A dozen firms are recalling millions of window coverings, including Roman shades and roll-up blinds, because they pose a serious risk of strangulation to young children, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced this week
The commission has received reports of five deaths and 16 near strangulations in Roman shades since 2006 and three deaths in roll-up blinds since 2001.
Roman shade
Strangulations in Roman shades occur when a child places his or her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the back side of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his or her neck.
Roll-up blinds
Strangulations in roll-up blinds occur when 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 or her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.
The recalled Roman shades and roll up blinds were sold by a variety of manufacturers and retailers, including major discount department stores, home improvement stores, and window covering manufacturers and retailers.
Remedies vary among firms from repair kits to refunds.
"Parents need to make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of their window coverings", said Inez Tenenbaum, commission chairman, in the announcement about the recall. "Avoid these deadly dangers by getting the repair kit or installing cordless window coverings in all homes where small children live or visit."
To help prevent child strangulation in window coverings, the commission and Window Covering Safety Council urge 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. The commission recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.
- Do not place cribs, beds and furniture close to windows with corded window coverings because children can climb on them and gain access to the cords.
- Make loose cords inaccessible.
- Install tension devices to keep the cord taut if the window shade has looped bead chains or nylon cords.
The companies involved in the recall are listed below, along with a link to recall information, the number of units, and where they were sold:
500,000 Roman shades and 600,000 roll-up blinds,
More than 2.2 million Roman Shades and 340 roll-up blinds,
250,000 Roll-up blinds,
290,000 Roman shades,
350,000 Roman shades and 45,000 roller shades,
, 355,000 Roll-up blinds,
42,000 Roman shades,
2,000 Roman shades,
, 6,300 Roman shades,
, 1,800 Roman shades,
1,000 Horizontal blinds,
4,600 Roman shades,
For information on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.
This is a dangerous thing and all readers must now be cautious of this,never thought in this light before.
Yes, this recall, one of the largest in the history of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has brought out the information that children can be strangled in the chords on Roman shades and roll-up blinds.
All parents of young children should be aware of this hazard.
Rita
This is a warning to parents who still have small children to avoid using roll-up blinds and roman shades to avoid accidents. Let’s just look for other safer window treatments for our home or better yet, make sure children won’t play with it or get hold to it.
We had yet another instance of this occuring a short time back in the UK, but it’s not one of those things that hits national headlines.
How are people supposed to be aware if it’s not made public and high profile.
How many children have to suffer before someone mandates a change in the design requirements!
I’ve been selling blinds for many years and I always make families aware of the risks but I know I’m one of few.
Andy
Hi Andy,
Good for you for educating consumers about this hazard. I’ve told parents about the danger of blinds and shade cords, but some just shrug it off. I guess they apparently think it could never happen to them. As you point out, injuries and deaths do occur from cords on blinds and shades.
Thanks for your comment.
Rita