The hood drawstring on a child’s sweatshirt or jacket looks like a minor design feature, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received 26 reports of children who died when the drawstring on their garment became entangled on playground slides, school bus doors, and other objects. Waist and bottom drawstrings have also caused dragging injuries when caught in car doors. These incidents led CPSC to first issue guidelines in 1996, an industry voluntary standard in 1997, and ultimately a mandatory federal safety rule in 2011, yet non-compliant garments with dangerous drawstrings continue to be recalled every year, including multiple recalls in 2025 and 2026.
How Drawstring Strangulation Happens
A hood drawstring that extends outside the collar can catch on a protrusion such as the handrail of a playground slide, the door of a school bus, or any elevated fixture, as a child passes by or jumps down. If the drawstring becomes taut while the child is moving, they can be lifted off the ground or jerked backward with enough force to cause strangulation within seconds. The incident often happens faster than a nearby adult can react.
Waist drawstrings that extend beyond the hem of a garment can be caught in bicycle spokes, car doors, or other moving parts, pulling the child into the object or causing falls at speed.
The Federal Rule and Ongoing Recalls
The 2011 federal rule designates children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T through 12 with neck or hood drawstrings, and sizes 2T through 16 with certain waist or bottom drawstrings, as substantial product hazards. Despite this mandatory standard, CPSC continues to issue recalls against non-compliant garments that enter the U.S. market, particularly through online marketplaces. In 2025 and 2026, CPSC recalled garments from multiple sellers including Allura Imports and Lola Plus The Boys for hood drawstrings that violated the federal rule.
What You Should Do
- Check every jacket, sweatshirt, and hoodie in your child’s closet for drawstrings through the hood or collar. If you find one, remove it immediately by pulling it out completely — this takes less than a minute and eliminates the hazard.
- Also check waist drawstrings. Any drawstring that extends beyond the hem of the garment should be removed or secured so it cannot catch on objects.
- When purchasing children’s outerwear, look for garments labeled as compliant with federal drawstring safety rules.
- Be especially cautious with children’s clothing purchased through online marketplaces, which may not meet U.S. safety standards.
- Report any non-compliant garment to CPSC at SaferProducts.gov.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, visit SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772.
