Shock and Sadness Following the Strangulation Death of Child by Window Treatments

This morning, it was reported that a one-year-old girl from Greenwich, Conn. became tangled in the corded Roman shades that hung above her playpen. The blinds were purchased from an Ikea Store, and have officially been recalled. If you own IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds, manufactured in India and distributed by IKEA Home Furnishings, purchased between July 2005, and July 2008, please return them to your nearest Ikea for a full refund.

For more details, read the release from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. You  can also report a dangerous product or a product-related injury by calling CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visiting CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html.

Although the topics here are usually light, this issue is near and dear to my heart, as I have seen first-hand the dangers of window treatments, and want to help in any way I can by sharing all the information I have. Accidents such as this should make us even more vigilant about keeping our children as safe as possible, and staying as informed as possible about the dangers of corded blinds. MAKE SURE your window treatments meet safety standards put forth by Window Covering Safety Council and that you take all necessary precautions. Purchase cordless blinds and shades or make sure corded blinds have safety features that are available on custom-made products. Purchase shutters for all of your windows, which never have cords and are virtually indestructible.

Blinds.com employs in-house safety experts who are waiting to speak to you about how to child-proof your windows. Most of our experts not only have over a decade of experience helping parents determine the best choices, but are also parents themselves and have the products they recommend hanging in their homes. Let’s eliminate heartbreak like this by only installing the safest window treatments possible. Our children deserve it.

Sincerely,

More window treatment safety information:

Blinds.com detailed safety information

Blinds.com information regarding lead paint in window blinds and shades

Parents for Window Blind Safety