Wham-O Backyard Water Slides Warned Dangerous for Adults and Teens
CPSC warns that Wham-O backyard water slides are designed for children only. Adult or teen use can cause severe neck injuries and paralysis.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The source reports significant injuries including quadriplegia, paraplegia, and fractured necks, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury reports' under the Severe category.
Plain-English summary
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Kransco are issuing a warning regarding approximately 9 million Wham-O backyard water slides manufactured by Kransco and Wham-O. These products, sold nationwide from 1961 through February 1992, include the Slip 'N Slide, Super Slip 'N Slide, Slip 'N Splash, White Water Rapids, Fast Track Racers, and Wet Banana models.
The slides are designed exclusively for use by children. The warning states that use by adults and teenagers poses a risk of neck injury and paralysis. Due to their weight and height, adults and teens who dive onto the slides may hit and stop abruptly, causing the body to compress the spinal cord. This can result in permanent spinal cord injury, including quadriplegia or paraplegia. Kransco reports that seven adults and one 13-year-old teenager suffered neck injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, or a fractured neck while using these slides between 1973 and 1991.
CPSC and Kransco urge adults and teenagers not to use these backyard slides. Consumers should read the warnings and instructions on the box and the toy itself, which state that the product is not for adult use. Adults should instruct children on how to use the slides safely. For questions, consumers can call Kransco at 1-800-334-5775.
The recalled product
- Product
- Wham-O Fast Track Racers backyard water slides
- Manufacturer
- Kransco
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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