5.5 Million Shades, Blinds and Other Window Covers Are Recalled Due to Strangulation Hazards After Three Children Die and Seven Others Are Nearly Strangled

Today the federal authorities and multiple businesses announced the recall of nearly 5.5 million hazardous window shades and blinds.

The recall was announced after three children were strangled to death and seven other children were nearly strangled due to the dangers of window shades and blinds. 

The window coverings that are being recalled consist of many types including roll-up blinds, cellular shades, Roman shades and traditional blinds. 

Among the children who died were two 1 year old children who became entangled in the cords of window coverings in their rooms.  The other death was that of a 4 year old girl who died due to strangulation by the loop of a verticle blind. 

Six of the seven incidents of near strangulation involved Pottery Barns Kids' Roman shades, in which two of the children were found with red marks around their childrens necks, but whith no permanant injuries.  The other incident involved IKEA Roman Blinds.  This incident involved a 2 year old boy who was found hanging from the blinds' looped bead chain.

Due to the numerous cases of injury and death and the massive amount of blinds and shades being recalled parents should check the blinds and shades in their childrens' rooms and throughout the rest of the house to make sure they do not have any of these dangerous blinds or shades .  If you do find that you have one of the recalled shades or blinds below you should replace the window covering immediately and contact the manufacturer for further instructions. 

• LEWIS HYMAN INC.
  One-quarter-inch Oval Roll-up Blinds and Woolrich Roman Shades - The Roman shades were sold at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com between March 2006 and December 2008 for $25 to $43. The roll-up blinds were sold at retail stores nationwide between January 1999 through December 2003 and for $6 to $20. You can contact Lewis Hyman Inc. by phone at (877) 354-5457 or (310) 532-5700.
• LUTRON SHADING SOLUTIONS
  Roller Shades - Sold through specialty dealers and Expo Design Centers nationwide between January 2000 and April 2009 for between $200 to $2,000 per shade. You can contact Lutron by phone at (866) 793-4270 or (888) 588-7661.
• VICTORIA CLASSICS
  Thermal Sailcloth and Matchstick Bamboo Roman Shades - Sold at Target stores and at Target.com nationwide between September 2008 and June 2009 for $15 to $40.  You can contact Victoria Classics by phone at (800) 583-9845.
• IKEA
  MELINA Roman Blinds - Sold at IKEA stores nationwide between August 2006 and June 2008 for $20 to $40.  You can contact IKEA by phone at (888) 966-4532.
• POTTERY BARN KIDS
  Roman Shades - Sold at Pottery Barn Kids catalog nationwide and through PotteryBarnKids.com between January 2003 and May 2007 for $30 to $60.  You can contact Pottery Barn Kids by phone at (800) 492-1949.
• VERTICAL LAND INC.
  Horizontal and Vertical Blinds and Cellular Shades - Sold at Vertical Land stores in Panama City and Pensacola, Fla., between January 1992 and December 2006 for $60 to $200.  You can contact Vertical Land by phone at (800) 423-8653.

If your child was strangled, injured or died due to poorly manufactured or recalled shades or blind contact Frank J. Dito Jr, Staten Island and Brooklyn New York Child Injury and Accident Lawyer specializing in product recall cases and product liability cases.  Frank J. Dito Jr can be reached at 718.979.4300.