IKEA Recalls Roller Blinds, all Roman Blinds and all Roll-Up Blinds Due to Risk of Strangulation

Expands previous recalls of Roman and roller blinds and has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary recall announced in December 2009 of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following product. Consumers should stop using products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Roller, Roman, and Roll-Up blinds

Units: About 3,360,000 (about 790,000 Roman blinds were recalled in November 2008 and August 2009 and about 533,000 Roller blinds were recalled in October 2009)

Distributor: IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa.

Hazards:

Roller Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the blind's looped bead chain 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.

Roman Blinds: 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. An additional hazard exists when the Roman blind has a continuous looped bead chain that if not attached to the wall or floor, which poses a strangulation hazard to children.

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 a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

Incidents/Injuries:

Roman Blinds: CPSC and IKEA received a new report of a 1 ½-year old boy in Lowell, Massachusetts who suffered a near strangulation in February 28, 2010. On April 4, 2008, a 1-year old girl in Greenwich, Conn. became entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman blind and strangled. CPSC and IKEA also received a report of a 2-year old boy who suffered a near strangulation. The last two incidents prompted previous recalls.

Roll-up Blinds No incidents reported.

Roller Blinds: No incidents reported.

Description: This recall involves roller blinds that do not have a tension device attached to the bead chain, all Roman blinds and all roll-up blinds.

Sold at: IKEA stores nationwide from January 1998 through June 2009 for between $5 and $55.

Manufactured in: India, Estonia, China, and Poland.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the roller blinds that do not have a tension device attached to the chain, all Roman blinds and all roll-up blinds and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund. In a previous recall, IKEA reminded consumers who have roller blinds with a tension device attached to the bead chain to make sure the tension device is installed into the wall or floor. If the consumer has difficulty installing the tension device, contact IKEA for additional information.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.ikea-usa.com

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1076

ROLLER BLIND

Tension Device not attached to the bead chain
Roll-up blinds sold with this type of tension device are included in this recall.

Tension device permanently attached to the bead chain
Roller Blinds with a tension device permanently attached to the bead chain are not included in this recall.





ROMAN BLINDS

HAZARD

ROLL-UP BLIND (Generic example shown)

 Spanish Version