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IKEA Recalls Blinds after Baby Strangles

November 20, 2008
IKEA is recalling 670,OOO sets of window blinds after a baby strangled on the inner cord of the blind. Another 4.8 million sets of the blinds were sold outside the United States.

The IRIS and ALVINE Roman blinds were blamed for the death of a one-year-old girl in Greenwich, Conn. Federal safety regulators said that on April 4, the child became entangled in the inner cord of an IKEA Roman Blind and strangled. The child was in a portable playpen that was located underneath a fully lowered blind. She was found partially suspended with the inner cord of the blind wrapped twice around her neck.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that other blinds can be dangerous as well. CPSC reminds consumers to examine all Roman blinds and shades in their homes. If looped pull cords are present or exposed inner cords are found on the back of blinds or shades and children are in the home or occasionally visit, consumers should consider replacing them with blinds or shades that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords.

This recall involves all sizes of IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds in white. The blinds have a sewn-in label at the top edge of the blind with the IKEA logotype, article name (IRIS or ALVINE), 5-digit supplier number 19799 or 21369, four digit date stamp (YYWW) and the words 'Made in India'. On the bottom edge of the blind there is a sewn-in orange/white safety warning label. The blinds are made from 100% cotton.

The blinds, made in India, were sold at IKEA stores nationwide from July 2005 through June 2008 for between $7 and $30.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman Blinds and return them to any IKEA store to obtain a full refund.

For additional information, contact IKEA toll-free at (888) 966-4532 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.ikea-usa.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

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