Roman shades and roll-up blinds have become the drop-side cribs of the home decor world. They’re a known risk and there have been industry-wide recalls, and yet they continue to be made (shoddily) and sold… only to be recalled. This time, it’s Lowe’s Home Centers recalling just about every Roman shade and roll-up blind it’s sold since 1999.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, that means around 6 million Roman shades and about 5 million roll-up blinds.

From the CPSC:

Roman Shades: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

Roll-Up Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child’s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

CPSC says it knows of two incidents of children becoming entangled in the exposed cord found on the backside of Roman shades while looking out of windows. In November 2009, a 2-year-old boy from Arvada, Colorado was found with the inner cord wrapped around his arm and neck. In July 2010, a 4-year-old boy from Lexington, South Carolina suffered a rope burn to his neck after becoming entangled in the cord of a Roman shade. No incidents have been reported related to roll-up blinds.

This recall involves all styles and sizes of Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by Lowe’s. Roman shades with repair kits and roll-up blinds with release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall.

Consumers should stop using the recalled Roman shades and roll-up blinds immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for free repair kits at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org.

Lowe’s Stores Recall to Repair Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds; Two Near Strangulations Involved Young Children [CPSC]

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