Near Strangulation of Children Prompts Recall of Roman Shades; Sold Exclusively at Pottery Barn Kids

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

Units: About 85,000 units

Distributor: Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif.

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: There have been six reports of children becoming entangled in the exposed inner cord on the back of the shade between March 2006 and July 2008. Four children were found with cords entangled around their necks. Scissors were used to release two of these children. Two children were found with red marks around their necks after having freed themselves. No permanent injuries were sustained.

Description: This recall involves all sizes and colors of Pottery Barn Kids roman shades with exposed inner cords on the back. Two sewn-in labels are located at the bottom edge of the shade. The smaller label identifies the manufacturer as “pottery barn kids” while the second larger orange, black and white label warns that “Cords and bead chains can loop around child’s neck and STRANGLE.” Roman shades with a fabric covering over the cords are not being recalled.

Sold at: Pottery Barn Kids catalog nationwide and through the firm’s Web site at www.potterybarnkids.com from January 2003 through May 2007 for between $30 and $60.

Manufactured in: China and Hong Kong

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled roman shades and contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a merchandise card for the purchase value.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Pottery Barn Kids toll-free at (800) 492-1949 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.potterybarnkids.com

Note: CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman Blinds and shades in their homes. If looped pull cords are present or exposed inner cords are found on the back of blinds or shades and children are in the home or occasionally visit your home, please consider replacing them with blinds or shades that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.

Consumers can also view a video clip about this recall. This is in "streaming video" format.