CPSC Warns About Flammable Loose-Fitting Garments Used As Children's Sleepwear
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 1998
Release # 99-025
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
CPSC Warns About Flammable Loose-Fitting Garments Used As Children's Sleepwear
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) warns people not to put children to sleep
in loose-fitting T-shirts or other over-size clothes made
from cotton or cotton blends. These garments can catch fire
easily and are associated with 200 to 300 emergency
room-treated burn injuries to children annually.
Loose-fitting clothing stands away from the body, making
contact with an ignition source more likely. Loose-fitting,
non-flame-resistant clothing allows an air space next to the
body that helps keep the fire burning, possibly injuring
children.
CPSC Vice-Chairman Thomas Moore said, "It is safer to
put your children in flame-resistant or snug-fitting
sleepwear, not over-size, loose-fitting cotton or
cotton-blend garments."
CPSC sets national safety standards for children's
sleepwear flammability. These standards protect children
from serious burn injuries if they come in contact with an
open flame, such as a match, lighter, or stove burner. The
standards have prevented thousands of serious burn injuries
since the early 1970s. Under federal safety rules, garments
sold as children's sleepwear for sizes larger than nine
months and up to size 14 must be either flame-resistant or
snug-fitting.
Flame-resistant garments do not continue burning when
removed from a small open flame. Snug-fitting garments need
not be flame-resistant because they are made to fit closely
against a child's body. Their stretchy fabrics make them
comfortable. Snug-fitting sleepwear does not ignite easily
and, even if ignited, does not burn as rapidly because there
is little air under the garment to feed a fire.
Most manufacturers are using hangtags on their
snug-fitting sleepwear to tell consumers that the product
meets federal safety standards. The hangtags remind
consumers that a snug fit or flame resistance is necessary
for safety.
Conumers can also view a video clip about this press release (Transcript). It is about 8 megabytes long and the download time depends upon the speed of your Internet connection.