Window Blinds Sold Exclusively at Lowe’s Stores Recalled for Repair Due to Strangulation Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firms 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: Basic Blindz® Window Blinds

Units: About 140,000

Importer: Springs Window Fashions LLC, of Middleton, Wis.

Hazard: The window blinds have a pull cord that is looped, posing a strangulation hazard to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves two inch Natural Faux Wood Plantation Blinds sold under the Basic Blindz® brand. The blinds have a yellow steel top rail, also called the head rail, a cord tilter on the left side (to tilt the slats open or closed), and a double pull cord that meets at a cord connector and ends in a single cord on the right side (to raise and lower the blinds). Stickers inside the top rail state: “Springs Window Fashion LLC, Middleton, WI 53562,” “Made in China,” and “Manufacturing Date Code.” Blinds with manufacturing date codes JX, JY, JZ, KO, KP, KQ, KR, KS, and KT are included in the recall.

The following item numbers are located on the window blind’s packaging.

Item # (SWF)	Item # (Lowe’s)	Description
75-4270-27	251072	Basic Blindz® 23x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4271-27	251075	Basic Blindz® 27x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4272-27	251078	Basic Blindz® 29x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4273-27	251080	Basic Blindz® 30x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4274-27	251083	Basic Blindz® 31x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4275-27	251085	Basic Blindz® 32x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4276-27	251088	Basic Blindz® 34x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4277-27	251090	Basic Blindz® 35x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4278-27	251093	Basic Blindz® 36x64 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4290-27	253063	Basic Blindz® 34x72 Faux Wood - Natural
75-4291-27	253064	Basic Blindz® 35x72 Faux Wood - Natural

Sold at: Lowe’s stores from March 2007 through July 2007 for between $24 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled window blinds and contact Springs Window Fashions to receive a free retrofit kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Springs Window Fashions toll-free at (866) 305-8652 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.springswindowfashions.com

The Top 5 Hidden Home Hazards

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released its list of the top 5 hidden home hazards, and they're not what most people think:

1. Magnets:

Today’s rare-earth magnets can be very small and powerful making them popular in toys, building sets, and jewelry. As the number of products with magnets has increased, so has the number of serious injuries to children. In several hundred incidents, magnets have fallen out of various toys and been swallowed by children. Small intact pieces of building sets that contain magnets have also been swallowed by children. If two or more magnets, or a magnet and another metal object are swallowed separately, they can attract to one another through intestinal walls and get trapped in place. The injury is hard to diagnose. Parents and physicians may think that the materials will pass through the child without consequence, but magnets can attract in the body and twist or pinch the intestines, causing holes, blockages, infection, and death, if not treated properly and promptly.

Safety tip: Watch carefully for loose magnets and magnetic pieces and keep away from younger children (less than 6). If you have a recalled product with magnets, stop using it, call the company today, and ask for the remedy.


2. Recalled products:

CPSC is very effective at getting dangerous products off store shelves, such as recalled toys, clothing, children’s jewelry, tools, appliances, electronics and electrical products. But once a product gets into the home, the consumer has to be on the lookout. Consumers need to be aware of the latest safety recalls to keep dangerous recalled products away from family members.

Safety tip: Get dangerous products out of the home. Join CPSC’s “Drive To One Million” campaign and sign up for free e-mail notifications at www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx - an e-mail from CPSC is not spam – it could save a life.


3. Tip-overs:

Furniture, TVs and ranges can tip over and crush young children. Deaths and injuries occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, and chests. TVs placed on top of furniture can tip over causing head trauma and other injuries. Items left on top of the TV, furniture, and countertops, such as toys, remote controls and treats might tempt kids to climb.

Safety tip: Verify that furniture is stable on its own. For added security, anchor to the floor or attach to a wall. Free standing ranges and stoves should be installed with anti-tip brackets.


4. Windows and coverings:

Children can strangle on window drapery and blind cords that can form a loop. Parents should use cordless blinds or keep cords and chains permanently out of the reach of children. Consumers should cut looped cords and install a safety tassel at the end of each pull cord or use a tie-down device, and install inner cord stays to prevent strangulation. Never place a child’s crib or playpen within reach of a window blind.

The dangers of windows don’t end with window coverings and pull cords. Kids love to play around windows. Unfortunately, kids can be injured or die when they fall out of windows. Do not rely on window screens. Window screens are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep kids in.

Safety tip: Safeguard your windows: repair pull cords ending in loops and install window guards or stops today.


5. Spa and pool drains:

The suction from a pool drain can be so powerful that it can hold an adult under water, but most incidents involve children. The body can become sealed against the drain or hair can be pulled in and tangled. Missing or broken drain covers are a major reason many entrapment incidents occur. Pool and spa owners can consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), which detects when a drain is blocked and automatically shuts off the pool pump or interrupts the water circulation to prevent an entrapment.

Safety tip: Every time you use a pool or spa, inspect it for entrapment hazards. Check to make sure appropriate drain covers are in place and undamaged.