| IKEA, a Swedish home decor company, has recently | | | | 500 children have strangled on the cords of blinds and |
| announced on June 10, 2010 that it is voluntarily recalling | | | | shades since the early 1980s, an average of about |
| over 3 million window blinds. The reason, as stated by | | | | one child each month. This shocking statistic |
| the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is the risk | | | | demonstrates the real danger of the situation and why |
| of strangulation posed by the free hanging cords of | | | | almost the entire industry was compelled to recall |
| the window blinds. This recall includes roman shades, | | | | these window blind products. |
| roll-up blinds and certain types of roller blinds that do | | | | Customers are advised to stop using the products |
| not have tension devices and were sold in the U.S. | | | | immediately and return them to any IKEA location for |
| between January 1998 and June 2010. These 3 million | | | | a full refund. IKEA advises that you keep cords and |
| recalled window treatments are in addition to several | | | | looped bead chains out of reach of young children. |
| previous recalls in 2008 and 2009. In November, 2008 | | | | Install safety devices and reduce the access to cords. |
| and August, 2009 about 790,000 roman shades were | | | | Move beds and furniture away from the blinds and |
| recalled and, in October, 2009 533,000 roller blinds | | | | shades to prevent children from climbing and reaching |
| were recalled. IKEA has decided to take this action as | | | | the cords. IKEA has also offered assistance in making |
| a precautionary measure to prevent any further injury | | | | the necessary safety corrections if the customer |
| or harm to their customers. | | | | wishes to keep the window blind. |
| The recall was spurred by the report of 1 1/2 year old | | | | It is important to remember that if you do have small |
| Massachusetts boy who nearly choked on a roman | | | | children living in your home, or even as frequent visitors, |
| shade cord. There have also been two other child | | | | you need to buy your blinds and shades with either |
| strangulation incidents due to hazardous cords of IKEA | | | | cordless operation or a safety device that attaches |
| blinds, resulting in one death and one near death. All | | | | the cord to the wall. Several cordless operations are |
| three of these incidents were caused by roman | | | | motorization, top down/ bottom up, and a push-pull |
| shades, however roller shades and roll up shades are | | | | bottom rail. |
| also being recalled because they share the same | | | | If you want to find high-quality window treatments at |
| hazardous cords and loops that lack a tension device. | | | | discount prices, there are online retailers that provide |
| With this expanded recall, IKEA has officially joined the | | | | an excellent selection from all the industry leading |
| industry wide recall of over 50 million window blinds | | | | brands. The online shopping process is extremely easy |
| that took place last December for the exact same | | | | and convenient and you are buying from companies |
| product and reasons. Such retailers also involved are, | | | | that specialize in blinds. So, next time you are in the |
| Walmart, J.C. Penney, Ace Hardware, and many | | | | market for window treatments look online for great |
| others. The safety agency has estimated that about | | | | deals on custom, quality blinds and shades. |