Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades by Walmart

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Roll-up Blinds and Roman Shades

Units: About 1.1 million (600,000 roll-up blinds and 500,000 Roman shades)

Importer: Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.

Hazard:

Roll-Up Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

Roman Shades: Strangulations 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.

Incidents/Injuries: No incidents or injuries have been reported involving Roman shades directly sold by Walmart. However, CPSC is aware of the death of a child from one of these Roman shades sold by another retailer. No incidents or injuries have been reported in roll-up shades.

Description: This recall involves all styles and sizes of fabric, bamboo and jute roll-up blinds and Roman shades.

Sold at: Walmart stores nationwide and at www.walmart.com or www.samsclub.com from January 1999 through September 2009 for between $6 and $30.

Manufactured in: China and Thailand

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and the roll-up blinds and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Walmart at (800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.walmartstores.com

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.

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