Blind & shade recall details

According to the CPSC, the following six window treatment manufacturers have recalled 5.5 million of these blinds and shades:

• IKEA. IKEA recalled 120,000 MELINA roman blinds sold at IKEA stores nationwide from August 2006 through June 2008 for between $20 and $40. The CPSC and IKEA received a report of a 2-year-old boy who suffered a near strangulation. His mother found him hanging from the looped bead chain. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.
• Lewis Hyman. Lewis Hyman recalled 4.2 million ¼” Oval Roll-up Blinds and 600,000 Woolrich Roman Shades which 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.

  In November 2007, a 1-year-old boy 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 was found with his head between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.

• Lutron Shading Solutions. Lutron Shading Solutions recalled 245,000 roller shades which were sold at specialty dealers and Expo Design Centers nationwide from January 2000 through April 2009 for between $200 and $2000 per shade. No injuries have been associated with these products. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.
• Pottery Barn Kids. Pottery Barn Kids recalled 85,000 roman shades which were sold through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog nationwide and through the firm’s Web site from January 2003 through May 2007 for between $30 and $60.

  There have been six reports of children becoming entangled in the exposed inner cord on the back of the shade between March 2006 and July 2008. Four children were found with cords entangled around their necks and two children were found with red marks around their necks after having freed themselves. No permanent injuries were sustained. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.

• Target. Target recalled 163,000 cloth and bamboo roman shades manufactured by Victoria Classics which were sold at Target stores and at Target.com nationwide from September 2008 through June 2009 for between $15 and $40. No injuries have been associated with these products. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.
• Vertical Land. Vertical Land recalled three types of window treatments: 15,400 horizontal blinds, 16,400 vertical blinds and 800 cellular shades which were sold at Vertical Land stores from January 1992 through December 2006 for between $60 and $200. In May 2006, CPSC received a report of a 4-year-old girl who got strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or floor. For additional information from the CPSC, please click here.

Manufacturers are providing refunds for the recalled blinds and shades. Additional information is available from the manufacturers themselves (contact information listed in the above links) and the CPSC, (800) 638-2772.