Poor over 30 years, one of the most popular adult recreational activities has also been one of the most dangerous. Lawn darts, or “carts”, were one of the best selling outdoor recreational activities since the inception in the late sass’s (rob carts). All of that changed when on December 19, 1988, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CUPS, all lawn darts were banned from sale and manufacturing in the United States. The ajar was 3 scaled up version Of the typical pub dart. It was about 13 inches long and weighed about half a pound.
Similar to a pub dart, the ajar had three lactic fins protruding from the base, aluminum or plastic shaft, and a plastic or metal nose in the shape off point. As result of the design and weight distribution, the ajar had the tendency to land nose. First when lobbed into the air. A set of carts included four carts and two targets (rob carts). The rules for carts were simple. Ajar was to be grasped by the nose and lobbed underhand so as to form an arch, and then land upright in a circular plastic ring.
The ring was to be placed anywhere from 15 to AS feet away from the opposing player, depending on such circumstances as age, skill level, and availability of land. Because of the design tot ajar, the potential tort injury was great. Even though the ajar was manufactured and sold beginning in the late 19505, the first reported injury was in 1967. The first official notice from the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, concerning the ajar was a letter from the Buffalo, New York district dated October 20, 1970.
The letter revealed that a number of injuries related to carts had come to the agency’s notice. The letter also asked that a labeling “be revised to clearly caution purchasers and users that this game should not be used by children unless supervised by adults” (rob ajar). In November 1 970, despite the cooperation of the ajar manufacturers, the FDA mulled over a proposal of a regulation that would classify carts as a “banned hazardous substance. At a conference in late November of that same year, attended by representatives Of the ajar manufacturers and the DEAD, the agency circulated a letter summarizing the results of an investigation of injuries caused by carts. The evidence reported some injuries were due to careless behavior Of adults, while there were quite a few sustained by children in the course of unsupervised actions. rob ajar) From that point on the only restrictions placed on the lawn dart manufacturers were limited to the warnings placed on the packaging.
An estimated 12-15 companies produced and distributed these lawn darts from the mid 1 ass’s through 1989, Lawn darts were sold under the names as lawn darts, warts, yard dart, yard darts, Sears Lawn Darts; model #3210, model #3283, three game combination set model #3284, three game combination set model #3287, and five game combination set. Then on December 19, 1988 the CUPS banned all carts from being sold and manufactured in the United States,
Hospital records indicate that an estimated 6,100 people have been treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries involving lawn darts from 1978 through present. At least 80 percent of the victims were punier than 15 years old, and more than SO percent were ten years old or younger _ More than half of the victims had injuries to the skull, eye, ear or face. In many cases children have lost the use of an eye. Among the injuries were also many cases of cranial punctures, facial lacerations and skull fractures. In many cases the victims were often bystanders. SC) While the ban on carts has had a major impact on the eradication of the game, there are still many individuals who still illegally partake in the activity. Throughout the year there are various ajar tournaments, some with almost 100 participants competing for a substantial cash prize. There are also many website devoted to carts, some With the petitions to resume production and sale. The following four cases show the extent to which carts can harm. While three deal with injuries themselves, one revolves around a ajar manufacturer who faced restrictions during the early sass’s.
