[September 03, 2008]

US CPSC: Hooded Sweaters Recalled by Empress Arts; Children Can Strangle on Drawstrings

(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge)
RDATE:02092008

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 Sweaters

Units: About 130

Manufacturer: Empress Arts Ltd., of Monterey Park, Calif.

Hazard: The sweaters have drawstrings through the hood. Children can
get entangled in the drawstrings that can catch on playground
equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, CPSC issued
guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting
entangled on the neck and waist drawstring in upper garments, such as
jackets and sweatshirts. From 1985 through 2007, CPSC received reports
of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of
children's clothing drawstrings.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The cotton knit sweaters are cream colored with a blue
stripe at the wrists and waist, a blue ball on the hood, and blue
buttons. There is a drawstring through the hood with pom-poms at the
ends. The sweaters were sold in children's size 2T under the brand name
"Empress Arts." "Empress Baby" is sewn into the sweaters tag.

Sold at: Specialty children's stores nationwide from August 2006
through April 2008 for between $28 and $45.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the drawstrings from the
sweaters to eliminate the hazard.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Empress Arts
collect at (323) 780-8181 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through
Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.empressarts.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08383.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting
the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more
than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents
cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed
to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire,
electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The
CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys,
cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals -
contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of
deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30
years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's
hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270,
or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC
email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.
Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web
site at www.cpsc.gov.

CONTACT: Firm's Recall Hotline
Tel: +1 323 780 8181
CPSC Recall Hotline
Tel: +1 800 638 2772
CPSC Media Contact
Tel: +1 301 504 7908

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provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties.
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