FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2009
Release # 10-074 |
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 315-7037
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall of Roman Shades by Draper Inc.
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: Roman Shades
Units: About 1,800
Manufacturer: Draper Inc., of Spiceland, Ind.
Hazard: These shades have an exposed operating cord and exposed inner cords on the back of the shade. Strangulations 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. In addition, these shades have a continuous looped bead chain that when not attached to the wall or floor, hangs loosely by the shade, posing a strangulation hazard to children.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This recall involves two models of Roman FlexShades – Roman-CL (clutch/manually operated by a bead-chain) and Roman-MO (motorized). They come in a variety of colors and fabric types and are custom sized/made to order. The shade has a wooden head rail and a 9” valance and four (or more) horizontal plastic stacking bars that are placed about 15 inches apart along the length of the fabric; each bar contains two plastic rings.
Sold at: Specialty window covering dealers nationwide from March 2000 through September 2009 for between $450 and $2,100.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and call Draper for a free retrofit kit that removes both the operating cords and the exposed inner cords from the shades.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Draper toll-free at (877) 315- 7037 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.draperinc.com and click on the “Roman Shade Recall” button.
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.