REI Kids Super Caps
CPSC Recall #01-518 — August 16, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-518 |
| Recall Date | August 16, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 1,600 |
Product
REI Kids Super Caps
Description
PRODUCT: Children's Baseball Caps - Recreational Equipment Inc. of Kent, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 1,600 REI Kids Super Caps. The caps are sold in three colors (New Denim, Pumpkin or Lichen) with the letters "REI" embroidered on the back left side of the cap and a decorative compass embroidered on the front center of the cap. There is a size-adjustment cord, located on the rear of the cap that has two parts; a black toggle and a black snap-on plastic pull. The caps were sold nationwide at retail stores, mail order catalogs and on the Internet. They were sold from February 20, 2001 through June 26, 2001 for $10.00.PROBLEM: The adjustment cords, located on the rear of the hats, use a snap-on plastic pull. The snap-on plastic pull could separate from the cord, posing a choking hazard to young children.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: REI Product Quality Assurance (PQA) received one report of a parent finding the snap-on plastic pull in the mouth of her two-year old son. No injuries have been reported.WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using the recalled children's baseball caps immediately and return it to the nearest REI retailer to receive a refund. For more information, contact REI direct sales at (800) 426-4840 (4am-11pm Pacific Time).Purchasers were sent direct mail notification of this recall.For more information, contact:Dana Parnello, Research AnalystREI Product Quality Assurance6750 South 228th StreetKent, Washington 98032(253) 395 - [email protected]
Hazard
The adjustment cords, located on the rear of the hats, use a snap-on plastic pull. The snap-on plastic pull could separate from the cord, posing a choking hazard to young children.
Incidents & Injuries
REI Product Quality Assurance (PQA) received one report of a parent finding the snap-on plastic pull in the mouth of her two-year old son. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled children's baseball caps immediately and return it to the nearest REI retailer to receive a refund.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (Refund) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
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.