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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2009
Release #09-213

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 683-0063
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Children’s Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by Jason Evans Associates Due to Strangulation Hazard

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

Name of Product: Children’s Hooded Jackets

Units: About 1,300

Importer: Jason Evans Assoc. LLC, of Hewlett, N.Y.

Hazard: The jackets have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recalled children’s jacket has a drawstring through the hood. They were sold in boy sizes 4, 5, 6 and 7 in colors black/grey. The RN number 30842 printed in the center back neck and style number 1708 is printed on the hangtag on the center back neck.

Sold by: Burlington Coat Factory from September 2006 through April 2009 for about $17.

Manufactured in: Pakistan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the jackets to eliminate the hazard or return the garment to either the place of purchase or to Jason Evans Associates for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Jason Evans Associates toll-free at (888) 683-0063 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09213.html

I can attest to the dangers of drawstrings in hooded jackets. A few years back, I was weedwacking by myself down at the rivers edge where the grass was thick, so I was taking very wide sweeps. I was wearing a hooded jacket, zipped all the way up to my throat but with the hood down. Suddenly, I felt a sharp tug around my throat. Thinking one of my children had come looking for me, I yelled, “hey, cut that out.” The tugging just kept getting tighter and tighter until I started to panic. At this point, the engine of the weedwacker stalled out and my drawstring was wound up tightly in the weedwacker. While I was probably in no great peril, I got a good fright and can see why situations similar to this could pose a danger to small children.