On December 14, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a massive recall of roll-up window blinds and Roman-style shades because of strangulation dangers to babies and toddlers.

This recall affects more than 50 million blinds and shades. The fundamental problem with all of these products is that their cords could form a loop—either by themselves or in combination with the fabric--that a child’s head could fit into, causing a strangulation hazard (see photos).

This recall affects products sold during the past decade by many different retailers, including Wal-Mart, JC Penny, Ace Hardware, Target, Big Lots, Ross, Pottery Barn Kids, IKEA, West Elm, and The Land of Nod.

If you have small children in your home and shades or blinds that may be a problem, inspect the window coverings immediately to see if the cords or cords-and-fabric in combination can be separated to form a loop that could present a strangulation hazard. If they can, contact the retailer and/or manufacturer for instructions regarding return or repair.

The CPSC and Window Covering Safety Council have joined forces to provide repair kits. For Roman shades, these kits will substitute rings for cords. For roll-up blinds, the kits offer breakaway cords that separate under force. Consumers can contact the Window Covering Safety Council at www.windowcoverings.org or 800-506-4636 for a free repair kit.

The Window Covering Safety Council offers these important safety recommendations:

1) If you have small babies or toddlers, only use cordless window coverings in your home.

2) Position cribs, beds, and other furniture away from windows and window cords.

3) Be sure all pull cords and inner lift cords are far from the reach of small children. Tasseled pull cords should be short and continuous-loop cords should be permanently anchored to the floor or wall. Cord stops should be properly installed so that they limit movement of inner lift cords.

4) When horizontal blinds or shades are lowered (and when they rest on the windowsill), be sure to lock cords into position.

This isn’t the first recall of window blinds and shades. In 2000, 85 million Venetian and vertical blinds were recalled for similar reasons. According to the CPSC, more than 200 infants and toddlers have died from strangulation accidents involving window cords.

On August 29, 2009, the CPSC announced a voluntary recall of Horizontal and Vertical Blinds and Cellular Shads made by Vertical Land Inc. of Panama City Beach, FL. These blinds do not have an inner cord stop device that prevents the inner cords from being pulled out, presenting the danger of strangulation to small children. The child’s neck could be entangled in the loop formed by the cords or bead chains.