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CPSC, Meijer Announce Recall of Children's Sweatshirts with Drawstring Hoods

  • Recalled Children's Sweatshirts
Name of Product:
Children's Sweatshirts
Hazard:

The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings of upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From January 1985 through January 1999, CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.

Remedy:
Refund
Repair
Recall Date:
February 05, 2004
Units:

18,655

Consumer Contact

Call Meijer toll-free at (866) 280-8419 anytime.

Phone

Recall Details

Description:

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 18,655 Children's Sweatshirts. The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches.

Name of product: Children's Sweatshirts

Units: 18,655

Manufacturer: Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hazard: The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings of upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From January 1985 through January 1999, CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Description: The fleece sweatshirts were sold in children's sizes 4 - 18 under the brand name, "Emergency Exit." The sweatshirts were manufactured in a variety of colors including red, blue, grey and black. Each sweatshirt has an image on the chest of either, a tribal design, dragon, motocross or skateboarding pattern.

Sold at: Meijer retail stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois from August 2003 and January 2004 for between $20 and $22.

Manufactured in: Pakistan

Remedy: Consumers can return the sweatshirts to Meijer retailers for a full refund or consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard.

Consumer Contact: Call Meijer toll-free at (866) 280-8419 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.meijer.com.

Remedy:

Consumers can return the sweatshirts to Meijer retailers for a full refund or consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard.

Incidents/Injuries:

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Sold At:
Meijer retail stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois from August 2003 and January 2004 for between $20 and $22.
Manufacturer(s):
Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Manufactured In:
Pakistan
Recall number:
04-078

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About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC. 

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