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Death Triggers Window Blind Recall Save Email Print
Posted: 9:04 AM Nov 20, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:00 AM Nov 20, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com
14 comments
A | A | A

IKEA and Green Mountain Vista window blinds and shades were recalled in the United States on Thursday after a young child was strangled. The recall includes about 677,300 sets of window blinds.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said a 1-year-old girl from Greenwich, Connecticut, strangled when she got caught in the inner cord of a set of IKEA Roman blinds over her playpen. The agency also received a report of a 2-year-old girl from Bristol, Connecticut, who nearly strangled on the beaded-chain loop hanging from a set of Green Mountain Vista shades.

The recall includes about 670,000 IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds, manufactured in India and distributed by IKEA Home Furnishings. They were sold at IKEA stores nationwide between July 2005 and June 2008. Another 4.8 million blinds were sold outside the country.

The blinds can be returned to any IKEA store for a full refund.

Also recalled are about 7,300 insulated blackout roller shades and insulated Roman shades manufactured in China by Green Mountain Vista Inc. The shades were sold around the country by Country Curtains, Plow & Hearth, The Linen Source, Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, Ann & Hope, The Sportsman's Guide, Target.com, The Curtain Shop of Maine, and the Solutions catalog. They were available between June 2005 and September 2008.

Green Mountain Vista shade owners should check to see if the tension device is attached. If not, contact the company for a free repair kit and installation instructions. For more information on the Green Mountain Vista shades, call 800-639-1728.
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Posted by: Mary O. on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Okay, this is stupid. Blinds have cords and chains. The blinds aren't defective... the parents are for putting the playpen next to the blinds! Parents, take your responsibility as parents instead of trying to steal a company's money for your mistake.
Posted by: j. on Nov 20, 2008 at 06:19 PM
The loss of this child IS terrible. It has been years since there was some sort of law or mandate passed that ALL blinds (roman, vertical, etc..) needed to have the warning posted on them that a child could be injured by the ropes. The playpen shouldn't have been near the blinds,and any cords accessible to children should have been tied up or shortened.
Posted by: Recall Everything on Nov 20, 2008 at 04:10 PM
All ropes and cords of any kind should be recalled, because a child might accidentally hang themselves with one.
Posted by: Keith on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:18 PM
Another accident that the parents aren't taking responsibility for their own stupidity. Yea, sure remove that string and put a motor in the top so the blinds can open and close automatically. Better yet, add a remote so I can open the blinds while siting in my comfy chair.
Posted by: Timmeh on Nov 20, 2008 at 03:15 PM
anon - You're missing the point. If the cords are 50' long, what does that have to do with a recall. It's like saying "Recall refrigerators because a child might get stuck inside" or "Recall all cars because someone got in an accident." I know it's hard to believe in these times where safety-nazi's want to ban or try to prevent ANYTHING that MIGHT cause a death or illness if not used correctly. The bubble-wrap mentality of today's whimps has turned us all into whimps. I do feel for the parents but there's no reason to take these off the shelves for a single incident.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:46 PM
THIS WAS THE PARENTS FAULT, NOT THE BLINDS COMPANY. ALL BLINDS HAVE WARNING TAGS ON THEM TO KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
Posted by: Barb on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:17 PM
While I feel badly for the parents who went through this, number one...what the heck was the playpen doing near the window with the blinds? Number two...when you have little kids, you should put those cords up high enough where they cannot reach them. It is a sad thing to hear but when you have children, you need to think about things like that, observe things around the home that could be a potential hazard. I do not think a recall is necessary. Just wisdom on the part of the parents.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Sounds to me like there is a lack of common sense in Connecticut.
Posted by: ToddM on Nov 20, 2008 at 01:21 PM
I'm sorry for the parent's loss and it is a tragedy, but why recall over 500,000 units for one tragedy? I know it sounds heartless, but couldn't someone fall into a glass-topped coffee table and get cut to death. Then wouldn't we scream for recalls of glass topped coffee tables? We can't prevent all accidents, but this one is preventable by putting a hook or some other device up to hang the extra, loose cord on. Doesn't take a recall for a product that isn't defective.
Posted by: anon on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:56 AM
You are missing the point, maybe the string on the blinds is too long, and should be a certain length.
Posted by: Mel on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:18 AM
What a bad situation this is. The purpose of a recall is to correct something that has an obvious and proven risk, which blind cords have. Since they've put warning on them, I'm sure many children have been saved. Sad as this is, this is not the parents fault...it is just a sad thing. I had blinds in my daughter's room and didn't even notice the cords hanging down until she was 2 years old (of course - I just cut them - Who cares as long as the work). I'm a very conscious parent - but heck - I missed it too.
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 11:06 AM
such a sad story, but unless there is something very unusual about these blinds (versus others) i don't think a recall is necessary. they're going to be sued whether they recall or not and i doubt a jury is going to care if there was a recall after the fact.
Posted by: I'm with anon on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:34 AM
While it is terrible that the parents have to go through this, it was completely avoidable had they just thought about it for five seconds. Cheapo blinds have strangulation warnings on them- why didn't these? And why was a playpen where blinds could be reached?
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Stupid. Maybe they'll have to recall wood they use to build stairs the next time a child falls down a stairway. Maybe they can recall concrete that is used on playgrounds the next time a kid slips and falls. Maybe they can recall range/ovens the next time a kid puts his hand on the burner while it's hot. Maybe they can recall baseballs, basketballs and volleyballs the next time a kid gets his nose broke by being hit in the face with it. Maybe they can recall plastic bags the next time a kid puts one over his head and suffocates himself to death. Have fun lawyers.
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