Near Strangulations of Child Prompts Recall to Repair Roman Shades and Roll-Up Blinds by JCPenney

The hazard

Roman Shades: 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. Roll-Up Blinds: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

Incidents reported: The firm is aware of two incidents, in January 2009 and in August 2009, in which the same 2-year-old girl from Montgomery, Illinois was looking out the window when she became entangled in the cord found on the backside of Roman shades. In both incidents, the child's mother removed the loop that left a red mark from ear to ear. The child did not suffer permanent injuries. No incidents or injuries have been reported in roll-up shades.