Consumers should 'immediately' stop using Otteroo infant flotation rings following infant death, CPSC says
The CPSC has been made aware of 68 incidents where infants slipped through the rings
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to "immediately" stop using certain infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corporation after an infant slipped through the opening and drowned two years ago.
The independent agency of safety regulators issued a drowning warning about the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo as well as discontinued models of Otteroo infant flotation rings, which were sold between 2014 and 2018.
Officials say the company has "refused to agree to CPSC’s request for an acceptable recall" despite several reported incidents.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues a drowning warning for certain flotation rings after one reported death. This is the Otteroo "Version 1", which was sold from 2014 to 2015. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission )
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According to the CPSC, Otteroo infant flotation rings can deflate during use or storage. This can cause a child to slide out into the water and "lead to serious injury or death."
One infant, only six months old, drowned after they slipped through the ring in Maine in 2020. Another three-month-old was seriously injured after slipping through the flotation ring that same year in New York.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issues a drowning warning for certain flotation rings after one reported death. This is the Otteroo MINI flotation ring. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
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In total, the agency is aware of 68 incidents where infants slipped through the opening of the ring and needed to be immediately rescued.
The company maintains that its "LUMI and MINI floats, when used with proper attention and care, are completely safe."
"CPSC’s statement is misleading because mere deflation of the Otteroo is not the hazard CPSC claims," the company wrote in a statement on its website. "Rather, a hazard may arise only if an adult is not closely supervising the infant while they are in Otteroo in the water."
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The products have been sold nationwide since January 2014 and are currently offered exclusively on Otteroo's website, according to the CPSC. They were previously available on Amazon and Zulily.com.