Large Recall of Defective Blinds and Shades for Strangulation Hazard
Several retail stores including IKEA, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Hanover Direct are issuing a defective product recall for nearly 1 million roller blinds and Roman shades because of a serious strangulation hazard to young children. According to a Fox News report, a child's neck can get tangled in the inner cord of the Roman shades or the exposed loop of the roller blinds. The recall comes after several incidences of near strangulation of children between the ages of 1 and 3. IKEA recalled blinds in August as well as in November 2008 after the death of a child who was strangled in the cords.
Defective Products Cause Injuries and Fatalities
The current recall also includes about 364,000 Dublin Energy Solution Roman shades imported by Louis Hornick & Co. Inc. of New York and sold by Bed, Bath & Beyond. Two children apparently became entangled in the inner cord of these shades. One victim, a 3-year-old boy, managed to free himself and another, a 20-month-old boy, was rescued by his grandfather. Thankfully neither one of these children sustained permanent injuries. Also included in this recall are 90,000 faux suede blinds imported and sold by New Jersey-based Hanover Direct Inc. A 2-year-old boy became tangled in the inner cord of these shades and was freed by his parents. Fortunately this boy also did not sustain any major injuries.
However, several other children nationwide have not been as lucky as these young children who were either able to free themselves or get help just in time. There have also been reports of children suffering serious brain injury because of oxygen getting cut off to the brain during the strangulation. One of the tragic fatal cases involved a 1-year-old boy who reportedly died after becoming entangled in the cords of a Lewis Hyman roll-up blind and Roman shade. Another boy in Maine was strangled in the lift-cord loop of a roll-up blind that fell into his portable crib in 2007. Another child death involved a 4-year-old girl from Florida who was strangled in the loop of a Vertical Land blind cord in 2006. Six incidents of near strangulation involved Pottery Barn Kids' Roman Shades.
Product Liability Issues
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), between 1991 and 2004 alone, there were reports of about 200 strangulation deaths involving cords and chains on window coverings. Anyone who has these dangerous blinds and shades in their homes should replace them, especially if your window shades have looped pull cords, exposed inner cords or exposed lifting loops. If you have one of these defective shades, please consider replacing them with cordless blinds. If your child has been seriously injured as a result of these defective products, please consult a reputable California personal injury attorneywith experience and a successful track record of handling products liability cases. The best product defect law firms will offer a free consultation to injured victims and their families.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
