Mini-Hammocks Recalled by 10 Manufacturers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 10 mini-hammock manufacturers and importers are recalling over three million light-weight, net mini-hammocks that do not have spreader bars. Without spreader bars to hold the mini-hammock bed open, the mini-hammocks can twist around children's necks as they are getting into or out of the mini-hammock, resulting in strangulation and death.

When a net mini-hammock is attached to trees, decks, porches, or other areas, 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 5 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 twenty feet long. Sporting goods stores, outdoor equipment stores, Army and Air Force Exchange Service stores ("PX/BX"), department stores, and even drug stores have sold the hammocks since the early 1970s for about $4 to $10.

The following manufacturers and importers are participating in this voluntary recall of net mini-hammocks: Academy Broadway, Smithtown, N.Y. Nelson/Weather-Rite, Lenexa, Kan. Algoma Net Company, Algoma, Wisc. Rothco, Smithtown, N.Y. Avid Outdoor, Olathe, Kan. Schwarzman Export Import Co., Brooklyn, N.Y. Coghlan's, Minneapolis, Minn. Standard Sales, Los Angeles, Calif. E-Z Sales, Gardena, Calif. Texsport, Houston, Tex.

E-Z Sales, the major producer of these thin, net mini-hammocks, is offering consumers replacement mini-hammocks with spreader bars or larger hammocks for returning their MiniPak Hammocks and Superhammocks. The nine other manufacturers participating in this recall are offering a full refund for returning their mini-hammocks to the store where purchased. Recall notices offering consumers refunds or replacement hammocks are posted in stores that sold the recalled mini-hammocks.

Consumers should immediately remove 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, consumers should destroy the mini-hammock immediately to prevent a strangulation death or injury.