Hooded sweatshirts that could strangle kids recalled by Virginia Beach store

A major seller of beach gear on the Virginia Beach oceanfront has been selling children’s hooded sweatshirts that are now being recalled because they are unsafe, area media outlets are reporting.

The hooded sweatshirts, or “hoodies,” have drawstrings that present a risk of strangulation among toddlers and small children. They were sold by Sunsations at the company’s nine Atlantic Avenue locations in Virginia Beach as well as at more than 50 other locations across the country.

It’s not clear why Sunsations sold the hoodies for so long -- from April 2006 to June 2009, WAVY-TV said -- even though drawstrings in children’s garments are a well-known hazard.

A 3-year-old boy died in Fresno, Calif. earlier this year when he was strangled by the drawstring of his hooded sweatshirt, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The child’s sweatshirt drawstring became hooked on a playground set.

Sunsations sold about 12,000 hoodies that are subject to the voluntary recall. They come in solid colors and in sizes 2T-12, the Virginian-Pilot reported.

The style numbers of the sweatshirts in question, according to the Pilot, are KD102, KD124, and KFS102.

Consumers may take out the drawstrings on their own or take the hooded sweatshirts to Sunsations for a full refund.

The sweatshirts were made in Pakistan.

Consumers who have had problems with the drawstrings, or any othe part of the Sunsations hooded sweatshirts, are asked to file a report online with the CPSC.

MM