Near Strangulation Prompts Recall of Roman and Roller Shades by Smith+Noble

Smith+Noble has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary recall announced in December 2009 (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10077.html) of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds.

WASHINGTON, July 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

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Name of Product: Roman and Roller shades

Units: About 1.3 million (1,160,000 Roman shades and 115,000 roller shades)

Distributor: Smith+Noble, of Corona, Calif.

Hazard: 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 shade or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

Roller Shades: Strangulation can occur if the shade's continuous loop cord is not attached to the wall with the tension device provided and a child's neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.

Incidents/Injuries: Roller Shades: CPSC and Smith+Noble have received a report of a 5-year-old boy in Tacoma, Washington who became entangled in an unsecured continuous loop bead cord on a roller shade in May 2009. No medical treatment was required.

Roman Shades:  None.

Description: This recall involves all roller shades that do not have a tension device attached to the continuous loop cord and all custom, made-to-order Roman shades. Brand names include Smith+Noble, Christopher Lowell by Smith+Noble, Jessitt Gold, Shop Blinds and Window Elements.

Sold exclusively at: Smith+Noble online at www.smithandnoble.com and through catalog sales nationwide from 1998 through April 2010 for between $100 and $1,600, depending on custom size and options.

Manufactured In: China, Mexico and United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit at (800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org. Consumers should check the roller shades to make sure the tension device provided is attached to the continuous loop cord and installed into the wall.  If not attached, consumers should attach the tension device securely to the wall.  If they no longer have the tension device, consumers should immediately stop using the roller shades and contact WCSC to receive a free replacement tension device.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Smith+Noble toll-free at 877-228-7683 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through Friday and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the firm's website at www.smithandnoble.com/productrecallinformation.    

Note:  Examine all shades and blinds in your home.  Make sure there are no accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product.  CPSC recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where children live or visit.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product.  Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission