Personal Injury Law

Massive Defective Product Recall Involves 50 Million Window Coverings

Federal officials are issuing a product defect recall for close to 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds. The recall comes after reports of several deaths and serious personal injuries involving young children who were either strangled or nearly strangled by exposed cords on these blinds. According to a CNN news report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has documented that five children have died and 16 others have been nearly strangulated since 2006 as a result of the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds.

Officials say that with the Roman shades, the problem arises because of space between the inner cord and shade fabric. With the roll-up blinds, a large loop at the end of the cord poses a significant strangulation hazard especially for young children. CPSC estimates that about 5 million Roman shades and 2 million roll-up blinds are sold each year. This recall includes blinds and shades sold by the nation's largest retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, IKEA, JC Penney, Big Lots, Ross, Ace Hardware and Pottery Barn.

Those who have these defective products at home are asked to contact the retailers for a free repair kit. Millions of these window coverings have been recalled over the last decade. CPSC is also considering setting mandatory federal standards with regard to these products that will make them safer for children.

Full post as published by New York Injury Talk Blog on December 16, 2009 (boomark / email).