June 10, 2010: IKEA Recalls Roller Blinds, all Roman Blinds, and all Roll-Up Blinds

Recall Reason

Many styles of the blinds are included in this recall. Image here represents just one.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, have recall about 3,360,000 roller, Roman, and roll-up blinds due to risk of strangulation. (About 790,000 Roman blinds were recalled in November 2008 and August 2009, and about 533,000 roller blinds were recalled in October 2009.)

Roller Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the blind's looped bead chain is not attached to the wall or the floor with the tension device provided and a child's neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.

Roman Blinds: 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. An additional hazard exists when the Roman blind has a continuous looped bead chain that if not attached to the wall or floor, which poses a strangulation hazard to children.

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 Blinds: CPSC and IKEA received a new report of a 1 1/2-year-old boy in Lowell, Massachusetts, who suffered a near strangulation in February 28, 2010. On April 4, 2008, a 1-year-old girl in Greenwich, Connecticut, became entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman blind and strangled. CPSC and IKEA also received a report of a 2-year0old boy who suffered a near strangulation. The last two incidents prompted previous recalls. No incidents have been reported for the roll-up or roller blinds.

Do You Own This Product?

Click here to see the official recall.

This recall involves roller blinds that do not have a tension device attached to the bead chain, all Roman blinds, and all roll-up blinds. The blinds sold at IKEA stores nationwide from January 1998 through June 2009 for between $5 and $55.

The blinds were manufactured in India, Estonia, China, and Poland.

Whom to Contact

Consumers should immediately stop using the roller blinds that do not have a tension device attached to the chain, all Roman blinds, and all roll-up blinds and return them to any IKEA store for a full refund. In a previous recall, IKEA reminded consumers who have roller blinds with a tension device attached to the bead chain to make sure the tension device is installed into the wall or floor. If the consumer has difficulty installing the tension device, contact IKEA for additional information.

For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm's website at www.ikea-usa.com.