HOODED SWEATSHIRTS = RISK OF STRANGLING ACCIDENT; SEVERAL BRANDS RECALLED DUE TO HAZARD
From: New York attorney Gary E. Rosenberg (personal injury and accident attorney and lawyer; serving Brooklyn Queens Bronx; Bronx Accident Attorney)
Several recalls made almost on the same day. All recalls are for sweatshirts for kids that can cause accidental strangulation - a nasty accident; a nasty injury.
FIRST: Bobens Trading Co. Inc., of Hicksville, New York recalled Girl's Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings, which were manufactured in China. It sold about 3900 pieces.
This recall involves "Old Skool" girls' hoodie sweatshirts with long and short sleeves in sizes S - XL and in a variety of colors and designs. The neck seam label reads "Old Skool" and includes the garment size. The hooded zip sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which poses a risk of accidental strangulation to children.
Sold at: Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide from November 2007 to September 2009 from about $8.00 to $20.00
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to prevent an accident or return the garment to either the place of purchase, or to Bobens Trading Co. Inc., for a full refund.
SECOND: Weeplay Kids LLC, of New York City, New York, recalled Girls' Hooded Sweatshirts, which were manufactured in China and Pakistan. It sold about 11,800 pieces.
The recall involves girl's sweatshirts sold under the Candy Queen and Akademiks brand names.
Sold at: Small retail stores nationwide from February 2008 through November 2008 for between $5 and $22.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings to prevent accidental injury. Consumers can return the garment to Weeplay Kids or the place of purchase for a full refund.
THIRD: Franshaw Inc., of New York City, N.Y., recalled Children's Hooded Jackets, which were manufactured in China. It sold about 2400 pieces.
This recall involves Blue Heart and Just a Girl brand children's sweatshirts. The sweatshirts were sold in sizes 4 to 6X.
Sold exclusively at: Burlington Coat Factory stores nationwide from September 2006 through September 2009 for about $10.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the jackets to keep children from getting hurt in an accident or return the garment to Burlington Coat Factory or to Franshaw Inc. for a full refund.
FOURTH: Baycreek Inc., of New York City, NY, recalled Attitude Gold children's hooded sweatshirts in sizes small, medium, large and extra large. The sweatshirts were sold in beige, blue, charcoal gray and black and have a random distress designs. Manufactured in China, it sold about 1900 pieces.
Hazard: The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.
Sold at: Burlington Coat Factory and Modecraft Fashions stores nationwide from October 2008 through June 2009 for about $25.
Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to prevent an accident or return the garment to either the place of purchase or to Baycreek for a full refund.
Comment: In February 1996, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting tangled on the drawstrings of jackets and sweatshirts. Drawstrings on children's clothing present a hidden hazard that can lead to injury and death when they catch on such items as playground slides, bus doors, or cribs. From January 1985 through January 1999, CPSC received reports of twenty-two deaths and forty-eight non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.
To prevent accidental strangulation, CPSC recommends that children's coats, jackets and sweatshirts have non-drawstring closures: such as snaps, buttons, Velcro, and elastic.
CPSC also recommends that the hood and neck drawstrings be removed from all children's coats, jackets and sweatshirts. Even just shortening a neck drawstring can still leave it dangerous, it's best to just remove it.
The ends of waist/bottom drawstrings of children's coats, jackets and sweatshirts should measure no more than three inches from where the strings extend out of the garment when it is expanded to its fullest width. Also, the drawstring should be sewn into the garment at its midpoint so the string can not be pulled to one side, making it long enough to catch on something. CPSC also recommends eliminating toggles or knots at the ends of all drawstrings. Shortening the length of drawstrings and removing togges and knots reduces the risk that the strings will become entangled in objects such as school bus doors or other moving objects, which would present a risk of serious accidental injury.
We've known for more than ten years that drawstrings on children's hoods and the waist area of jackets are a bad idea. So why do retailers keep selling them?
