Hedstrom balls
6 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 3, 2025. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 6reports to CPSC
- Oct 3, 2025the latest report was made
- Sep 16, 2011the earliest
- 4with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Hedstrom
- Maker
- Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- BallsCPSC’s product type: Balls, Other or Not Specified (code 5016), in Toys & Children: Toys
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| October 2025 | 1 |
| January 2023 | 1 |
| May 2019 | 2 |
| May 2014 | 1 |
| September 2011 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
- Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
- Hurt, care not known 1 CPSC: Injury, Level of care not known
- No one hurt 2 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
- Not said 1 CPSC: Unspecified
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
Hurt, care not known Made Oct 3, 2025, sent to the company Oct 23, 2025, published by CPSC Nov 26, 2025
The product, in the report: I bought this ball at dollar general. Its a white ball with orange, green and blue colors splattered all over.
My son recently had bloodwork and his lead levels were high. We have been checking his toys and this ball tested positive.
- UPC
- 033149174097
- Bought from
- Dollar general, Ohio
- Bought
- Aug 18, 2025, about then
- Where
- North Lima, Ohio: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Hedstrom, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Level of care not known
-
No one hurt Made Jan 31, 2023, sent to the company Feb 16, 2023, published by CPSC Mar 10, 2023
The product, in the report: Fluid filled gold glitter ball toy
I purchased a $1 fluid filled glitter ball from the Dollar General Store made by “Hedstrom”, made in China and distributed by Old East Main Company, 100 Mission Ridge, Goodlettsville, TN. I used the “glitterball’ to play with my granddaughter at her home. The first morning of use with my granddaughter I began smelling something like fire and smoke. My son was home with Strep that day and we searched all over for the cause of the smell, could not find it. During the weekend while my son, daughter-in-law and grandchild were home the ball was pulled out again and played with. My son’s den/playroom is surrounded by large windows on three sides. The ball was left on the floor after play and sunlight was able to hit it due to the windows. My son and daughter-in-law began smelling the burning, smokey smell again while in the den and just so happened to look and see a puff of smoke coming up from their rug on the floor of the den. This ball was about to start a fire in their home. The fluid in the ball acts as some type of magnifier while the glitter acted as a mirror or reflector (I purchased the gold glitter ball). This ball is very dangerous. I can only imagine a grass fire this could cause if left outside during the summer in a dry area, or a house fire if left unattended near a window where sun may shine on it. This is a toy for children and may put children’s lives in danger! I have placed this ball into a box and brought it to my home if you wish for me to send it to you so you may test it. I will be happy to do so. The address below is to my home, not that of my son’s where the incident happened but if you need his home address i may supply that to you as well upon request. Thank you.
- Model
- Above bar code: IU1172, JINHUA, CHINA
- UPC
- 0 33149 17058 7
- Serial number
- Below bar code:31810901F22
- Bought from
- Dollar General Store
- Bought
- Jan 19, 2023
- Where
- ROCKY FACE, Georgia: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 1, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Other Relative
- As this report names them
- Brand Hedstrom, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Not said Made May 29, 2019, sent to the company Jun 20, 2019, published by CPSC Jul 8, 2019
The product, in the report: Ball - Made by Hedstrom. The following information is on the red ball with swirls - Ball, Bounce and Sport, INC., Ashland Ohio, 44805. Made in China. CPSIA/PHTHALATE COMPLIANT/CONFORME 54-3450W Lili China A0039 Bar Code: 33149 12224 The 3 balls that exploded were red, blue and green.
Several playground balls, purchased at Walmart, randomly exploded. The balls were on the playground, and no children were playing with the balls when they exploded (one exploded, then another, then another over the course of a day). There was a very loud sound, and the rubber from the balls broke into pieces.
- Model
- 54-3450W
- UPC
- 33149 12224
- Bought from
- Walmart, Kentucky
- Bought
- May 19, 2019
- Where
- Lexington, Kentucky: School
- Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Hedstrom, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Unspecified
-
Seen by a doctor or nurse Made May 17, 2019, sent to the company Jun 3, 2019, published by CPSC Jun 25, 2019
The product, in the report: Paw Patrol foam ball with hard plastic cover
My baby got a hold of one of these paw patrol balls and bit off a chunk of the ball. He began choking. I was able to get the chunk of the ball out of his airway but not before my son turned purple. I am a trained nurse and ACLS certified. The next mother might not be as lucky.
- Bought from
- Walmart
- Bought
- Apr 19, 2019
- Where
- Valparaiso, Indiana: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 0, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Hedstrom, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
-
Hurt, no treatment Made May 12, 2014, sent to the company May 20, 2014, published by CPSC Jun 4, 2014
The product, in the report: Plastic Big Bouncy Ball Hedstrom Company 54-3303W Chevron Pattern
I had purchased a big bouncy ball at Wal-Mart in Berea, KY on 5-11-2014. I placed the ball by my daughter in the back seat of my car. There was nothing around it. I got into the car, was getting ready to put the car in reverse and the ball literally exploded!! My daughter cried and cried. It was so loud I thought I had blown a tire or something. I couldn’t hear out of my right ear until I got home (15 minutes away). I was going to take what was left of the ball back inside, however I had frozen food and meats. I contacted Wal-Mart, they said that the gases inside the ball expanded, where my car was hot (grant you my car was warm, however the intentional purpose of the me purchasing this ball was for my daughter to play with it outside). Wal-Mart offered to give me a refund. However, I am not concerned about a refund, I am concerned about the safety of my child and other children. Can you imagine if my daughter had been holding the ball!!??? The ball was on the right side of my daughter. The following night she ran a fever of 102.6 and has suffered ear pain as well as sensitivity to loud sounds. I have been advised to bring her to the pediatrician, however the earliest they can get me in is tomorrow (5/13/14). My dad called the company about the ball, and all they told them is that that happens occasionally, they was not all concerned. I am very disappointed in the response from both Wal-Mart and the company.
Here is the information on the ball:
Hedstrom 54-3303W
- Model
- 54-3303W
- Bought from
- Wal-Mart, Kentucky
- Bought
- May 11, 2014
- Where
- Berea, Kentucky: Other
- Who was involved
- Age 1, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Child
- As this report names them
- Brand Hedstrom, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received
-
No one hurt Made Sep 16, 2011, sent to the company Sep 26, 2011, published by CPSC Oct 12, 2011
The product, in the report: Plastic Ball Made for Hedstrom (800)765-9665 in CHINA 54-3303W A 0201 Barcode 3314903303 Sold by Walmart
I purchased a play ball for my grandchild and set it in the guest room until she arrives. It exploded and went in two directions while no one was in the room. This is not safe for a child’s toy! Manufacturer was HEDSTROM (800) 765-9665 Imprint on the ball included numbers 54-3303W and A 0201 It was purchased at Walmart Bar Code is 3314903303
- Model
- 54-3303W
- UPC
- 3314903303
- Bought from
- Walmart
- Bought
- Sep 9, 2011
- Where
- SW Ranches, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Unspecified
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Other Relative
- As this report names them
- Brand HEDSTROM, made or sold by Ball, Bounce and Sport, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.