For years, drawstrings were regularly found in articles of clothing worn by children in Pittsburgh and throughout the country. They were found both in hoods as well as at the waist. Throughout the years however, the presence of these drawstrings was found to be a design defect, posing a safety hazard to children in several forms including strangulation.

In early 1996 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission took action on the matter issuing guidelines pertaining to the use of drawstrings in jackets and sweatshirts manufactured for children. In the summer of 2011, those guidelines were made federal regulations.

Despite the existence of these guidelines and now regulations, from time to time products that do not comply with the regulations are manufactured and sold for children to wear. Apparently this is what happened in the case of a jacket made by PUMA that was recently recalled. It is believed that 5,000 jackets sold throughout the nation over the course of five years, beginning in January 2007 and ending in January 2012, will be affected by the recall.

The name of the PUMA brand jacket being recalled is USA V-Konstruct Training Jacket with Pockets. These jackets were sold in five different color combinations. According to the CPSC, the problem with the PUMA jacket is that the drawstring with toggles located at the waist is not secured to the back of the jacket. The recall indicated that the design and location of the drawstring could potentially result in a child getting caught on an object.

Thus far no actual reports of injury have been reported. Anyone who has one of these jackets is being instructed to return it to the place of purchase. Full refunds will be issued for the return. Hopefully these steps will keep the number of children hurt by the drawstring on the jacket at zero.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, "Youth Jacket Recalled by PUMA; Waist Drawstrings Pose Entanglement Hazard," U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, April 24, 2012