January 18, 2001
Trends Clothing Corp., of Hialeah Gardens, Fla., is
recalling about 6,600 Ocean PacificŪ 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.
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.