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Window Blinds Recalled Over Infant Strangulation Risk

Over 677,000 IKEA and Green Mountain Vista window blinds are being recalled nationwide, because their cords may pose a strangulation risk to young children. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that at least one infant death and one serious injury have been linked to the recalled blinds. The agency is issuing detailed information on the IKEA and Green Mountain Vista window blind recalls, as well as important tips for parents and caregivers on protecting infants and young children from injuries caused by window coverings.

About 670,000 IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds sold in IKEA Home Furnishings stores are being recalled because "strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck in an exposed inner cord on the backside of the roman blinds," CPSC announced on Thursday. CPSC reports that, in April, a 1-year-old girl was accidentally strangled after becoming entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman blind (see the CPSC News Release for detailed information about affected IKEA products). In addition, about 7,300 insulated black-out roller shades and insulated Roman shades manufactured by Green Mountain Vista, Inc. are being recalled, because those shades "have a continuous looped bead chain that when not attached to the wall or floor, hangs loosely by the blind, posing a fatal strangulation hazard to children," according to a CPSC News Release also issued Thursday (see the CPSC News Release for detailed information about affected Green Mountain Vista, Inc. products).

• CPSC Press Release on IKEA Roman Blinds Recall
• CPSC Press Release on Green Mountain Vista Blinds Recall
• CPSC Safety Alert on the Dangers of Blinds [PDF file]
• Indianapolis Star: Parent Blames Blind Cord for Tot?s Death (Indianapolis Star)
• MSNBC: Window Blinds Could Be Hazardous to Children
• Defective and Dangerous Products (FindLaw)
• Q&A: Product Liability (FindLaw)

Full post as published by FindLaw's Common Law on November 21, 2008 (boomark / email).