50 Million Window Blinds Recalled After Child Deaths

WASHINGTON -The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the window covering industry are urging parents to check all shades and blinds in the home.

That follows the recall of more than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds because of the risk children may be strangled by the cords.

Parents are advised to make sure cords aren’t accessible and that furniture is placed so children can’t reach the cords.

The commission says five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported since 2006. Three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.

Consumers can get free retrofit kits online at http://www.windowcoverings.org or by calling the Window Covering Safety Council.