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Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Faux Wood Blinds by American Vintage Group

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Recall Date:
December 17, 2009

Recall Details

December 17, 2009
Alert #10-711		  

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. 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: Faux Wood Blinds

Units: About 1,100

Manufacturer: American Vintage Group LLC, of Houston, Texas

Distributors: Paramount Window Furnishings, of Carrolton, Texas and Signature Window Coverings, of Houston, Texas

Hazard: Strangulation can occur when a child places his/her neck between the cords of the pull cord above the breakaway device and the device fails to breakaway.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves various sized custom Faux Wood Blinds with 2" slats in two colors - silk white and pearl. The recall only involves custom-sized Faux Wood Blinds. The pull cord with breakaway device is on the right side while two single cords on the left side control the open/close feature of the slats. There is a label inside the head rail that states "NIENMADE China" and a second label inside the head rail with a manufacturing code beginning with the letters "MFG" followed by four numbers. A warning label on the bottom rail states, "Cords and bead chains can loop around a child's neck and STRANGLE."

Sold at: Various blind dealers in Texas from April 2009 through September 2009 for between about $45 to $65 per blind.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these faux wood blinds and contact American Vintage to schedule an appointment for on-site repair of their blinds.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact American Vintage toll-free at (866) 831-1524 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firms' Web site at www.AmericanVintagegroup.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.

Example of manufacturing code

Example of manufacturing code

Example of cord break away device with cord assembly subject to this recall

Example of cord break away device with cord assembly subject to this recall

Note: Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

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About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

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