Two young sisters in North Carolina died of suffocation in a weighted blanket in April, months later – just days before Christmas – the US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of 240,000 children’s blankets.

The sisters, aged 4 and 6, died of asphyxiation after being trapped in The Pillowfort weighted blanket, which includes a zipper, and suffocated in April 2022, officials said.

The youngsters were playing and locked themselves in the blanket which made them suffocate. The deaths occurred at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base camp in North Carolina.

According to a WITN report, the girls died at their family home on base where their father is a staff sergeant with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines. No one has been charged in the deaths.

After those deaths, however, Target reported two other children who also became trapped in the pillow, but survived.

The weighted blanket, sold for $40 exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online from December 2018 through September 2022, was recalled Thursday by the Consumer and Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Minneapolis-based Target Corporation.

The Pillowfort weighted blanket (pictured) was posted on CPSC’s Twitter page along with news of the urgent recall and recall. “A young child can be trapped unzipping and entering the cover, posing a risk of death from asphyxiation. Two child deaths reported. Stop using, get a full refund’

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued an urgent warning on Thursday regarding the recall of Pillowfort weighted blankets sold at Target

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posted its urgent warning along with recall number 23-078 on Twitter.

‘Pillowfort Weighted Blankets; A young child can become trapped opening the zipper and stepping into the cover, posing a risk of death from asphyxiation. Two child deaths reported. Stop using, get a full refund,’ the post read.

The blankets weigh six pounds and measure 60 inches long and 40 inches wide and have a removable, waterproof and washable cover. The pillows are available in eight prints and colors including unicorn white, space navy, pink, blue, grey, buffalo check red, constellation blue and unicorn pink.

The commission said people requesting a refund can return the blankets by mail or at any Target store.

Other products deemed hazardous by the CPSC include women’s dark blue fleece sweatshirts and men’s fleece shorts from The Life is Good Company due to violation of federal flammability standard and burns consumers.

About 750 units of clothing were recalled.

Four hundred units of Ortal’s traditional gas fireplaces – 90 and 110 versions – have been recalled after it was reported they posed a fire hazard if installed incorrectly. Heat release and ventilation problems can present a fire hazard.

The Scotch Thermal Laminator, TL1302, manufactured by 3M Scotch was also recalled due to a safety feature malfunction that occurs when the laminator overheats, again posing a fire hazard. About 516,500 are part of the recall, in addition to about 3,560 that were sold in Canada.

The CPSC has issued several product recalls just days before Christmas

Four hundred units of Ortal’s traditional gas fireplaces – 90 and 110 versions – have been recalled after it was reported they posed a fire hazard if installed incorrectly. Heat release and ventilation issues can pose a fire hazard

The Life is Good Company Women’s Dark Blue Fleece Sweatshirts and Men’s Fleece Shorts Recalled Due to Violation of Federal Flammability and Consumer Burn Standard

Approximately 750 units of men’s sweatshirts and shorts have been recalled