Roman Shades recalled due to risk of child strangulation

Importer Hanover Direct Inc., (also known as Domestications, The Company Store, and Company Kids) of Weehawken, NJ and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have issued a recall on Roman Shades, Roll-up Blind, and Roller Blinds.

These products are being recalled due to reports of children dying from strangulation. According to the CPSC:

• 495,000 Roman Shades: 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
  • a 22-month-old boy was found hanging by his neck from the outer pull cords of a Roman shade in May 2010.
• 28,500
  • Roll-up Blinds: Strangulations can occur 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 the child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.
  • Roller Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the blind’s continuous loop bead chain or continuous loop pull code is not attached to the wall or the flood with the tension device provided and a child’s neck becomes entangles in the free-standing loop.

According to an article by CNN a prior voluntary recall was made. The agency which is in charge of product safety announced that this is one of the five largest recall in the agency’s 35-year history. The CPSC said that the recall affected more than 50 million Roman shades, and roll-up blinds which have cords that can get caught around a child’s neck.

• 25 Million Roman shades: The CPSC said that 5 children died of strangulation, while 16 others were nearly strangled since 2006.
• 27 Million Roll-up Blinds: 3 children have died from roll-up blinds; hazard since 2000.