Massive Defective Product Recall Involves 50 Million Window Coverings
Federal officials are issuing a product defect recall for close to 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds. The recall comes after reports of several deaths and serious personal injuries involving young children who were either strangled or nearly strangled by exposed cords on these blinds. According to a CNN news report, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has documented that five children have died and 16 others have been nearly strangulated since 2006 as a result of the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds.
Officials say that with the Roman shades, the problem arises because of space between the inner cord and shade fabric. With the roll-up blinds, a large loop at the end of the cord poses a significant strangulation hazard especially for young children. CPSC estimates that about 5 million Roman shades and 2 million roll-up blinds are sold each year. This recall includes blinds and shades sold by the nation's largest retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, IKEA, JC Penney, Big Lots, Ross, Ace Hardware and Pottery Barn.
Those who have these defective products at home are asked to contact the retailers for a free repair kit. Millions of these window coverings have been recalled over the last decade. CPSC is also considering setting mandatory federal standards with regard to these products that will make them safer for children.
There is no question that these products pose a tremendous hazard, especially to households with young children. CPSC has received reports of children dying or suffering severe brain injuries as a result of the strangulation. Irreversible brain damage is also possible when the oxygen gets cut off from the brain during strangulation.
If your child has been seriously injured as a result of these defective blinds or shades, please contact an experienced New York personal injury lawyer at Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro LLP to find out whether the blinds or shades installed in your home are part of this product recall. Very often, design defects and manufacturing defects in products we use everyday can cause serious injuries to unsuspecting consumers. Our New York product liability lawyers have an excellent track record of holding manufacturers accountable for their defective products. Call us today at 212-986-7353.
Source: http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/15/news/window_blinds_recall/index.htm
