Burlington Coat Factory issues yet another recall for drawstrings

Consumer Reports News: September 16, 2010 06:10 AM

Today, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced yet another recall for hooded jackets and sweatshirts sold by Burlington Coat Factory . Drawstrings on children's outerwear, particularly through the hood or waist, can pose a strangulation, entrapment, or vehicular-dragging hazard.

This is the 24th recall since May 2009 for garments sold by Burlington Coat Factory for the same hazard. In total, about 154,000 garments have been recalled. But most of these recalls were not for products sold recently. This may be a matter of doing some late housecleaning and paying for past sins.

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In February 1996, the CPSC issued guidelines for drawstrings on children's upper outerwear to help prevent children from getting entangled and strangling. Violations of the CPSC guidelines lead to recalls and in some cases civil penalties.

ASTM-International has long had voluntary standards that eliminate dangerous drawstrings from children's upper outerwear. Apparently, Burlington Coat Factory didn't get the word about guidelines or standards.

For a complete list of the products included in this recall, see the recall notice on the CPSC's website.

If your children have any garments with drawstrings around the neck or waist, cut the strings off or return the garment to the retailer for a refund.

- Don Mays