Near Strangulations of Child Prompts Recall to Repair Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds by JCPenney

WASHINGTON, D.C. - 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.

Name of Product: Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds

Units: More than 2.2 million Roman shades and about 340 roll-up blinds

Importer: J. C. Penney Purchasing Corp. of Plano, Texas

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 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.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm is aware of two incidents, in January 2009 and in August 2009, in which the same 2-year-old girl from Montgomery, Illinois was looking out the window when she became entangled in the cord found on the backside of Roman shades. In both incidents, the child's mother removed the loop that left a red mark from ear to ear. The child did not suffer permanent injuries. No incidents or injuries have been reported in roll-up shades.

Description: This recall involves all styles and sizes of Roman shades and roll-up blinds sold by JCPenney.

Sold at: JCPenney Stores, JCPenney Custom Decorating, Catalog and www.jcp.com since at least 1999 to October 2009 for between $10 and $500.

Manufactured in: China, United States and other countries

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

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at http://jcpenney.net/customers/productrecalls/default.aspx

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.