Products Recalled to Protect Children
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and two companies have issued widespread recalls of defective products that pose a safety hazard to children.
In the first case, Lowe’s has recalled 11 million Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The move is part of a farther-reaching recall that began in December 2009 and has so far involved 25 retailers. Lowe’s sold the largest number of blinds and shades, followed by Ikea. Walmart, JCPenney, Ethan Allen and Jo-Anne Fabric and Craft Stores also sold significant quantities.
The Roman shades and blinds were sold between 1999 and January 2005. Both products can cause strangulation because a child playing could become entangled in the cords and the fabric or plastic blinds.
The recall began after the CPSC learned about two incidents of children who became entangled in the Roman shade’s cord. Neither suffered personal injury. But after the recall was initiated, another 4-year-old boy did suffer personal injury, including rope burn to his neck after getting caught in the cord.
No incidents of personal injury have been reported for the roll-up blinds from this particular store.
Consumers should stop using the shades and contact the Window Covering Safety Council for free repair kits at 800-506-4636.
The CPSC has received five reports of wrongful deaths and 16 near strangulations in Roman shades since 2006. It has received three reports of accidents leading to deaths in roll-up blinds since 2001. The commission recommends consumers use cordless blinds and shades in homes where children visit. If your blinds and shades have cords, keep them inaccessible and install tension devices.
The other product recalled was The First Years American Red Cross Cabinet Swing Locks. About 41,300 locks were sold at Toys R Us, Babies R Us and other retailers.
The locks were designed to keep children from accessing cabinets.
But The First Years company received seven reports of latches breaking. Consumers should stop using the locks immediately and contact the company to obtain a coupon toward purchase of another product. Visit this link for more information.
The Boston product liability lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck handle cases involving defective products, including recalled motor vehicles and defective medical devices. If you have a case, contact us today at 800-379-1244 or use our online form.