Newco Offers New Brackets To Prevent Injuries On Belted Swing Seats

WASHINGTON, DC -- Newco Inc. of Janesville, WI in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is voluntarily offering replacement brackets for its Swing-N-Slide belted swing seats. The "V" shaped brackets which connect the seats to the swing chains have caused serious lacerations when the hook ends of the brackets were not completely closed. Failure to completely close the brackets during installation may result in injury to children.

Newco Inc. received 10 reports of lacerations to children from open hooks on the belted swing seats. Injuries include legs, arms, face and groin lacerations. The incidents occurred on seats where the bracket hooks were not fully closed.

The Swing-N-Slide seats were sold separately and also with the Scout and the Pioneer models of Newco swing set kits. Newco belted seats with "V" brackets can be identified by the name "Swing-N-Slide" embossed in the center of the soft plastic seat. Approximately 500,000 seats were sold nationally over the past six years at major home supply and building materials centers, such as: Builders' Square, 84 Lumber, Lowes, Moore's, Payless Cashways, Scottie's, Sutherland, United Building Centers, and Wick's.

Newco advises swing set owners to check all belted seats for bracket hooks that are not completely closed, and crimp or hammer the hooks completely closed until the metal touches. If the brackets cannot be completely closed, Newco advises consumers to replace the brackets. Newco is offering consumers free replacement brackets, which are designed to prevent hook-end lacerations. Consumers can obtain the redesigned brackets free of charge by calling Swing-N-Slide Customer Service at 1-800-888-1232.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this voluntary recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.

Check all belted seats for bracket hooks that are not completely closed. Crimp or hammer the hooks completely closed until the metal touches. If the brackets cannot be completely closed replace the brackets. To receive redesigned brackets free of charge call 1-800-888-1232.

Newco Inc. received 10 reports of lacerations to children from open hooks on the belted swing seats. Injuries include legs, arms, face and groin lacerations. The incidents occurred on seats where the bracket hooks were not fully closed.