Roman Shades
CPSC Recall #10-068 - December 14, 2009
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 10-068 |
| Recall Date | December 14, 2009 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 290,000 |
| Manufactured In | Taiwan, Thailand, and China |
Where It Was Sold
| Walmart stores nationwide and other retailers from January 2003 through May 2005 for between $10 and $20. |
Product
Roman Shades
Description
This recall involves Roman shades distributed by All Strong Industry that are made of a white-on-white striped fabric and measure about 64 inches long and the width ranges between 23 and 39 inches. The head rail has a strangulation warning and a label stating "CF" (Ching Feng Fashion Home Fashions Co., Ltd.), "52% Cotton/48% Polyester", and made in either Taiwan, Thailand or China. "RN 103984" is printed on another sewn-in tag near the bottom back side of the fabric.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.
Hazard
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.
Incidents & Injuries
In February 2007, a 16-month-old boy in Painesville, Ohio died after becoming entangled in the exposed cord on the backside of a Roman shade and strangled. The child was found face down under a corner of the shade pulled into his crib.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled Roman shades immediately and contact the Window Covering Safety Council for a free repair kit.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.