Blinds Recalled After Child Strangulations

After three child strangulation deaths, more than five million window blinds and shades are being subject to six separate recalls.

The recalls involve Lewis Hyman, Vertical Land, Lutron Shading Solutions, Victoria Classics, Pottery Barn Kids and Ikea blinds and shades, and consumers are urged to stop using the shades immediately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Lewis Hyman

About 4.2 million Lewis Hyman Oval Roll-up Blinds and 600,000 Woolrich Roman Shades are being recalled after reports of two strangulations involving cords that were exposed or pulled on and wrapped around a child’s neck.
The Roman shades were sold exclusively at Target Stores (Stock Quote: TGT) nationwide and online from March 2006 to December 2008 for between $25 and $43. The roll-up blinds were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 1999 through December 2003 for between $6 and $20, the CPSC says.

The recall covers Woolrich Roman shades and roll-up blinds with plastic oval-shaped slats without release clips. The blinds measure either 72” or 96” long.

Roll-up blinds that do have release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall. 

The blinds did come with a warning label saying that young children can become entangled and strangle in cord or bead loops.

If roll-up blinds don’t include release clips, consumers are urged to stop using them immediately and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit and those with the recalled Roman shades can contact Lewis Hyman toll-free at (877) 354-5457 or online at www.lewishymaninc.com/recall for a free repair kit that will be available by the end of September.

Vertical Land

In another case, a 4-year-old girl was strangled in the loop of a Vertical Land vertical blind cord that was not attached to a wall or floor.

The recall includes about 15,400 horizontal, 16,400 vertical and 800 cellular shades manufactured by Vertical Land. The custom-made vertical and cellular window coverings do not have a cord tensioning device and horizontal blinds do not have inner cord stop devices.