Near Strangulation Prompts Recall of Roman Blinds Sold Exclusively at IKEA

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: MELINA ROMAN BLINDS

UNITS: ABOUT 120,000

DISTRIBUTOR: IKEA HOME FURNISHINGS, OF CONSHOHOCKEN, PA.

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. THE ROMAN BLIND HAS A CONTINUOUS LOOPED BEAD CHAIN THAT WHEN NOT ATTACHED TO THE WALL OR FLOOR, HANGS LOOSELY BY THE BLIND, POSING A STRANGULATION HAZARD TO CHILDREN.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: CPSC AND IKEA RECEIVED A REPORT OF A 2-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO SUFFERED A NEAR STRANGULATION. HIS MOTHER FOUND HIM HANGING FROM THE LOOPED BEAD CHAIN.

DESCRIPTION: THIS RECALL INCLUDES ALL SIZES/COLORS OF MELINA ROMAN BLINDS. THESE BLINDS HAVE A SEWN-IN LABEL AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE BLIND WITH THE IKEA LOGOTYPE, ARTICLE NAME (MELINA), 5-DIGIT SUPPLIER NUMBER 19395, FOUR DIGIT DATE STAMP (YYWW) AND THE WORDS “MADE IN TAIWAN”. ON THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE BLIND THERE IS A SEWN-IN ORANGE/WHITE SAFETY WARNING LABEL. THE BLINDS ARE MADE FROM 100% POLYESTER.

SOLD AT: IKEA STORES NATIONWIDE FROM AUGUST 2006 THROUGH JUNE 2008 FOR BETWEEN $20 AND $40.

MANUFACTURED IN: TAIWAN

REMEDY: CONSUMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE RECALLED ROMAN BLINDS AND RETURN THEM TO ANY IKEA STORE FOR A FULL REFUND.

CONSUMER CONTACT: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT IKEA TOLL-FREE AT (888) 966-4532 ANYTIME, OR VISIT THE FIRM’S WEB SITE AT WWW.IKEA-USA.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 (TRANSCRIPT) ABOUT THIS RECALL. THIS IS IN “STREAMING VIDEO” FORMAT.