Recall: Meijer Recall of Children's Sweatshirts with Drawstring Hoods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2004 Release # 04-078

Company Phone Number: (866) 280-8419 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Meijer Announce Recall of Children's Sweatshirts with Drawstring Hoods

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announces the following recall in voluntary cooperation with the firm below. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of product: Children's Sweatshirts

Units: 18,655

Manufacturer: 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: Pakistan.

Remedy: 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 of visit the firm's Web site at www.meijer.com