Safety panel recalls window blinds

Children can strangle in the cords of window blinds as illustrated with this doll

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission on Wednesday announced a recall of millions of window blinds with pull cords that can form a loop and lead to the strangulation of children. The Window Covering Safety Council joined in announcing the recall.

The Safety Commission agency has had reports of 16 strangulation deaths involving the inner cords that hold the blind slats.

The victims ranged in age from nine months to 17 months. All the deaths involved children in cribs placed next to windows.

WINDOW BLINDS HOT LINE Call the Window Covering Safety Council toll free at: 1-800-506-4636 to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in your home.     RESOURCES Read the text of the recall     MESSAGE BOARD Product safety

Since 1991, the CPSC has received a total of 130 reports of strangulation deaths involving cords on window blinds. Of that number, 114 involved the outer pull cord and 16 the inner pull cord. After those reports, the CPSC and the window covering industry worked to redesign the blinds. Since 1995, window blinds no longer have pull cords ending in loops.

But the agency began a new investigation of window blind deaths and found that children could also become entangled in the inner cords. The entanglement occurs when a young child pulls on a cord and forms a loop that the child can hang in. The window industry has redesigned blinds so that the cords can no longer form a loop.

Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should call the Window Covering Safety Council toll free at 1-800-506-4636 to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home.

Parents should keep all window covering cords and chains permanently out of reach of children and never place a child's crib within reach of window blinds.

Federal consumer-product rules giving babies safer lives, agency reports
September 19, 2000
Three toy companies recall products amid injury reports
July 23, 2000
Consumer group cites unsafe toys, urges shopper caution
November 23, 1999

Consumer Product Safety Commission
Window Covering Safety Council
  • Recall to Repair Window Blinds

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