We’ve long 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.
Now, the strangulation death of a child has prompted another recall of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">Roman Shades, Roll-Up Blinds, and Roller Blinds, this time, by Hanover Direct/Domestications, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. This recall expands a previous recall of Roman shades. Also, Hanover Direct/Domestications has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary recall announced in December 2009 of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds, which can be accessed on the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10077.html.
The CPSC advises consumers to stop using the recalled Roman Shades, Roll-Up Blinds, and Roller Blinds immediately and notes that it is illegal to resell or to attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
About 495,000 Roman shades and 28,500 roller/roll-up blinds are included in this recall. Of note, about 90,000 Roman shades were recalled in October 2009; that recall notice can be accessed on the CPSC website at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10023.html. The recalled of Roman Shades, Roll-Up Blinds, and Roller Blinds were imported by Hanover Direct Inc., (also known as Domestications, The Company Store, and Company Kids) of Weehawken, New Jersey.
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. Strangulations can occur from Roll-Up Blinds 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. Strangulations can occur from Roller Blinds if the blind’s continuous loop bead chain or continuous loop pull cord is not attached to the wall or the floor with the tension device provided and a child’s neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.
Although no accidents or injuries have been reported, to date, with Roll-up Blinds and Roller Blinds connected to this recall, CPSC received a new report of the death of a 22-month-old boy who was found hanging by his neck from the outer pull cords of a Roman shade in May 2010. The outer pull cords were knotted at the bottom. He was rescued by his father but died later in the hospital. In March 2008, a two-year-old boy climbed up on a toy chest to look out of a window and became entangled in the inner cords of a Roman shade. His parents removed the cord. No permanent injuries were sustained. This incident prompted a previous recall.
This recall involves all styles of Roman shades with inner cords, all styles of roll-up blinds, and roller blinds that do not have a tension device. A tension device is intended to be attached to the continuous loop bead chain or continuous loop pull cord and installed into the wall or floor.
The recalled shades and blinds, which were manufactured in China, the United States, and other countries, were sold at Hanover Direct/Domestications, the Company Store/Company Kids; online at www.domestications.com and www.thecompanystore.com; and through catalog sales nationwide from January1996 through October 2009 for between $20 and $579.
Consumers should immediately stop using all Roman shades with inner cords, all roll-up blinds, and all roller blinds that do not have a tension device, and contact the Window Covering Safety Council at (800) 506-4636 anytime for free repair kits or visit www.windowcoverings.org. Consumers who have roller blinds with a tension device should make sure the tension device is attached to the continuous loop bead chain or continuous loop pull cord and is installed into the wall or floor.
Domestications or Hanover at can be reached, toll-free, at 1.800.453.1106 between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Eastern Time, seven days a week, or at the firm’s websites at www.domestications.com or www.hanoverdirect.com
The CPSC advises consumers to examine all shades and blinds in your home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side or back of the product. CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
