Safety regulator, Window Covering Industry Announce Recall to Repair Window Blinds
Recall 01023 · Nov 1, 2000 · Window Covering Safety Council
85,000,000
units affected
85,000,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 01023
- Date
- Nov 1, 2000
- Company
- Window Covering Safety Council
- Units affected
- 85,000,000
- Product
- Window blinds with pull cords and inner cords
- Product type
- Blinds, Shades & Cords
- Hazard
- Strangulation
The product
The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation. Window blinds sold since 1995 no longer have pull cords ending in loops. Newly manufactured blinds have attachments on the pull cords so that the inner cords can't form a loop if pulled by a young child.
What can happen
The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation.
The fix
Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should call the Window Covering Safety Council to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home. The repair kit will include small plastic attachments to prevent the inner cords from being pulled loose. The kit also includes safety tassels for pre-1995 window blinds with outer pull cords ending in loops. Consumers should cut the loops and install a safety tassel at the end of each pull cord. Consumers who have vertical blinds, draperies or pleated shades with continuous loop cords should request special tie-downs to prevent strangulation in those window coverings. Parents should keep window covering cords and chains permanently out of the reach of children. Never place a child's crib within reach of a window blind.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- 114 strangulations involve the outer pull cords, and 16 involve the inner cords that hold the blind slats.
- Sold at
- About 85 million window blinds are sold each year.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled window blinds with pull cords and inner cords?
Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should call the Window Covering Safety Council to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home. The repair kit will include small plastic attachments to prevent the inner cords from being pulled loose. The kit also includes safety tassels for.
What is the hazard?
The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.