The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Vertical Land Inc. of Panama City, Florida, have cooperated together to announce a voluntary recall of horizontal and vertical blinds and cellular shades. According to the CPSC press release, 15,400 horizontal, 16,400 vertical and 800 cellular shades are being recalled.
There have been hazards linked to these shades that can cause serious injuries and death. The horizontal shades do not include an inner cord stop device, which is used to prevent the inner cords from being pulled out. The vertical blinds pose a strangulation hazard to children if their neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop formed by the bead chain or by the cord with a weighted device. The cellular shades also have a strangulation hazard to children if their neck becomes entangled on the shade’s free-standing looped cord.
One report has been received of a child’s death. In 2006, a 4-year-old girl from Pensacola died when she became entangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or door.
All Vertical Land custom-made vertical and cellular window coverings that do not have cord tensioning devices are involved in the recall. Also, all horizontal blinds without the inner cord stop devices are being recalled.
For more information contact Vertical Land at 800-423-8653.
