Girls' Straw Cowboy Hat
CPSC Recall #04-557 — June 16, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-557 |
| Recall Date | June 16, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 5,200 |
| Manufacturer | GapKids, of San Francisco, Calif. |
| Importer | GapKids, of San Francisco, Calif. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Exclusively at GapKids stores and gap.com nationwide from April 2004 through May 2004 for about $18.50. |
Product
Girls' Straw Cowboy Hat
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), GapKids, of San Francisco, Calif. is voluntarily recalling 5,200 girl's straw cowboy hats. The straw hat is constructed using a thin wire within a seam. The tip of the wire can break free from the seam, posing a laceration hazard. Name of Product: Girls' Straw Cowboy HatUnits: 5,200Manufacturer/Importer: GapKids, of San Francisco, Calif.Hazard: The straw hat is constructed using a thin wire within a seam. The tip of the wire can break free from the seam, posing a laceration hazard.Incidents/Injuries: GapKids has received two reports of customers who received minor scratches from the exposed wire tip. A 7-year-old child received a scratch on the leg and a 12-year-old received a scratch on the forehead.Description: The girls' straw cowboy hats were sold in two colors, pink and natural straw, with a flower embroidered on one side and a butterfly embroidered on the other. Style number 239040 is printed on a white label sewn into the brim of the hat, under the garment-care tag. The hats were sold in sizes small/medium (s/m) and large/extra-large (lg/xl).Sold by: Exclusively at GapKids stores and gap.com nationwide from April 2004 through May 2004 for about $18.50.Manufactured In: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should return the hats to any Gap store for a refund and a complimentary $5 appreciation card.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact GapKids toll-free at (866) 847-0489 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, between 12 p.m. and7 p.m. ET Saturday, between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.
Hazard
The straw hat is constructed using a thin wire within a seam. The tip of the wire can break free from the seam, posing a laceration hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
GapKids has received two reports of customers who received minor scratches from the exposed wire tip. A 7-year-old child received a scratch on the leg and a 12-year-old received a scratch on the forehead.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should return the hats to any Gap store for a refund and a complimentary $5 appreciation card.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.