Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores of Hudson, Ohio, just issued a recall for about 1,800 of its Bamboo Roll-Up Blinds with Valance, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">recall of Roman blinds and roller shades announced by the CPSC in December 2009 of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The announcement can be accessed here.
The CPSC is advising consumers to stop using the recalled Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Bamboo Roll-Up Blinds with Valance immediately and notes that it is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Strangulation can occur when the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the freestanding loop, or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material. To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported in connection to this particular recall.
This recall involves all Bamboo Roll-Up Blinds with Valance. The blinds, which were manufactured in China, were sold in two sizes—35 inches by 72 inches and 48 inches by 72 inches—and were sold exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores nationwide between April 2009 and December 2009. The 36-inch by 72-inch blinds were sold for $25; the 48-inch by 72-inch blinds sold for $30.
The CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using the recalled Bamboo Roll-Up Blinds with Valance and return the product to the nearest Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores for a full refund. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores can be reached toll-free at (888) 739-4120 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, by email at [email protected], or at its website at www.joann.com.
CPSC has long been urging consumers to examine all shades and blinds in their homes to ensure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product and recommends use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
We’ve been writing about the dangers and countless recalls associated with Roman Blinds and Roll-Up Shades for some time, recently writing that the CPSC, Health Canada (HC), and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers (DG SANCO) joined together to call for strong and comprehensive international safety standards on window coverings from manufacturers and standards organizations.
Corded window coverings cause strangulation deaths and significant injuries in children worldwide. In the US, CPSC staff is aware of 120 fatalities and 113 non-fatal incidents related to corded window coverings since 1999. HC has received reports of 28 strangulation deaths and 23 near-strangulations linked to corded window coverings since 1986. In seven Member States of Europe, 90 children were reported to have visited hospital emergency departments for injuries caused by corded window coverings in 2002. At least six children in Europe have died from corded window coverings since 2008. Since December 2009, CPSC has recalled tens of millions of corded Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by a variety of manufacturers and retailers.
