The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Lowe's Home Centers, Inc., of Wilkesboro, N. C. and Lowe's HIW, Inc., of Tukwila, Wash. (Lowe's Stores), announced a voluntary recall of about 6 million Roman shades and about 5 million roll-up blinds today. This adds the company to the December 2009 recall of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds.
Hazard:
- 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.
- 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/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.
Incidents/Injuries: CPSC 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, Colorado 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 .
Description: This 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 are not included in this recall (see below).
Sold at: Lowe's stores, other retail stores and at www.lowes.com since at least 1999 through June 2010 (Roman shades) and between at least 1999 and January 2005 (roll-up blinds) for between $10 and $1,800.
Manufactured in: China, United States, Mexico and Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for free repair kits at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lowe's at (800) 445-6937 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.lowes.com.
