Note: Phone number change

Near Strangulation of Children Prompts Recall of Roman Shades by Louis Hornick & Co. Sold at Ross Stores

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

Name of Product: Newport Energy Solution Roman Shades

Units: About 6,300 (364,000 previously recalled in October 2009

Importer: Louis Hornick & Co. Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Retailer: Ross Stores Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif.

Hazard: Strangulation 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.

Incidents/Injuries: The shades involved in this recall are the same shades that were subject to Louis Hornick's previous recall. That recall was prompted by two reports of children becoming entangled in the exposed inner cord on the back of the shade sold by Bed, Bath & Beyond. In July 2008, while in his crib, a 20-month-old boy became entangled in the inner cord from a Roman shade. His grandfather responded to the child's cries and removed the cord that left a red mark on the right side of his neck. In April 2009, the mother of a 3-year-old boy found her crying son with a cord mark that ran ear to ear on the front of his neck. The boy was able to free himself after becoming entangled in the inner cord. This shade was also sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond. No permanent injuries were sustained in these incidents and no injuries have been reported from the use of any shades sold by Ross stores.

Description: This recall includes all sizes and colors of Newport Energy Solution Roman Shades sold by Ross Stores with exposed inner cords on the back. On the backside of the head rail, a small orange, black and white warning label sticker in English and Spanish which read in part, "Cords and bead chains can loop around child's neck and STRANGLE. Always keep cords ... to get to cords."

Sold at: Ross Stores nationwide and from March 2009 through October 2009 for between $4 and $10.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman shades and contact Louis Hornick & Company to receive a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Louis Hornick & Company at (877) 756-5102 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm's Web site at www.hornickindustries.com

Note: Examine all shades and blinds in your home. Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.

Spanish version