Near Strangulation Prompts Lowes to Recall 11 Million Roman and Roll-Up Blinds

Washington, DCLowe's has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary recall announced in December 2009 of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The company is recalling about 6 million Roman shades and about 5 million roll-up blinds.

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.

Hazard:

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.

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 were 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.