Ocean Pacific® girls' sweatshirts with drawstrings
CPSC Recall #01-067 — January 17, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-067 |
| Recall Date | January 17, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 6,600 |
| Manufactured In | Pakistan and Guatemala |
Where It Was Sold
| Upton's |
| Lamont's |
| Gottschalks |
| and Sports Authority stores nationwide sold these sweatshirts from August 1999 through October 1999 for about $30. |
Product
Ocean Pacific® girls' sweatshirts with drawstrings
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Trends Clothing Corp., of Hialeah Gardens, Fla., is recalling about 6,600 Ocean Pacific® girls' sweatshirts. These sweatshirts have hood drawstrings. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that catch on objects, including playground equipment, fences and tree branches. Since 1985 CPSC knows of 16 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.CPSC and Trends Clothing Corp. have not received any reports of injuries involving these sweatshirts. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.These navy blue Ocean Pacific girls' long-sleeve hooded sweatshirts were sold in sizes 2T through 12 in pullover and zip-up front styles. "OP" is on the front of the sweatshirts and on a collar label. Also on a collar label is written either "Made in Pakistan" or "Made in Guatemala." Upton's, Lamont's, Gottschalks, and Sports Authority stores nationwide sold these sweatshirts from August 1999 through October 1999 for about $30.Consumers should remove the drawstring from these garments immediately, or return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers should contact Trends Clothing Corp. at (800) 7-TRENDS (787-3637) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday ET.
Hazard
These sweatshirts have hood drawstrings. Children can get entangled and strangle in the drawstrings that catch on objects, including playground equipment, fences and tree branches. 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.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Trends Clothing Corp. have not received any reports of injuries involving these sweatshirts.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should remove the drawstring from these garments immediately, or return them to the store where purchased for a refund.
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.
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.