Roman shades and roll up blinds have been under attack as they have been linked to the deaths of eight young children since 2001.  The online Wall Street Journal reports that there have also been 16 near strangulations.  Venetian blinds and vertical blinds have also been under scrutiny as the strings used to open and close the blinds are often accessible to children.  Eighty-five million Venetian blinds were recalled in 2000 for the same reason. 

Blinds Safety Record

Federal product safety regulators identify that approximately one child every month is strangled by a cord from a window covering.  Concern is not only from the cords used to open and close the blinds but as the US Consumer Product Safety Commission outlines in their press August 2009 release the blinds “do not have inner cord stop devices to prevent the accessible inner cords from being pulled out”. 

Vertical blinds, Cellular shades and Venetian blinds are all identified as having string issues.  To prevent any loss of life the CPSC recommends that cordless window coverings be used if children are in the home.  Free retro-fits are available from the CPSC and an associated group called the Window Covering Safety Council.  Recalls from nation wide stores involve Wal-mart, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Big Lots Inc. and JC Penny. 

The Chicago Tribune reports that mother, Linda Kaiser, who tragically lost her daughter, is on a mission to preventing the same thing from happening to someone else’s child.  Kaiser was happen with the announcement from the CPSC to recall more that 50 million blinds because of the risk of children becoming tangled in the cords.

Where to Find Additional Information

The CPSC has reported five deaths and 16 near strangulations from the adjustable cords on fabric looped Roman shade and three deaths associated with roll up blinds since 2001.  To better understand the recall and identify the types involved visit the commission’s website  for more information.

The roll up blinds are of a concern if the loop used to open and lift the shade slips off the side of the blind.  This leaves a loop large enough for a child to put there head and ultimately get tangled.  Also there is concern that a child may get stuck between the blind material and the string used to lift the blind.

50 Million Window Blinds Recalled was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In August 2009 there were 49 product recalls announced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Do you know what items have been recalled? Do you own any of these products? Do you know how to find this information?

Funds are tight and Christmas is approaching which means consumers are looking for the good deals, the bargains. This can mean buying products from lesser known retailers, selecting a lower cost brand or even buying second hand. There’s nothing wrong with any of these options, after all a savvy consumer knows how to save money.

Smart consumers also know how to keep their families safe.

Even when products are supplied by trustworthy sources, there is no guarantee that they will not be subject to recall.

Do you remember the healthy living lunch boxes issued for free by the Department of Public Health in California that were recalled because they contained elevated levels of lead?

Do you remember the ‘Thomas and Friends’ wooden toys, again recalled because they had unacceptably high lead levels in the paint covering?

Many manufacturers have closed local plants and factories electing to have their products made or assembled in other countries where wages are lower, perhaps health and safety requirements are not as stringent and their profit margins can be preserved through lower costs of production.

What these same manufacturers did not allow for was the possibility that inferior quality materials and finishes could be used to cut corners.

It is not just children’s toys that represent potential hazards in the home. In August 2009 Frigidaire recalled 200,000 electric ranges that had demonstrated problems with the on/off switch and thermostat control – all posing serious fire risks. There were also items, including clothing and window blinds, which incorporated a drawstring mechanism that failed safety guidelines and represented a strangulation risk.

As a consumer how do you keep up to date with the latest recalls? How do you keep your home and family safe? How can you take advantage of bargain shopping opportunities without compromising on safety?

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission makes the information you need available. In fact, they make it incredibly simple; you do not even have to regularly search the website for updates. All product recall information can be emailed directly to you, as it becomes available.

Keep yourself up to date and safe by visiting http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx and register your email address to receive updates. You can decide which updates are relevant to you and exclude those which are of no interest. Registering takes just a few minutes, is free of charge and will mean you never again miss a product recall warning.

Product Recalls– Stay Up to Date and Keep Your Family Safe was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

What is a product recall?

When a company or manufacturer issues a product recall, they are basically altering the public to possible safety issues found in the recalled product. When an item is recalled, the maker first has to notify the public and other authorities as to the nature of the recall. This included providing serial or batch numbers of the product as well as establishing lines of communication for consumers to learn more about the particular safety issues suspected. Once the word is out, consumers are advised to return recalled products for a refund or replacement. Retailers are required to remove recalled items from their stock to prevent unsuspecting consumers from buying the items.

Tips To Keep Your Family Safe.

Your best defense to avoid using recalled products is by paying attention to product recalls. The following tips can help you avoid using or buying recalled products.

• Pay attention. With so many recalls happening these days it is possible to begin to “tune out” the information. Just because you have never had a problem with recalled items, that does not mean you don’t have something that is potentially dangerous sitting in your garage or pantry. Whenever you hear about a recall, take the time to go through your household items to ensure you are not exposing your family to unsafe products. Recalls are often issued years after the product hit the shelves, therefore you may not remember making the purchase yet the danger is still there.
• Use caution when buying second hand items. Yard sales and consignment stores are a great way to find good deals and are becoming increasingly popular as consumers try to save more money. Pay special attention to the products you buy (or bought) second hand as the seller may have been unaware of the recall at the time of purchase.
• Discard recalled items properly. It is not only important to keep recalled items out of your home, but the homes of others as well. Do your part and make sure that any item that you have that has been recalled is returned to the manufacturer for proper disposal. It is not uncommon for consumers to simply throw away a recalled item versus going through the process of getting a refund or replacement. Doing this increases the chances that someone else might end up with the recalled product, in turn putting another family at risk. Do not sell or give recalled products away.

While it is costly and sometimes damaging to the company that issues a recall, the purpose is to prevent injury or death from using potentially dangerous products. You can stay atop product recalls by visiting consumer or government websites that provide up to date information on product safety.

Consumers Confidence Shaken By Recalls was created by and is property of American Consumer News.