Trampoline Recall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from Dunite Playgrounds Information Desk

July 18, 2012

Release #12-226

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 666-2539

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 

(NOTE:  THIS RECALL NOTICE is being provided as a service to sport and athletic consumers.  DunRite does not provide this equipment. )

Trampolines Recalled by Panline USA Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of product: Alex (r) Model 786X Little Jumpers Trampoline

Units: About 8,000

Importer: Panline USA Inc., Northvale, N.J.

Hazard: The handlebar can break, causing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: The product is a small, toddler-sized trampoline with a yellow and blue colored handlebar over the top of the trampoline for toddlers to hold on to while jumping. The trampoline has a blue mat and orange pads with different colored circles printed onto the pads, yellow legs and blue feet. A white label is sewn into the underside of the orange pads which has "786X Little Jumpers Trampoline" printed above the bar code. This recall involves trampolines with the codes 21011-P0003070, 21011-P0003246, 25511-P0003071, 27811-P0003372, 29811-P0003373 and 34211-P0003375. This code is printed underneath the barcode.

Sold at: Independent specialty toy and retail stores from January through March 2012 for about $100.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a replacement trampoline.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm at (800) 666-2539 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.alextoys.com/safety

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12226.html

Shade Cover Specifications

The innovative and specially designed UV Extrablock is a product with unique properties. The Extrablock range of knitted shadenetting fabrics has been specifically designed for use in tension structures, but performs equally as well when used on standard carport structures, awnings and even umbrellas.

Extrablock shade netting is unique with its high tensile strenghts in the warp and weft directions as well as its almost equal elongation properties in both warp and weft directions when under tension.

Featuring:

• high strength
• controlled elongation
• maximum shade
• dimensional stability
• maximum protection against harmful UV rays
• fire retardancy
• and exceptional resistance to UV degradation
• Rachel wrap knitted and incorporating a lock stitch
• Heat set (stentered) for dimensional stability
• Will not rot or support the development of mould and mildew
• Breathable, allowing air circulation for cooling

Extrablock is available in 6 colours:

Extrablock Specifications

Properties	Test Method	Unit	True Blue	Forest Green	Silver	Sunblaze	Beige	Cream
Fire Retardancy
Raw Material			HDPE	HDPE	HDPE	HDPE	HDPE	HDPE
Mass (Ave)	ASTM D 3776	g/m2	330	324	326	320	328	326
Thickness	ASTM 1777	mm	1.34	1.31	1.32	1.26	1.32	1.31
UPF (UV protection Factor)			20	13	20	25	8	7
UVR Blockout		%	95	92	95	96	88	85
Shade Cover		%	93	90	93	95	80	66
Strip Tensile Test	ASTM D 4595-86
a. Warp		kN/m	18	18	18	17	18	18
b. Weft		kN/m	26	24	26	24	26	26
Elongation at Break
a. Warp		%	68	68	68	66	68	68
b. Weft		%	58	56	58	58	58	58
Burst	ASTM 3786
Strength		kN	3.7	3.7	3.7	3.5	3.7	3.7
Elongation		%	48	48	48	50	48	48
Tear Strength	ASTM D 1424
a. Warp		N	200	198	200	196	198	198
Elongation		%	92	89	92	90	89	89
b. Weft		N	196	196	196	196	196	196
Elongation		%	114	114	114	112	114	114
Water Runoff0°		%	0	0	0	0	0	0
10°		%	78	78	78	78	78	78
20°		%	81	81	81	81	81	81
30°		%	90	90	90	90	90	90
40°		%	100	100	100	100	100	100
50°		%	100	100	100	100	100	100
60°		%	100	100	100	100	100	100
70°		%	100	100	100	100	100	100
Temperature Stability
a. Minimum		°C	minus 25	minus 25	minus 25	minus 25	minus 25	minus 25
b. Maximum		°C	plus 80	plus 80	plus 80	plus 80	plus 80	plus 80
Widths		m	3	3	3	3	3	3
Lengths		m	32	32	32	32	32	32
Stability against UV degradation		years	8	8	8	8	10	10
Flame Resistance			Meets the California fire Marshalls requirements, Title 19, Section 1237 when tested in the original condition, after weathering and after water extraction.
Country Produced			RSA	RSA	RSA	RSA	RSA	RSA

Note: The values given correspond to average results obtained in Laboratories and are indicative. All information is given in good faith and to the best fo our knowledge is correct and is suplied without guarantee or responsibility.
Inasmuch as ALNET has no control over the use to which others may put the material, it does not guarantee that the same reslults as thos described herein will be obtained. Each user of the material should make his own tests to determine the material's suitability for his own particular use. Statements concerning possible or suggested users of the materials described herein are not to be construed as constituting a license under any ALNET patent covering such use or as recommendations for use of such materials in the infringement of any patent. ALNET or its distributors cannot be held responsible for any losses incurred through incorrect installation of the material. In accordance with our company policy of continual product developement you are advised to check with your local ALNET supplier to ensure that you have obtained the most up to date information.

New members

Organizations and governmental entities that became members when interlocal contracts were approved by the Harris County Department of Education board of trustees on June 19,2012 included Advantage Academy, Big Sandy ISD, Charlotte ISD, Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD, Hemphill ISD, Lavaca Medical Center, Lytle ISD, Navarro County Electric Cooperative, South San Antonio ISD, Ward County and The Westview School, Inc.

These organizations have been added to the DunRite Directory of entities eligible for discounts!

DunRite Discount Program

Troxel Recalls Flexible Flyer Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2012 Release #12-220

Firm's Recall Hotline: (888) 770-7060 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 HC Media Contact: (613) 957-2983

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Flexible Flyer Swing Sets

Units: About 100,500 in the United States and 4,900 in Canada

Manufacturer: The Troxel Company, of Moscow, Tenn.

Hazard: The see saw seats can break away from the bolt fasteners during use, posing a fall hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm received 1,232 reports of see saw seats breaking resulting in thirteen injuries to young children that included bumps, bruises and lacerations.

Description: The Flexible Flyer swing sets come in 11 different models each with a see saw attachment along with swings, bars or a slide. The model number can be found on a sticker located underneath the center of the top bar of each swing set unit. Model numbers and names are listed below:

Model #	Model Name
41575	BIG ADVENTURE
41577	FUN FANTASTIC
41578	FUN FANTASTIC II
42003	BACKYARD FLYER
42013	BACKYARD FUN
42023	BACKYARD SWINGIN' FUN
42030	WINDSOR II
42124	FUN TIME
42126	FANTASTIC PLAYGROUND
42544	TRIPLE FUN
42560	TRIPLE FUN II

Sold by: Walmart, Toys R Us, Academy and at other specialty stores, and online retailers from December 2011 through May 2012 for between $130 and $280.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the see saws immediately and contact Troxel to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Troxel at (888) 770-7060 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the company's website at http://www.regcen.com/flexibleflyer

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1646

Big Adventure #41575






Fantasic Playground #42126






Triple Fun II #42560

---

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

How Hot IS a Shadow?

With temperatures rising already, spring seems sprung and summer must be close.   After finding scald range temperatures on the playground, I armed myself with the laser and headed out to play school nurse and put my thermometer test to everything I could think of on the playground.   The results seem to be consistent with previous inspections.  The weather this day was somewhat cooler, the weather forecast on the radio enroute said it was 75 degrees.  Wonderful weather to move the classroom outdoors and have lessons on the playground.   Be careful where you set the students, or burnt bottom issues may overcome learning.    Here are the laser guided temperatures from yesterday's test:

Sidewalk, concrete- non painted enroute to playground  101F

Wooden picnic bench adjacent to playground                  116F

Wooden picnic table  in sun                                              124F
                                   under shade canopy                          74F

Wood playground surfacing  in sun                                  109.7F
                                               in shade                                72.6F

Border timber around playground in sun                          135F

Wooden Ramp into playground                                        125F

PVC Coated deck on play structure in sun                       108F
                                                          in shade                    76.9F

Plastic Slide in sun                                                            119F

Metal Climber                                                                     93F

HDPE (plastic) Rock Panel Climber in sun                      112F
                                                           in shade                   84F

Spiral Slide in sun                                                             129F
                    in shade                                                          74.5F

Wood playground surfacing in sun                                   125F
                                              in shade                                70.3F     

Considering we are in a geographical climate where we run our airconditioners at home year around, perhaps we should move play time to the wee small hours of the morning, like 2AM.   I would still like someone at the state department of "we take care of the children" folks to tell me how to orient a slide so that it is not placed in direct sunlight.     Perhaps the wording of state daycare standards should suggest not allowing children play on the playground in a dress or short pants?   Perhaps a sign posted by a slide: "Although it may only be 75 degrees out here, your child will burn their bottom on  a 129 degree slide."  Well, maybe those aren't good ideas.    The intent and spirit are there though.   

I remember as a child seeing a little, old lady walking to the bus stop with an umbrella.  How silly, I thought.  It isn't raining.  Maybe she doesn't know it isn't raining.   Maybe she lost her sunglasses?   No, mom and grandma were much smarter than I knew back then.   It's cooler in the shade!

Copyright 2012 DunRite Playgrounds
http://www.dunriteplaygrounds.com

The Value of Shade on the Playground

The Consumer Products Safety Commission in their publication "Handbook for Playground Safety"  (publication 325) cites a reference to the American Academy of Dermatology research indicating that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.  Sunburn, heated bare metal, hot platforms, hot steps and ground surfacing heated enough to burn children are all referenced concerns.   Sun exposure is one of the major risk factors for melanoma, others forms of cancer and early aging of the skin.  Sunlight, whether direct of reflected contains ultraviolet rays, known as UVA and UVB.  UVA rays damage the skin by drying and creating wrinkles.  UVB rays are the cancer causing type, and damage can last a lifetime.   This isn't an issue only referring to sun bathing or tanning salon visits.   Sun exposure during early childhood may account for up to 80% of our lifetime totals.   The UVA and UVB rays seem to take most of the publicity and blame.  Sunscreens are recommended with high SPF ratings when our children are outdoors.   Perhaps UV rays aren't the only risk.

One line in the CPSC recommendations stands out as somewhat odd, if not impossible.  While conducting a playground inspection for a client, I stopped on the entry referring to a slide being oriented so it is out of direct sunlight.   I was a bit confused by the thought of trying to somehow rotate the structure I was looking at so that the slide wouldn't be in direct sunlight.  In my longitude and latitude, direct or indirect sunlight is going to strike that slide from sunrise to sunset.     I have now started paying attention to exactly how hot things are on the playground.   

Using an infrared laser thermometer I obtained a temperature from every surface I could think of during a playground inspection.  The results are nothing less than shocking:

Ambient Temperature   96F (as a reference point, the thermometer on the wall outside this building would say it was this temperature outside)

Concrete Sidewalk enroute to playground 102F

Blue ramp into playground         (in sun)               125F

                                                         (in shade)           90.8F

Black border timber perimeter  (in sun)               130F

                                                         (in shade)           99.9F

Engineered Wood Surfacing       (in sun)               128.3F

                                                         (in shade)           87.7F

Coated metal deck                        (in sun)              105F,111.5F

                                                         (in shade)           91F,92.4F

PVC Roto-Molded Slide               (in sun)                100.8F

                                                         (in shade)           86F

PowderCoated Steel Post            (in sun)               93.9F

                                                          (in shade)          89.3F

Metal Climber                                (in sun)               90.4F                    

I remember learning to dip my wrist or elbow into the bath water to ensure the water temperature wasn't too hot, around 100F or less.  I learned to set my hot water heater to 110F to prevent scalds.  Some of the temperatures above are far higher than what would be expected to cause a first degree burn.   Children have thinner skin than adults and will react to these temperatures more quickly or more severely than to the adults supervising the children at play on the playground.     I was able to find a reference (burnfoundation.org) that states a 3rd degree burn can occur from hot water at 140F in 15 seconds.   With the temperature reading on the wood surfacing under the playground at 128F, the very material meant to protect lives may be causing a risk.    More than 15 seconds on the playground seems like a somewhat regular occurrence.  While the burn statistics I can find seem to be water related, 20 minutes on a playground with temperature readings this high seems to be somewhat more than only a risk to our children. 

I will continue to look for a way to orient a slide out of direct sunlight.  In the meanwhile, I think we need a shade cover over the playground!

Playground Accessibility Requirements

In 2010 ADA standards were announced and scheduled to take effect (compliance) by March 15, 2012.   Recreation facilities are included in this new standard and include exercise and play areas.    The standards were orginally published in 2004 by the U.S. Access Board and now these areas must meet all of the same requirements as other public and commercial areas.  Routes must now be considered to allow children access not only in a wheelchair, but with many other physical impairments. We must now include ground play components on an accessible route. 

There is a huge up front cost difference in engineered wood fiber (also known as EWF or playground mulch) and unitary surfacing (tile or poured in place).  While the surfacing choice is not mandated, accessibility and maintenance is.   Trying to maintain wood surfacing in a play area requires more attention and regular replenishment.   Keeping all areas filled to required depth of material is complicated along the main path to the entrance (stairs) and around slides or other exits.   Areas beneath swings, like around slide exits, seem to have perpetual ruts.   Using unitary surface materials keeps this more consistent in impact protection.   At a minimum consider traffic or wear pads at these high traffic areas. 

For more information, recently published 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design (U.S. Department of Justice)  helps to identify, highlight and illustrate areas that should be considered when planning, designing, maintaining or retrofitting of a playground.  The 2005 U.S. Access Board, Summary of Accessibility Guidelines for Play Areas is also a good tool with illustrations and examples to aid in your planning. 

For more information, visit us online at

DunRite Playgrounds http://www.dunriteplaygrounds.com



New Discount Members

DunRite Playgrounds welcomes...

SMITHVILLE ISD	Smithville	12/20/2011	13a	TX
DIBOLL ISD	Diboll	01/02/2012	07a	TX
BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS	Buffalo	01/02/2012	24a	OK
KANSAS CITY MO SCHOOL DISTRICT	Kansas City	01/02/2012	23a	MO
COSSATOT RIVER SCHOOL DISTRICT	Wickes	01/02/2012	21	AR
MADISONVILLE, CITY OF	Madisonville	01/02/2012	04c	TX
PROSPER, TOWN OF	Prosper	01/02/2012	10c	TX
COPPELL, CITY OF	Coppell	01/02/2012	10c	TX
BUFFALO ISD	Buffalo	01/02/2012	06a	TX

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