December 1, 2010: Lowe's Stores Recall Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds

Recall Reason

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

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Lowe's Home Centers, Inc., of Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and Lowe's HIW, Inc., of Tukwila, Washington, has recalled about six million Roman shades and roll-up blinds due to two near strangulations.

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.

Roll-Up Blinds: 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.

The CPSC is aware of two incidents of children that became entangled in the exposed cord found on the backside of Roman shades while looking out of windows. In November 2009, a 2-year-old boy from Arvada, Colorado, was found with the inner cord wrapped around his arm and neck. In July 2010, a 4-year-old boy from Lexington, South Carolina, suffered a rope burn to his neck after becoming entangled in the cord of a Roman shade. No incidents have been reported related to roll-up blinds.

Do You Own This Product?

Click here to see the official recall.

This recall involves all styles and sizes of Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by Lowe's. Roman shades with repair kits and roll-up blinds with release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall.

The blinds and shades sold at Lowe's stores, other retail stores, and at www.lowes.com since at least 1999 through June 2010 (Roman shades) and between at least 1999 and January 2005 (roll-up blinds) for between $10 and $1,800. They were manufactured in China, the United States, Mexico, and Taiwan.

Whom to Contact

Consumers should stop using the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for free repair kits at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org. For additional information, contact Lowe's at (800) 445-6937 anytime or visit the firm's website at www.lowes.com.

Note from CPSC

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.