Green Mountain Vista Roman Shades Recall Issued Due to Strangulation Risk

As a result of a potentially dangerous design that could pose a risk of strangulation for young children, a recall has been issued for about 200,000 Roman shades made by Green Mountain Vista, Inc. 

The Roman shade recall was announced on October 7 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) which has convinced the company to join in a previously issued voluntary recall of all Roman shades, which has resulted in millions of shades using a similar design being pulled from the market.

The CPSC says that young children may get their necks entangled in the exposed inner cord, which has resulted in a number of deaths and reports of near-strangulations associated with similar shade designs.

The recall affects all Green Mountain Roman shades, which have a label sewn into the back with the model number RN#107875. The shades were sold at specialty home textile stores and through mail order companies nationwide for between $40 and $120 from September 2004 through August 2010.

Late last year, the CPSC requested that all companies voluntarily recall Roman shade and roller shade designs that do not have a tension device attached to the continuous loop cord. About 50 million shades were recalled at that time.

The CPSC recommends that anyone who has these shades, and who have children or regular child visitors in the same home, contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) immediately for a free repair kit at www.windowcoverings.org.

In addition, the organizations recommend that consumers examine all shades and blinds in the home and make certain there are no accessible loose cords. They should also be sure not to place cribs, beds and furniture close to windows where children can climb onto them and gain access to the cords. Looped bead chains and nylon cords should use tension devices to keep cords taut.