Falls Creek Army Flight Jackets
CPSC Recall #04-036 - November 23, 2003
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-036 |
| Recall Date | November 23, 2003 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, Refund |
| Units Affected | About 7,500 |
| Manufactured In | Korea |
Where It Was Sold
| Meijer stores in Michigan |
| Ohio |
| Indiana |
| Illinois |
| and Kentucky sold the jackets from July 2003 through October 2003 for between $26 and $33. |
Product
Falls Creek Army Flight Jackets
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Meijer Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 children's jackets. These jackets have hood drawstrings. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that catch on objects, including playground equipment, fences and tree branches. CPSC knows of numerous deaths from neck/hood drawstrings. To help prevent children from strangling by their clothing drawstrings, in 1996 CPSC issued guidelines for drawstrings on children's outerwear, which were subsequently incorporated into a voluntary standard.Meijer has not received any reports of incidents. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.The recalled Falls Creek Army Flight Jackets are for boys size 4 through 7 and 8 through 18, as well as toddlers sizes 2T through 5T. These jackets are made of blue or olive nylon fabric and are decorated with assorted patriotic patches on the sleeves, chest and back. The hood is bordered with synthetic brown and tan fur. These jackets were manufactured in Korea.Meijer stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky sold the jackets from July 2003 through October 2003 for between $26 and $33.Consumers should stop their children from wearing the jacket immediately and contact Meijer toll-free at (866) 280-8419 anytime or log on to their website at www.meijer.com for information on how to return the jacket for a full refund. Parents also can remove the drawstring, which will make the jacket safe for children to wear.
Hazard
These jackets have hood drawstrings. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that catch on objects, including playground equipment, fences and tree branches. CPSC knows of numerous deaths from neck/hood drawstrings.
Incidents & Injuries
Meijer has not received any reports of incidents.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop their children from wearing the jacket immediately and contact Meijer toll-free at (866) 280-8419 anytime for information on how to return the jacket for a full refund. Parents also can remove the drawstring, which will make the jacket safe for children to wear.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, Refund 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 (Dispose, Refund) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.