On December 7^th, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of Lightning Slides that were manufactured by Horizon Industries and distributed by Playworld Systems, Inc. The Lightning Slide is a stainless steel playground slide often used at schools and public parks. The recalled slides may contain a weld that cracks and separates, creating a separation between the slide bed and slide wall. If this separation occurs, it allows enough room for a child’s finger to get caught and potentially cause an amputation.

Playworld released a statement providing additional details. The affected slides are stainless steel and have welds on both sides that attach the slide bed to the walls from top to bottom. The recall includes both the single and double slides. There are no identifying marks on the slides.

There are currently 13 incidents of broken welds reported, including two incidents where children experienced finger amputations.

According to the statement, the affected slides were sold by independent distributors to parks, schools, and municipalities from November 2000 through October 2016. The slides ranged in price from $1,500 to $4,000.

The recall urges consumers to immediately stop using the Lightning Slides and contact Playworld for a free replacement slide and installation. Meanwhile, Playworld will ship out a temporary barrier to prevent children from using the slide before the replacement is installed.

To request a replacement slide, you can contact Playworld at 800-233-8404 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm ET Monday through Friday. You can also visit their website at http://playworld.com and visit their “Slide Recall Safety Information” page.

If you or someone you loved has suffered an injury due to a defective Lightning Slide, contact a personal injury attorney today. An experienced attorney will be able to help you determine what your next steps should be. Contact Powers Taylor today for a free consultation. All calls are kept confidential.