Drawstrings on Clothes Can Be Dangerous

THE type of clothing your child wears can also expose your child to injury risks. Some clothing, especially those with drawstrings, can catch on bus doors or handrails, playground equipment and other objects.

Apart from the drawstrings that are common on items such as jackets and sweatshirts ­ backpack straps, dangling key chains, scarves, belt buckles, and other loose clothing can also cause death or injury.

A drawstring at the waist, hood, or neck on clothing can catch in a small gap in playground equipment, a bus handrail, or on a hook. A drawstring with a large toggle or knot at the end is most likely to get caught. As a child gets off a school bus, a dangling drawstring or loose object may catch in the handrail. If the bus doors close and the child isn't seen, she could be dragged and run over.

While clothing changes are very important, school bus manufacturers also need to ensure that the kind of handrails they make won't catch such things as drawstrings.

Here are some checks you can make:

• Choose clothes without drawstrings — snaps, buttons, or elastic are better choices
• Remove hood and neck strings
• Remove drawstrings from the waist and bottom of coats
• Warn children about dangling key rings, large buckles, and other objects hanging from their backpacks

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