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Macy's Recalls Kids' Hooded Sweatshirts, Sweaters Over Strangulation Hazard
Jun 18, 2009 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Macy's department stores has recall thousands of defective children's Epic Threads and Greendog Hooded sweatshirts and sweaters. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), these recalled sweatshirts and sweaters were made with drawstrings that pose a serious risk of strangulation to children.This recall includes boys and girls Epic Threads sweatshirts and girls Greendog sweaters with nonfunctional ties in numerous styles. About 33,000 garments are included in the recall.
The Epic Threads sweatshirts are white, gray, maroon, yellow, blue, green, and black, with images on the front and/or back. The girls Greendog sweaters are brown and gray. Only sizes small and medium are subject to the recall. The recalled sweatshirts were sold in Macy’s stores nationwide from July 2008 through March 2009 for between $32 and $50. The garments were manufactured in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
If your child has one of these recalled Macy's hooded sweatshirts in their wardrobe, it is vital that they stop wearing it immediately. The CPSC is advising that consumers immediately remove the ties from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard, or return the garment to any Macy’s for a full refund. For additional information, consumers may contact Macy’s toll-free at (888) 257-5949 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Macy’s website at www.macys.com.
According to the CPSC, no injuries have been caused by these dangerous sweatshirts and sweaters. However, in many cases, injuries from defective products are not reported to manufacturers or regulators.
Drawstring clothing is very unsafe for children. From January 1985 through January 1999, the CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal entanglement incidents involving drawstrings on children’s clothing. That is why the agency implemented rules for children's drawstring clothing in 1996.
The CPSC drawstring guidelines are meant to help prevent children from becoming entangled or strangling on hood and neck drawstrings in upper outerwear. In May 2006, the CPSC’s Office of Compliance issued an announcement that such outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as both defective and a substantial risk of injury to young children. Still the guidelines are routinely ignored by the clothing industry, and that attitude has had deadly consequences for some children. In the past, the CPSC has levied fines against clothing manufactures and vendors for violation of these guidelines.
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