Somehow, I Escaped Death By Hoodie
All of you commenting here also apparently escaped a tragic end as a result of wearing a hoodie in your youth.
As Chris Morran writes at Consumerist about more meddling by the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
When I was a young thing, the drawstring on your hooded sweatshirt was something to chew on or play with while being bored to death in school. But as of 2006, such drawstrings have been considered strangulation hazards in children’s clothing. That, however, didn’t stop Macy’s from selling hoodies, jackets and other kids’ clothing with drawstrings, which is why the retailer now has to pay a penalty of $750,000.
From the CPSC’s website (see more photos there):
Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or fails to comply with any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban enforced by CPSC.
…On June 29, 2011, the Commission approved a final rule that designates children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 12 with neck or hood drawstrings, and children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 16 with certain waist or bottom drawstrings, as substantial product hazards.
Of course, life itself is a substantial hazard. Should we take the precaution of offing all the kiddies lest they risk serious injury or death simply by waking up and getting out of bed?
