The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced the recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products unless otherwise instructed. Consumers can submit reports of harm to CPSC’s new searchable online product safety database at www.SaferProducts.gov. A searchable food and medical product recall database is available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm.
Units: About 139,000 custom-made vertical and 315,000 horizontal blinds
Manufacturer: Blind Xpress of Livonia, Mich.
Hazard: A child can become entangled in a cord loop and strangle.
Incidents/injuries: A 2-year-old girl strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or floor in 2009.
Description: The custom vertical blinds have an adjustment cord that forms a loop that is not attached to the wall or floor. In some instances, this loop has a weighted device at the bottom. The custom horizontal blinds do not have inner cord stop devices to prevent the accessible inner cords from being pulled out.
Sold at: Various blind specialty stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana from January 1995 through December 2011 for $16 to $380.
Remedy: Stop using the window coverings and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit.
Contact: Call WCSC at 800-506-4636 or visit www.windowcoverings.org.
