Urgent Recall: Hazardous Baby Floats in the UK Pose Drowning Risk – Parents Advised to 'Stop Using Immediately'

A NUMBER of dangerous baby floats have been urgently recalled in the UK over a drowning risk.

Parents have been warned to immediately stop using the product.

A number of baby floats sold via TikTok have been recalled concerning drowning risks (stock photo) Credit: Getty Images

A number of baby floats sold via a popular social media app have been over a drowning risk.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued four recall notices regarding different types of floats sold on TikTok.

The first concerns “baby floats designed to be worn around or secured to an infant’s neck, where the infant’s head is supported by the float while the body remains suspended in the water”.

These types of floats include inflatable neck rings and similar neck-support flotation devices aimed at babies and small children.

Images included in the recall showing a representative example of the affected items Credit: gov.uk Images included in the recall showing a representative example of the affected items Credit: gov.uk Images included in the recall showing a representative example of the affected items Credit: gov.uk Images included in the recall showing a representative example of the affected items Credit: gov.uk

The floats present a serious danger to infants as they may place “inappropriate pressure” on a child’s neck and “restrict normal movement or airway pressure”, which could result in drowning.

The product notice also reads: “They may also increase the risk of the infant slipping through, becoming trapped, overturning, or being left in an unsafe floating position, potentially resulting in neck injury, asphyxiation, drowning or other serious harm.”

As a result the products do not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

All the affected items have been recalled by TikTok.

Shoppers who may have bought the products are urged to immediately stop using the floats and contact their place of purchase for a refund.

Another notice concerns baby floats that are “predominantly light-blue coloured, transparent, translucent, pastel, or otherwise low-contrast in appearance”.

These items present a risk of drowning owing to the colour of the products.

The recall notice reads: “The products present a risk of drowning as low-visibility colours may make it difficult for caregivers or lifeguards to quickly locate the child in the water.”

As a result, supervision or a rescue response may be delayed, which greatly increases a child’s risk of drowning.

The products do not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

All the affected products have been removed from the social media platform and shoppers can contact the distributor for a refund.

Parents have been advised to stop using the items and keep any floats out of reach of children.

The third recall notice concerns baby floats that are “designed to resemble toys, animals, cartoon characters, inflatable play items, ride-on toys, novelty products, or other entertainment-oriented products”.

Floats included in this recall may have playful shapes, animal heads, decorative elements, or designs that may cause the product to be perceived as a toy rather than a safety-sensitive water product.

A drowning risk is increased in this instance as the toy-like designs may mislead shoppers into treating the product “as a play item”.

The notice reads: “This may increase the risk of misuse, overreliance on the product, reduced caregiver vigilance, unsafe play behaviour, instability, tipping, entrapment, or drowning.”

As a result, the product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

All “toy-like” products sold via TikTok marketplace have been recalled from end users.

The app has also prohibited the future listing or sale of any similar “toy-like” floats.

Shoppers are advised to stop using the product, keep them out of reach of children, and contact the distributor for a refund.

The final notice issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards concerns “baby floats with canopies, sunshades, umbrellas, or other overhead covering structures attached to the float”.

These types of floats also present a risk of drowning owing to the product’s stability.

The product notice reads: “The products present a risk of drowning because the canopies and overhead structures may increase wind resistance and affect the stability of the float.

“In windy conditions, the float may be lifted, tipped over, pushed away, or destabilised, creating risks of falls, capsizing, separation from the caregiver, entrapment, or drowning.”

Once again, the floats do not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

All affected items have been recalled by TikTok and shoppers are urged to stop using the items and contact the place of purchase for a refund.