Summer is almost here and Igloo, one of the most popular cooler brands, has had to issue a recall of its popular ice chests. The reason? The tow handle could cause fingertip amputation injuries. Ouch!
The announcement was made by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in February and affected more than one million units in the U.S., 47,000 in Canada, and another 23,000 in Mexico, with 78 injury reports already registered. Here’s everything that’s going on with these seemingly harmless coolers that are turning out to be household guillotines.
What’s happening and which models are involved?
Below we’ll leave the list of recalled models along with their manufacturing dates, but remember that this recall joins another one affecting 45 models that were also recalled earlier this year:
- 34692 – LATITUDE 90 QT ROLLER (manufactured between 07/2020 and 09/2021)
- 34785 – LATITUDE 90 QT ROLLER (manufactured between 10/2021 and 12/2022)
- 34790 – MAXCOLD LATITUDE 90 QT ROLLER (manufactured between 10/2021 and 02/2023)
As we mentioned at the beginning, these coolers pose a real risk of cuts and amputations. When lowering the tow handle, it can pinch fingertips against the cooler, causing serious cuts. Yes, 78 injury reports (including 26 that resulted in amputations, bone fractures or lacerations) have triggered alarms and led to the recall notice.
Where were they sold?
These coolers are priced between $80 and $140, and were sold at Costco, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, and Amazon, both in physical stores and online.
What is Igloo?
Igloo Products Corp. is a company specializing in the manufacturing of portable coolers. American, founded in 1947 in Houston, Texas, it originally produced metal water coolers for industrial workers, but over time, they had to adapt to the market and introduced the first fully plastic ice cooler in 1962! Of course, it was a revolution in the field of portable coolers.
What should I do if I have one of these coolers?
The CPSC recommends stopping use of the product and contacting the brand so they can send you a replacement product. Igloo is already working on other models and replacing affected products.
How do I avoid accidents with these coolers?
If you decide to keep the cooler (which is definitely not what we recommend), keep in mind that the risk exists and it will be your responsibility if an accident occurs.
Even so, here’s a list of recommendations to avoid accidents at home:
- Check for a safety design before purchasing. Any product with auto-latches, flip lids, or hinges can pose a risk to your fingers, especially if there are small children nearby.
- Always supervise when minors are around. Children never see the danger in things, which is why you should never let minors play with this kind of product. Lock it or keep it out of reach.
- Avoid DIY repairs. If you’re not an expert in coolers, don’t touch it! Any homemade repair can end up being worse than the original damage.
- Stay informed. These kinds of recalls, unfortunately, happen more often than we’d like, so we consider it vital to stay informed about product recalls.
And above all, be careful!!