Note: The safety recommendations in this document have been superceded by more recent advice. See Children Can Strangle in Window Covering Cords -- html or pdf
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Originally issued November 1, 2000 Revised March 28, 2003
Release # 01-023
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Repair Kit Hotline: (800) 506-4636
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
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CPSC, Window Covering Industry Announce Recall to Repair Window Blinds
New Investigation of Children's Deaths Leads to Redesigned Window Blinds
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
and the Window Covering Safety Council are announcing a recall to repair
horizontal window blinds to prevent the risk of strangulation to young
children. The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords
and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation. About 85
million window blinds are sold each year.
Since 1991, CPSC has received reports of 130 strangulations
involving cords on window blinds. 114 strangulations involve the outer
pull cords, and 16 involve the inner cords that hold the blind slats.
In 1995, CPSC worked with the window covering industry to redesign
new window blinds to eliminate the outer loop on the end of pull cords
and provide free repair kits so consumers could fix their existing
blinds. CPSC issued a safety alert
(pdf format) about this hazard and what consumers can do about it, including a
detailed description of the free repair kits. Window blinds sold since
1995 no longer have pull cords ending in loops.
Last year, CPSC began a new investigation of window blind deaths.
In an extensive review of incidents, CPSC found that children could also
become entangled in the inner cords that are used to raise the slats of
blinds. These entrapments occur when a young child pulls on an inner
cord and it forms a loop that the child can hang in. All of these
deaths involved children in cribs placed next to windows. In most
cases, the outer pull cords were placed out of reach, but the children
strangled when they pulled on the inner cords of the blinds. The
strangulation victims ranged in age from 9 months to 17 months.
As a result of the new CPSC investigation, the industry has
further redesigned window blinds. Newly manufactured blinds have
attachments on the pull cords so that the inner cords can't form a loop
if pulled by a young child. Consumers with existing blinds should have
them repaired. The repair can be done in minutes without removing the
blinds.
Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should
call the Window Covering Safety Council toll-free (800) 506-4636 to
receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home. You can
also visit their web site -
www.windowcoverings.org - to get more information on checking your
window covering. The repair kit will include small plastic attachments to
prevent the inner cords from being pulled loose. The kit also includes
safety tassels for pre-1995 window blinds with outer pull cords ending in
loops. Consumers should cut the loops and install a safety tassel at the
end of each pull cord. Consumers who have vertical blinds, draperies or
pleated shades with continuous loop cords should request special tie-downs
to prevent strangulation in those window coverings.
Parents should keep window covering cords and chains permanently
out of the reach of children. Never place a child's crib within reach
of a window blind. Unless the cords can be completely removed from the
child's reach, including when the child climbs on furniture, CPSC
recommends that parents never knot or tie the cords together because
this creates a new loop in which a child could become entangled.
Consumers who have young children may wish to consider purchasing
cordless window coverings. These are made by a number of firms.
Consumers can also
view a video clip
about window blind cords (transcript). This is in
"streaming video" format.
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