Near Strangulation of Children Prompts Recall of Roman Shades by Louis Hornick & Co.; Sold Exclusively at Bed Bath & Beyond

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm 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: Dublin Energy Solution Roman Shades

Units: About 364,000

Importer: Louis Hornick & Co. Inc., of New York, N.Y.

Retailer: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., of Union, N.J.

Hazard: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the blind or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been two reports of children becoming entangled in the exposed inner cord on the back of the shade. In July 2008, while in his crib, a 20-month-old boy became entangled in the inner cord from a roman shade. His grandfather responded to the child’s cries and removed the cord that left a red mark on the right side of his neck. In April 2009, the mother of a 3-year-old boy found her crying son with a cord mark that ran ear to ear on the front of his neck. The boy was able to free himself after becoming entangled in the inner cord. No permanent injuries were sustained in these incidents.

Description: This recall includes all sizes and colors of Dublin Energy Solution Roman Shades sold by Bed Bath & Beyond with exposed inner cords on the back. Colors include navy, chocolate, khaki and cream. On the backside of the head rail, a small orange, black and white warning label sticker in English and Spanish which read in part, “Cords and bead chains can loop around child’s neck and STRANGLE. Always keep cords …to get to cords.”

Sold at: Bed Bath & Beyond stores nationwide and on-line at www.bedbathandbeyond.com from August 2007 through September 2009 for between $40 and $130.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Roman shades and contact Louis Hornick & Company to receive a free repair kit. The repair kit will be available by the end of November.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Louis Hornick & Company toll-free at (800) 517-3612 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET daily, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hornickindustries.com