Children's sleepwear: relaxation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's flammability standards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted on April 30, 1996, to relax the existing children's sleepwear flammability standard under the Flammable Fabrics Act. The new amendments will permit the sale of tight-fitting children's sleepwear and sleepwear for infants aged 9 months or younger-even if the garments do not meet the flammability standards ordinarily applicable to such sleepwear. The relaxed standards became effective January 1, 1997. These changes have the potential to increase the number of childhood injuries and deaths resulting from burns associated with children's sleepwear. Burn care practitioners and fire prevention educators must understand the significance of these changes and their associated impact. It is essential that this information be disseminated throughout communities to make the public aware of the potential hazards emanating from these changes. Furthermore, organized and systematic data gathering and appropriate pressure should be exerted on the Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission to force a reversal of the newly amended regulations.