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

Note: Phone number change.

  • Recalled Roman Shade
  • Recalled Roman Shade
  • Recalled Roman Shade showing cord
Name of Product:
Newport Energy Solution Roman Shades
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.

Remedy:
Repair
Recall Date:
December 15, 2009
Units:

About 6,300 (This recall was first announced in Oct. 2009)

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.

Recall Details

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."

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.

Remedy:

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

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.

Sold At:
Ross Stores nationwide and from March 2009 through October 2009 for between $4 and $10.
Importer(s):

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

Retailer:

Ross Stores Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif.

Manufactured In:
China
Recall number:
10-075

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.

If you are experiencing issues with a recall remedy or believe a company is being non-responsive to your remedy request, please use this form and explain the situation to CPSC.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury 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. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

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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