Recall: Recreational Equipment Recall of Children's Baseball Caps

August 17, 2001 Alert #01-518

CPSC, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) Announce Recall of Children's Baseball Caps

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 Analyst
REI Product Quality Assurance
6750 South 228th Street
Kent, Washington 98032
(253) 395 - 8273
dparnel@rei.com