Meijer Recall of Children's Sweatshirts with Drawstring
Hoods
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2004
Release # 04-078
Company Phone Number: (866) 280-8419
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC, Meijer Announce Recall of Children's Sweatshirts with Drawstring Hoods
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces
the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers
should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
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 of
visit the firm's Web site at www.meijer.com