We have been writing, almost weekly, about <“https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability”>hooded sweatshirt recalls due to strangulation hazard. This week we are reporting on two more such recalls.
About 1,200 “Hello Kitty†Zip Up Hoodie Sweatshirts distributed by NTD Apparel, of Los Angeles, California and about 12,000 Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings distributed by Sunsations Inc, of Virginia Beach, Virginia have been recalled according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
In 1997, industry adopted a voluntary standard for drawstrings that incorporated CPSC guidelines. 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 posing a substantial risk of injury to young children. The standards were imposed to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts. 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.
1,200 NTD Apparel “Hello Kitty†Zip Up Hoodie Sweatshirts
The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported. The “Hello Kitty†hoodie has an appliqué on the right chest and screen print on left chest and left sleeve. The recalled “Hello Kitty†sweatshirts were sold in black with a silver lining and in sizes 2T, 3T, 4, 5, 6, and 6X. NTD APPAREL, D1592H7273, RN#116180 is printed on the neck label and care label. The recalled “Hello Kitty Zip Up Hoodie Sweatshirts, which were manufactured in China were sold at Macy’s and Dillard’s department stores nationwide from November 2008 through December 2008 for $36.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard, or return the garment to either the place of purchase or to NTD Apparel for a full refund. NTD Apparel can be reached toll-free at (866) 317-3974 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.
12,000 Sunsations Inc. Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings
The sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. To date, no injuries or incidents have been reported. The recalled Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings distributed by Sunsations Inc. involves children’s hooded sweatshirt sizes 2T through 12 sold in various solid colors. Style numbers included in this recall are: KD102, KD124 and KFS102. The recalled Sunsations Sweatshirts were manufactured in Pakistan and sold at Sunsations stores in Virginia Beach, Va.; Ocean City, Md.; and North Carolina from April 2006 through July 2009 for about $13.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts to eliminate the hazard or return the garment to Sunsations for a full refund. Sunsations can be reached toll-free at (800) 786-9044 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or at the firm’s Web site at www.sunsationsusa.com
