Posts Tagged ‘window coverings’

Think Window Covering Safety in October

Monday, October 17th, 2011

WCSC KCC FinalThe U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) have partnered again this October to observe National Window Covering Safety Month.

Since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords, according to information provided by the CPSC. This month-long, nationwide campaign is designed to increase consumer awareness of potential window-cord hazards, as well as to urge parents and caregivers of young children to only use cordless window products in homes with young children and to replace all window coverings in the home made before 2001 with today’s safer products.

National Window Covering Safety Month will emphasize the following basic window-cord safety rules from WCSC:

  1. Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children.  Replace window blinds, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with today’s safer products. (more…)

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Demand for Cord Retrofit Kits Soars

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
CPSCPosted by: Diane Capuano

Increased public awareness of the child strangulation risk posed by cords on Roman and roll-up blinds has caused a dramatic rise in requests for free retrofit kits that alleviate the problem, according to the Window Covering Safety Council.

WCSC Executive Director Ralph Vasami reported that requests for the kits has risen significantly in the past two calendar years. “Prior to 2009, the average was 55,000-60,000 retrofit kits distributed per year. In 2009, we distributed 153,245 kits, which is nearly triple that rate,” he said.

For the first quarter of 2010, demand has still been high, with 32,489 retrofit kits requested. Demand is still high in the wake of a December 2009 announcement in which the U.S. Consumer Product Safety (more…)

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Health Groups Around the World Call for Window Covering Standards

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
CPSCPosted by: Tamela Adamson-McMullen

Reports that hundreds of children over the last two decades have died or been injured by corded window coverings have brought together three international health groups to press for comprehensive safety standards.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers are urging window coverings manufacturers and standards organizations to establish uniform, cost-effective manufacturing processes that put the safety of children first. The international, multilateral call for action is the first time three safety agencies, representing consumers in 29 countries, have joined together to demand worldwide safety standards on a specific product.

Corded window coverings have been known to cause strangulation deaths and injuries in children worldwide. (more…)

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Shade and Blind Recall Makes National Headlines

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

An example of a Roman shade from the CPSC website.

An example of a Roman shade from the CPSC website.

Posted by: Diane Capuano

The window coverings industry made national headlines last week with the voluntary recall of millions of Roman shades and roll-up blinds due to a child strangulation risk. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Window Covering Safety Council jointly announced the recall. Complete press releases can be found on the CPSC and WCSC sites.

The national recall impacts 50 million blinds and shades. Major TV and cable news networks as well as newspapers, websites and blogs reported on the recall. NBC Nightly News’ anchor Brian Williams reported that it was “one of the largest product recalls in American history” before introducing an interesting analysis of whether the recall was a case of government overreach. (more…)

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