5.5 Million Window Blinds and Shades Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazards
Massive Recall of Roman Shades, Roll Up Blinds and other Window Coverings - Strangulation Risk to Children Cited in U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notices
August 26, 2009 - The U.S. Consumer and Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov) issued six seperate recall notices today for window covering products. Strangulations, near strangulations or strangulation risk was cited in in each notice, which are summarized below.
Strangulation Deaths of Children Prompt Recall to Repair of Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades by Lewis Hyman Inc.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: ¼” Oval Roll-up Blinds and Woolrich Roman Shades
Units: About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades
Importer: Lewis Hyman Inc., of Carson, Calif.
Hazard: Roll-up Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.
Roman Shades: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.
Incidents/Injuries: In November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Maine became entangled and strangled in the lift cord loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his portable crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark. was found with his head between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade. The cord was not looped around the boy’s neck but rather ran from ear to ear and strangled the child.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
Near Strangulation Prompts Recall of Roman Blinds; Sold Exclusively at IKEA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: MELINA Roman Blinds
Units: About 120,000
Distributor: IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa.
Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck. The Roman blind has a continuous looped bead chain that when not attached to the wall or floor, hangs loosely by the blind, posing a strangulation hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: CPSC and IKEA received a report of a 2-year-old boy who suffered a near strangulation. His mother found him hanging from the looped bead chain.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
Near Strangulation of Children Prompts Recall of Roman Shades; Sold Exclusively at Pottery Barn Kids
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Roman Shades
Units: About 85,000 units
Distributor: Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif.
Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been six reports of children becoming entangled in the exposed inner cord on the back of the shade between March 2006 and July 2008. Four children were found with cords entangled around their necks. Scissors were used to release two of these children. Two children were found with red marks around their necks after having freed themselves. No permanent injuries were sustained.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Victoria Classics Roman Shades; Sold Exclusively by Target Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Thermal Sailcloth and Matchstick Bamboo Roman Shades
Units: About 163,000
Importer: Victoria Classics of Edison, N.J.
Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck. Exposed operating cords can knot or tangle creating a strangulation loop.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Roller Shades by Lutron Shading Solutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Roller Shades
Units: About 245,000
Distributor: Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., of Coopersburg, Pa.
Manufacturer: Virginia Iron and Metal Company Inc. (VIMCO), of Ashland, Va.
Hazard: Strangulations can occur if the shade’s looped bead chain is not attached to the wall or the floor and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
Strangulation Death of a Child Prompts Recall To Repair Window Blinds By Vertical Land
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Products: Horizontal and Vertical Blinds and Cellular Shades
Units: About 15,400 (horizontal), 16,400 (vertical), 800 (Cellular Shades)
Manufacturer: Vertical Land Inc., of Panama City Beach, Fla.
Hazard: Horizontal Blinds: The blinds do not have inner cord stop devices to prevent the accessible inner cords from being pulled out. If an inner cord is pulled out, a child can become entangled in the loop and strangle.
Vertical Blinds: Strangulations can occur if a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop formed by the bead chain or by the cord with a weighted device.
Cellular Shades: Strangulations can occur if a child’s neck becomes entangled on the shade’s free-standing looped cord.
Incidents/Injuries: In May 2006, CPSC received a report of a 4-year-old girl from Pensacola, Fla., who strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or floor.
Read the full U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Notice here.
