Lowe's Stores Recall to Repair Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds; Two Near Strangulations Involved Young Children

Recall number

11054

Date

Dec 1, 2010

Company

Lowe's Stores

Units affected

6,000,000

Product

Roman shades and roll-up blinds

Product type

Window Shades and Venetian Blinds and Indoor Shutters

Remedy

Repair

Hazard

Strangulation

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.

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.

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

Incidents

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.

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.