Product safety reportOPSS
Patgear Flotation Aid sold on Etsy safety warning over a drowning risk
Product Safety Report for Patgear Flotation Aid sold via Etsy presenting a serious risk of drowning.
Stop using it in or near water.
Product image from the OPSS safety notice 
What to do now
Patgear Flotation Aid sold on Etsy could contribute to drowning.
- Stop using it in or near water.
- Always stay within arm’s reach of a child in water.
- Because the product was found unsafe on an online marketplace, use the platform’s order page to contact the seller.
- If you cannot reach the seller, Trading Standards can be told through Citizens Advice.
Why it matters. Drowning is fast and silent. Bath seats, inflatables and swim aids can give a false sense of security.
Getting your money back
A product safety report usually means the product was bought online and the marketplace has removed the listing. Ask the seller for a refund through the platform where you bought it; many marketplaces have their own buyer protection.
If you paid by credit card and it cost over £100, Section 75 may apply; otherwise your bank may be able to raise a chargeback.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2402-0063). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Report for Patgear Flotation Aid sold via Etsy presenting a serious risk of drowning.
The risk
The product has been assessed as presenting a serious risk of drowning. The product was advertised as a life jacket, but once purchased was identified as a buoyancy aid (which does not provide the same level of protection). The jacket also did not meet the minimum buoyancy requirement.
The product was not supplied with the required compliance documentation or markings to demonstrate that they have been adequately conformity assessed. Mandatory third-party conformity assessment by a body authorised for PPE is required by the relevant Regulations for those products which protect against more serious risks, the absence of such independent assessment for such a product may increase the risk to the consumer that the product may not perform as expected when relied upon as a buoyancy aid.
The product does not meet the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on Personal Protective Equipment or the Personal Protective Equipment (Enforcement) Regulations 2018
Action taken
We recommend owners stop using this product immediately. Contact the distributor you purchased from to request redress. The listing has been removed by the online marketplace (Etsy).
Advice to consumers
We recommend owners stop using this product immediately. Contact the distributor you purchased from to request redress.
The listing has been removed by the online marketplace (Etsy).
Additional information
PSD number: 2402-0063
Notified by: Office for Product Safety and Standards
Product description
Red and black vest style buoyancy aid with three front black plastic buckles closures with black webbing waist belt and crotch strap fixed back attachment and double front buckle closure. Red whistle attached to buoyancy aid via orange cord and sits in internal pocket on inner lining fabric.
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has Patgear Flotation Aid sold on Etsy been reported?
Patgear Flotation Aid sold on Etsy could contribute to drowning. Drowning is fast and silent. Bath seats, inflatables and swim aids can give a false sense of security.
How do I know if my product is affected?
The notice describes the affected product rather than listing codes. Compare the product name, pack size and where you bought it with the official notice.
What should I do now?
Stop using it in or near water. Always stay within arm’s reach of a child in water.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
A product safety report usually means the product was bought online and the marketplace has removed the listing. Ask the seller for a refund through the platform where you bought it; many marketplaces have their own buyer protection. If you paid by credit card and it cost over £100, Section 75 may apply; otherwise your bank may be able to raise a chargeback.
Where was Patgear Flotation Aid sold on Etsy sold?
The notice names Etsy. Products bought elsewhere are covered too if they match the details listed.
