11,000 floats were withdrawn from a location in Santiago for being mislabeled and without safety certifications during January 2023. This is within the framework of the inspections that the Seremi de Salud of the Metropolitan region is carrying out this summer.
The RM health seremi, Gonzalo Soto, indicated that inspections increased as a result of the increase in the purchase and use of floats during this time. The measure is aimed at all floats aimed at children under 14 years of age, and which are classified as toys to transport through the water and not to prevent. “For this reason, they must have a precautionary legend indicating that it is not a life preserver, warning that it must be used where the minor cannot lose his balance and under the supervision of an adult,” added the health authority.
In this regard, Soto explained that in 2021, 38 minors between the ages of 0 and 14 died in 2021 in submersion accidents, which occur mainly between January and February.
The RM Health Seremi @gonzalouno inspected floats intended for boys and girls under 14 years of age and reported the withdrawal of 11,000 products without safety certification or mislabeled during January 2023.
Find out here how to choose a safe product this summer pic.twitter.com/Py3pKgGAju– Seremi de Salud RM (@SeremiSaludRM) January 19, 2023
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The seremi called on parents to pay attention when buying the products, that they have the labeling and also on the valves and caps, which must be adhered and firm with a non-return system, to avoid the loss of air in the float.
Likewise, he stressed that the floats meet the objective of playing or facilitating swimming learning for boys and girls, but they are not safety elements and do not replace supervision under an adult.
Soto insisted that supervision is key to avoiding tragedies in people or minors who do not know how to swim, since, despite having a float, there may be a death due to accidental immersion when losing balance.
Finally, the health authority indicated that all manufacture of floats aimed at children under 14 years of age must be made to minimize the risks of sinking and loss of stability.
