Recall: Ocean Pacific® Girls' Sweatshirts Recalled by Trends Clothing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 18, 2001 Release # 01-067

Trends Recall Hotline: (800) 7-TRENDS CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic, (301) 504-7058

CPSC, Trends Clothing Corp. Announce Recall of Girls' Sweatshirts

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.