FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2009
Release # 10-072 |
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 492-1949
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall of Roman Shades; Sold Exclusively at West Elm
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: Jute/Poly Roman Shades
Units: About 42,000
Distributor: West Elm of San Francisco, 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 shade or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves all sizes and colors of West Elm Jute/Poly Roman shades. An orange, black and white label located at the bottom edge of the shades warns that “Cords and bead chains can loop around child’s neck and STRANGLE.”
Sold: West Elm catalog nationwide and through the firm’s Web site at www.westelm.com from January 2005 through August 2009 for between $30 and $40.
Manufactured in: Taiwan
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman shades and contact West Elm to arrange for free pick up of the shade. A merchandise card in the value of the purchase will be issued once the shade is received by the firm.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact West Elm toll-free at (800) 492-1949 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.westelm.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.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.