sold throughout the United States over the past 17 years. The toy consists of a seven-foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water-jet nozzle which is covered by a bell-shaped plastic head. The toy is designed to be attached to a garden hose for water fun. It retails for approximately $3.50. Wham-O stated that the recall is occasioned by the death of a four-year-old child in March 1978. The youngster was playing with some other children in his backyard with a dismantled "Water Wiggle," one from which the bell-shaped head had been removed or had come off. The exposed aluminum nozzle became lodged in his mouth and he drowned. Wham-O stated that it had no knowledge of how or why the toy was dismantled or how the nozzle became lodged in the child's mouth. A "Water Wiggle" was involved in a similar death of a three-year-old boy in 1975. Parents are advised not to allow their children to play with this product. Wham-O requests its retailers to remove all "Water Wiggles" from their shelves. Consumers who own a "Water Wiggle" toy should return the product to the retail store where purchased for a full refund or credit toward another product. Consumers requiring information concerning this recall should contact the Customer Service Department, Wham-O Manufacturing Company, 835 East El Monte Street, San Gabriel, California 91778 (toll free numbers 800-423-4592 and 800-423-4593) or call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free hotline 800-638-2772.
Hazard Description: The toy consists of a seven-foot plastic hose attached to an aluminum water-jet nozzle which is covered by a bell-shaped plastic head. In one instance, the bell-shaped head came off and the exposed aluminum nozzle became lodged in a child's mouth, resulting in his death by drowning. Wham-O stated that it had no knowledge of how or why the toy was dismantled or how the nozzle became lodged in the child's mouth.
Consumer Action: None Listed
Original Product Safety Warning Announcement: None Listed
Remedy Type: Refund
Units: Approximately 2 1/2 million
Incidents: Wham-O stated that the recall is occasioned by the death of a four-year-old child in March 1978. The youngster was playing with some other children in his backyard with a dismantled "Water Wiggle," one from which the bell-shaped head had been removed or had come off. The exposed aluminum nozzle became lodged in his mouth and he drowned. Wham-O stated that it had no knowledge of how or why the toy was dismantled or how the nozzle became lodged in the child's mouth. A "Water Wiggle" was involved in a similar death of a three-year-old boy in 1975.
Remedy: Parents are advised not to allow their children to play with this product. Consumers who own a "Water Wiggle" toy should return the product to the retail store where purchased for a full refund or credit toward another product.
Sold At: None Listed
Importers: None Listed
Manufacturers: Wham-O Manufacturing Co., of San Gabriel, California
Distributors: None Listed
Manufactured In: None Listed
Custom Label: None Listed
Custom Field: None Listed