Recall of the Week: 11 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by Lowe’s due to strangulation hazard

About six million Roman shades and about five million roll-up blinds are being recalled by Lowe's Home Centers and Lowe's HIW.

Roman shades: Strangulations can occur when a child places his or 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 or her neck, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
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Roll-up blinds: Strangulations 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 or her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material, according to the commission.

The commission is aware of two incidents of children that became entangled in the exposed cord found on the backside of Roman shades while looking out of windows.

In November 2009, a 2-year-old boy from Arvada, Colo., was found with the inner cord wrapped around his arm and neck. In July 2010, a 4-year-old boy from Lexington, South Carolina suffered a rope burn to his neck after becoming entangled in the cord of a Roman shade. No incidents have been reported related to roll-up blinds.

The recall involves all styles and sizes of Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by Lowe's. Roman shades with repair kits and roll-up blinds with release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind aren’t included in the recall.

Manufactured in China, the United States, Mexico, and Taiwan, the Roman shades and roll-up blinds were sold at Lowe's stores, other retail stores, and at www.lowes.com since 1999 through June 2010 (Roman shades) and between at least 1999 and January 2005 (roll-up blinds) for between $10 and $1,800.

Consumers should stop using the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council for free repair kits at 800-506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org.

For additional information, contact Lowe's at 800-445-6937 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.lowes.com.