Risk of Strangulation Prompts Recall to Repair Roll-Up Blinds by Lotus & Windoware: Sold Exclusively at Ace Hardware and Big Lots

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: ¼" Oval Roll-up Blinds

Units: About 250,000

Importer: Lotus & Windoware Inc., of Memphis, Tenn.

Hazard: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loop slides 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.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: This recall involves all roll-up blinds without release clips (see picture below). The roll-up blinds have plastic, ¼" oval-shaped slats, and measure either 48" or 72" long. The blinds were sold with two warning hang tags indicating ways to avoid strangulation.

Sold at: Ace Hardware and Big Lots stores nationwide from January 1999 through April 2009 for between $6 and $20.

Manufactured in: China

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 the blinds immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council for a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the Window Covering Safety Council at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org

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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Strangulation Deaths of Children Prompt Recall to Repair of Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades by Lewis Hyman Inc.

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: ¼" Oval Roll-up Blinds and Woolrich Roman Shades

Units: About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades

Importer: Lewis Hyman Inc., of Carson, Calif.

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: In November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Maine became entangled and strangled in the lift cord loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his portable crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark. was found with his head between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade. The cord was not looped around the boy's neck but rather ran from ear to ear and strangled the child.

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.

Manufactured in: China

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.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lewis Hyman toll-free at (877) 354-5457 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT daily, or visit the firm's Web site at www.lewishymaninc.com/recall.

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