Gasky Kids monkey bars or other playground climbing apparatus

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. First aid

   Made Apr 25, 2023 · , sent to the company Apr 27, 2023 · , published by CPSC May 11, 2023

   The product, in the report: The product is marketed as a new way for kids to be active outside. The Ninja obstacle course is basically a large ratchet strap, similar to those used to secure large loads on 18 wheeler trailers. The set-up instructs to wrap one end on the strap around an anchor point (tree) and secure it by passing the strap end through a pre-fabricated loop at the end of the strap. Stretch the remaining length of the strap across to the second anchor point where the ratchet mechanism is located and attached to the tree in the same manor as the other side. To remove slack and obtain the appropriate tension on the strap, simply work the ratchet as instructed until the line is tight. The Top Main Strap: 2 inches wide x 55ft. total length. Green in color. Bottom line is 1 inch wide and runs parallel to top line. used to secure attachments to keep from swinging or moving.

   A product that I purchased as an outdoor activity for my children, which is clearly a product marketed and intended for use as a childrens outdoor recreation, actually failed while being used as intended by my three younger sons and resulted in significant injuries being suffered by each of them. The product: NINJA WARRIOR OBSTACLE COURSE KIT is manufactured by GASKY KIDS and was purchased under my account through Amazon.com in April of 2021 for a total price of $177.70. The kit is designed to be suspended between two anchor points, we used two trees roughly 30ft apart, and once the proper tension is achieved through a large ratchet style piece of hardware affixed to one end of the strap, special clips and hangers can be attached to the line from which various rope and swing style toys can be added down the length of the line. The goal is to attempt to make an obstacle course from one side to the other and cross the obstacles without touching the bottom strap or ground. As stated, my three youngest boys, ages 4, 6, and 11 and have a combined weight of 110 lbs total, were playing on the line at the time of the incident and were all spaced apart on different attachments as well, when the 2” main overhead strap experienced complete product failure and was torn apart almost exactly in two equal pieces. As such, the failure caused everything attached to the line, including children, to suddenly, and violently be dropped to the ground from heights ranging from 3ft. to 8.5ft from the ground. Not only was my 4yr old slammed into the closest tree trunk before falling off of the swing he was sitting on, my oldest was climbing the cargo net attachment that was included with the set and had just reached the top when the line broke, resulting in him practically face planting into the ground from the highest possible point of this set up. As for my 6yr old, he was on a trapeze bar at the time and suffered a busted lip thanks to his knee being plunged into his face after hitting the ground unexpectedly. I am thankful that none of them were struck directly by that top strap when it came apart and all of the tension suddenly unleashed in opposite directions. Fortunately none of the injuries were serious enough to require a trip to the ER and all three boys were bandaged and iced for most of the afternoon. Once I had my babies cared for, my attention turned to figuring out what happened and why this product failed. My husband and I both looked over the entire strap, which was now in two seperate parts, and discovered that the material appeared to be frayed significantly at the point where the failure occured. We also noticed that each place on the strap where the supplied hangers were attached, the strap showed signs of wearing and stress underneath the clips where it could not be seen unless the hanger was moved to a different position on the line. According to the information provided by the seller of this product, the maximum span of the Ninja line was 50ft between anchor points and was rated to hold a working load of 1,320 lbs. Clearly, these paramenters and limits were not even close to being exceded as my configuration was, at most, 30 feet in length between the two trees and the three victims utilizing it were well below the indicated weight limit by a difference of 1,200lbs. Following my visual assessment of the damaged product, I contacted the customer service department at Amazon.com to report the product failure and to inquire if there was any type of warranty provided by the seller in such instances of a product design failure. I was advised by Amazon support staff that I would need to contact the seller directly to address such concerns and that the time period of 30 days had obviously lapsed between purchase date and product failure, which ultimately cleared Amazon of any responsibilities in this matter. Aditionally, I was also informed that the seller listed for this purchase recently closed its account with Amazon and no longer sells any products through Amazon’s platform, and in accordance with their company policy, Amazon no longer lists or stores any contact information for the seller in their system. Frustrated, but determined, I was able to track down some of the seller’s company details, including the new website being used to market their products, including the Ninja kit that I purchased and was almost responsible for severely injuring my family. Amazon did, however, make an attempt to contact the seller, on my behalf, using the account information provided within my Purchase Order for the product. Unfortunately, I have not received any correspondence from the seller, the manufacturer, nor Amazon upper management, despite my repeated weekly connections to Amazon’s Customer Support attempting to receive any updates on what I believe to be a dangerous and defective product that is obviously still being sold and utilized by children, who are possibly being placed in a dangerous and harmful situation, only made worse by the fact that the company responsible for the product continues to dismiss and refuse to respond or acknowledge any reports indicating such a failure occured.

   Model

   Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course Kit - 55ft

   Serial number

   OC-PCH07-001

   Bought from

   www.Amazon.com

   Bought

   Apr 5, 2021

   Where

   Benton, Louisiana: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 4, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Child

   As this report names them

   Brand Gasky Kids, made or sold by Aukey Technology Co., Ltd

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources