In Fresno, California, a 3-year-old boy was strangled to death by the drawstring on his Hill Sportswear hooded sweatshirt when it got stuck on a playground set back on November 2008.

Since then, The Consumer Product Safety Commission renewed its call since May 2006 to different clothing companies that children’s sweatshirts or jackets with drawstrings at the hood or neck would be regarded as defective and presenting a substantial risk of injury to young children.

It has recently fined four companies for selling hooded sweatshirts or jackets that have drawstrings at the neck. The said errant companies are:

•    Kohl’s Department Stores Inc. (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) – It will be paying a civil penalty of $425,000. It has previously paid a civil penalty in 2008 of $35,000 for failing to report drawstrings in children’s sweatshirts

•    Maran Inc. of North Bergen, N.J. and K.S. Trading Corp. (Moonachie, N.J.) – A total of $85,000 in civil penalties shall be paid by the company.

•    Hill Sportswear Inc. (Paramount, CA) – Hill will be paying a civil penalty of $100,000.

By agreeing to pay the fines (settlements), these clothing companies deny CPSC’s allegations that they knowingly violated the law. Guidelines have been issued as far back as 1996 to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled in the neck or waist drawstrings in jackets and sweatshirts.

Although the clothing industry adopted a voluntary standard for drawstrings in 1997 that incorporated the CPSC guidelines, sweatshirts or jackets with drawstrings at the hood or neck still pose a threat to young children.

Federal law also requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to report to the agency within 24 hours if a defective product causes a safety hazard or doesn’t comply with consumer product safety rules.

But Hill Sportswear sweatshirts with drawstring were continually sold at various small retailers in California and Texas from 2003 through December 2008. The CPSC has advised parents to immediately remove the drawstrings from the sweatshirts or return the garments for a full refund.