About 11,700 <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">Children’s Hooded Jackets and Sweatshirts with Drawstrings have been recalled by VOS Sports Inc. of City of Industry, California, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. The CPSC is advising consumers to stop using the recalled products immediately and notes that it is illegal to resell or to attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
The children’s hooded sweatshirts, which were manufactured in China and Vietnam, have a drawstring through the hood and/or waist that can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines which were incorporated into an industry voluntary standard in 1997, to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.
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.
Unfortunately, the CPSC guidelines are routinely ignored by the clothing industry, and that attitude has had deadly consequences for some 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.
To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported in connection with this recall, which involves all children’s hooded sweatshirts and nylon hooded jackets with drawstring sold under the brand name “VOS Sports.†The sweatshirt and jackets were sold in assorted sizes including S-M or L and in up to 14 colors. “VOS Sports†and “RN#94353†are printed on the sewn-in label.
The style number, colors, and description of the recalled hooded jackets and sweatshirts are, as follows:
• A1071 Nylon Jacket in black, navy, hunter green, gold, royal, burgundy, and red, with hood drawstrings in sizes small and medium.
• B300 Nylon Jacket in black, Carolina blue, green, gold, maroon, navy, orange, purple, red, royal blue, white, with hood and waist drawstrings in sizes small, medium, and large.
• B600 Nylon Jacket in black, Carolina blue, green, Kelly green, maroon, navy, red, and royal blue, with hood and waist drawstrings in sizes small, medium, and large.
• B700 Nylon Jacket in black/black, black/ blue, black/red, navy/gold, and navy/navy with hood drawstrings in sizes small and medium.
• B900 Sweatshirt in black, brown, Carolina blue, charcoal, gold, grey, green, maroon, navy, orange, purple, red, royal blue with hood drawstrings in small and medium.
• 1066 Nylon in white and black with hood and waist drawstrings in small, medium, and large.
The recalled VOS Children’s Hooded Jackets and Sweatshirts with Drawstrings were sold for between $17 and $34 at outlet stores nationwide from January 2005 through February 2010.
The CPSC advises consumers to immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts and jackets to eliminate the hazard or contact VOS Sports Inc. for instructions on how to return the item for a full refund. VOS Sports Inc. can be reached, toll-free, at (888) 268-6867 between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm., Pacific Time, Monday through Friday or at the company’s website at www.vossports.com.
Help filing claims and other legal assistance for the victims of defective hooded sweatshirts and jackets is available at <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">www.yourlawyer.com.
