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Children's Sweatshirts

CPSC Recall #04-078 — February 4, 2004

Recall Summary

Recall Number04-078
Recall DateFebruary 4, 2004
Remedy TypeRefund, Repair
Units Affected18,655
ManufacturerMeijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Manufactured InPakistan

Where It Was Sold

Meijer retail stores in Michigan
Ohio
Indiana
Kentucky and Illinois from August 2003 and January 2004 for between $20 and $22.

Product

Children's Sweatshirts

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 18,655 Children's Sweatshirts. The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches.Name of product: Children's SweatshirtsUnits: 18,655Manufacturer: Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.Hazard: The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings of upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From January 1985 through January 1999, CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.Incidents/Injuries: No injuries or incidents have been reported.Description: The fleece sweatshirts were sold in children's sizes 4 - 18 under the brand name, "Emergency Exit." The sweatshirts were manufactured in a variety of colors including red, blue, grey and black. Each sweatshirt has an image on the chest of either, a tribal design, dragon, motocross or skateboarding pattern.Sold at: Meijer retail stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois from August 2003 and January 2004 for between $20 and $22.Manufactured in: PakistanRemedy: Consumers can return the sweatshirts to Meijer retailers for a full refund or consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard.Consumer Contact: Call Meijer toll-free at (866) 280-8419 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.meijer.com.

Hazard

The sweatshirts have drawstrings in the hood. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings of upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From January 1985 through January 1999, CPSC received reports of 22 deaths and 48 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children's clothing drawstrings.

Incidents & Injuries

No injuries or incidents have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers can return the sweatshirts to Meijer retailers for a full refund or consumers can remove the drawstrings to eliminate the hazard.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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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, Repair) 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.

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