Massive Window Blind Recall Issued Following Strangulation Deaths of Children

A massive recall of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">dangerous Roman shades and roll-up window blinds is being issued following the strangulation deaths of eight children. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall involves 50 million Roman shades and roll-up window blinds – every single one on the market. The CPSC announced the recall today in a joint statement with the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC).

According to the CPSC, five children were strangled to death in the cords included with Roman shades since 2006. Strangulations in Roman shades can occur when a child places their 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 their neck, the agency said.

Roll-up shades aren’t much safer, and have been involved in three child deaths since 2001. Strangulations in roll-up blinds can occur if the lifting loop slides 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.

Consumers that have Roman or roll-up shades in their homes should contact the WCSC immediately at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling (800) 506-4636 anytime to receive a free repair kit.

To help prevent child strangulation in window coverings, the CPSC and the WCSC are also urging parents and caregivers to follow these guidelines:

*Examine all shades and blinds in the home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC and the WCSC recommend the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.

*Do not place cribs, beds, and furniture close to the windows because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.

*Make loose cords inaccessible.

*If the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords, install tension devices to keep the cord taut.

In addition to the recall announced by the CPSC and WCSC, several retailers have today issued their own recalls of window shades. They are as follows:

Draper Inc., of Spiceland, Ind. is recalling two models of Roman FlexShades – Roman-CL (clutch/manually operated by a bead-chain) and Roman-MO (motorized). About 1,800 are involved in the recall.

Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and PBteen division of Williams-Sonoma Inc. of San Francisco, Calif is expanding a Roman recall just issued in August to include another 305,000 Roman shades, as well as 45,000 roller shades.

JCPenney is recalling about 2.2 million Roman shades and about 340 roll-up blinds.
West Elm of San Francisco, Calif. is recalling 42,000 Jute/Poly Roman Shades sold through West Elm catalog nationwide and through the firm’s Web site.

International Merchandise of Columbus, Ohio is recalling 355,000 Deluxe Matchstick Roll-up Shades sold at Big Lots .

About 2000 Roman Shades “Weren’t Built in a Day” sold through The Land of Nod stores in Illinois and Washington state, its catalog and Web site.

Walmart is recalling bout 1.1 million (600,000 roll-up blinds and 500,000 Roman shades) sold through Walmart stores nationwide and at www.walmart.com or www.samsclub.com.

Lotus & Windoware Inc., of Memphis, Tenn. is recalling about 250,000 ¼” Oval Roll-up Blinds sold exclusively through Ace Hardware and Big Lots stores nationwide.
All Strong Industry (USA) Inc., of Ontario, Calif. is recalling about 290,000 Roman Shades sold at Walmart stores nationwide and other retailers.

Full details on all of these recalls can be found at the CPSC Web site.