August 26, 2009: Lewis Hyman Inc. Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades Recall

Recall Reason

Several styles of shades were included in this recall. Image here represents just one.

According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), Lewis Hyman Inc. is voluntarily recalling 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades. The roll-up blinds may cause strangulation 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 neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material. The Roman shades may cause strangulation when a child places his 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 neck.

Do You Own These Blinds or Shades?

Click here to read the official release.

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.

Manufactured in China, 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.

Whom to Contact

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.

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.