Blind recall: How to check if your Roman shades are

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced recall affecting Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The second-largest recall in history comes after eight children died from cord strangulation. CBS has the details:

More than 50 million Roman shades and roll up blinds that were sold at some of the nation’s biggest retailers, such as JC Penney, Walmart and Pottery Barn, are part of this recall. Consumers are being offered free repair kits. “Early Show” consumer correspondent Susan Koeppen explained, with the repair kit, you’ll use a clip to hold up your shades — not a cord.

Koeppen said an alternative to shades would be using drapes instead of shades. As for the expense of replacing shades, Koeppen said if you are a 50-year-old couple, you really don’t have to worry about it unless children come over. However, if you do have children and are worried about the expense, Koeppen said it’s important to move cribs, toys and furniture away from the windows so kids can’t get access to the shades’ cords.

To know if you’ve been affected by the recall, read these CPSC instructions:

Description: This recall involves roll-up blinds without release clips (see picture below) and all Woolrich Roman shades. The roll-up blinds have plastic oval-shaped slats that measure about ¼ inch tall. The blinds measure either 72” or 96” long. The bottom rail has a WARNING label advising that “Young children can become entangled and strangle in cord or bead loops” and a label that reads “Lewis Hyman, Inc.” and the year of manufacture. Roll-up blinds that have release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall.

The Woolrich Roman shades come in twill fabric and micro-suede fabric and measure 72” long. The head rail has two labels that read “Lewis Hyman, Inc., www.lewishymaninc.com” and “LHI, 005301, Made in China” respectively.

Sold at: The Roman shades were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com from March 2006 through 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.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately check the backside of the roll-up blinds to determine if they have release clips. If the roll-up blind does not have release clips, stop using it immediately and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit.

Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit. The repair kits for the Roman shades will be available by the end of September.

Kids In Danger: CPSC Recalls Roman Shades and Roll-up Blinds

 Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall affecting more than 50 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds due to a strangulation hazard for children. Strangulation can occur with Roman shades when a child places their neck in between the cord loop and the fabric of the shade, or if a child pulls out the cord and wraps it around their neck. Strangulation can occur with roll-up blinds if the loop slides off the blind and a child's neck becomes entrapped in it, or if a child places their neck between the loop and the blind material. The CPSC is aware of 21 incidents involving roman shades and roll-up blinds since 2006 in which 5 children died from strangulation and 16 others experienced near-strangulation.

The recall affects Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold at major retailers including JCPenney, Walmart, Ace Hardware, and Pottery Barn. The Window Covering Safety Council is offering a free repair kit to all owners of these products, available at (800) 506-4636 or online at www.windowcoverings.org. Parents and caregivers should remove these products immediately until repairs have been made. The best way to protect children from the risk of strangulation is to only use cordless window coverings in homes with young children and childcare settings.