FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 15, 2009
Release # 10-067 |
Repair Kit Hotline: (800) 506-4636
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
|
Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades by Walmart
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: Roll-up Blinds and Roman Shades
Units: About 1.1 million (600,000 roll-up blinds and 500,000 Roman shades)
Importer: Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Hazard:
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.
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.
Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported involving Roman shades directly sold by Walmart. However, CPSC is aware of the death of a child from one of these Roman shades sold by another retailer. No incidents or injuries have been reported in roll-up shades.
Description: This recall involves all styles and sizes of fabric, bamboo and jute roll-up blinds and Roman shades.
Sold at: Walmart stores nationwide and at www.walmart.com or www.samsclub.com from January 1999 through September 2009 for between $6 and $30.
Manufactured in: China and Thailand
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and the roll-up blinds and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Walmart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.walmartstores.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.
Roll-Up Blinds
Roman Shades
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.