The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just announced two <“https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability”>children’s clothing recalls over strangulation and a choking hazard.
Pumpkin Patch Hooded Girls’ Raincoats
Pumpkin Patch LLC, of San Mateo, California has issued a recall for about 800 of its Pumpkin Patch Hooded Girls’ Raincoats with Drawstrings due to strangulation hazard. The raincoats have a drawstring through the hood, which poses a strangulation hazard to children. The recalled Pumpkin Patch hooded raincoat was manufactured in China, has drawstrings, comes in girls sizes two through 10, is a trench coat style, and is red with pink polka-dots. The recalled Pumpkin Patch Hooded Girls Raincoats were sold at Pumpkin Patch stores nationwide and on-line at www.pumpkinpatchusa.com from July 2008 through February 2009 for about $50.
CPSC is advising consumers to immediately remove the drawstring from the raincoats to eliminate the hazard, or contact Pumpkin Patch for a full refund. Pumpkin Patch can be reached toll-free at 1-866-898-0344, at its Website at www.pumpkinpatchusa.com, or by email at [email protected]
In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and 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. Still the 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.
babyGap Children’s Coats
Gap Inc., of San Francisco, California has issued a recall for babyGap Children’s Coats—19,200 in the United States and 3,900 in Canada—because the coats have toggle fasteners that could break and detach from the coat, posing a choking hazard to young children. This recall involves three different children’s coat styles with toggles: Rose Toggle Hoodie (style 600298), Pink Duffle Coat (style 600344), and Blue Plaid and Mojave Toggle Coat (style 600942). The coats were sold in infant sizes up to 24 months and are made of cotton, polyester, or polyester/acrylic. The toggles are light tan plastic and about 1 3/4 inches long. The recalled babyGap Children’s Coats were sold at babyGap, GapKids, and Gap Stores nationwide and at www.gap.com from October 2008 through April 2009 for between $20 and $50. The recalled coats were made in China and Indonesia, said the CPSC.
The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately take the recalled babyGap Children’s Coats away from children and return them to any babyGap, GapKids, or Gap store for a full refund. Consumers who return the coats before August 31, 2009 will also receive a 20 percent-off coupon for a regular priced item; contact Gap to return by mail if purchased online. Gap can be reached toll-free at 1-888-747-3704 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays between 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET; at its Website at www.gap.com; or by email at [email protected].
