Draper, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the voluntary recall of more than 1,800 Roman Shades, manufactured in Spiceland, Indiana. Two models of the Roman FlexShades are the cause for this recall, as the Roman-CL and Roman-MO models pose a choking and suffocation threat to small children.
The CL model features a manually-operated metallic beaded chain for raising and lowering the shades, while the MO model uses a motorized system to operate the shades. The exposed outer and inner cords on the back side of the shade present a serious choking threat to small children as a child’s head is capable of fitting between the exposed cord and the shade’s main material. The child could also just as easily pull the shade’s cord out from behind the main material and wrap it around his or her neck. The metallic beaded chain also poses a strangulation threat.
As of current, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities caused by the specific FlexShade models.
Draper’s Roman FlexShades were manufactured and sold between March 2000 and September 2009 for as low as $450 and as much as $2,100 at specialized home accessory and window treatment dealerships. The shades are custom sized and installed to fit specific window frames, and have been offered in a variety of colors and materials.
Draper encourages consumers who have purchased the Roman-CL or Roman-MO shades to stop using them immediately and remove them from common areas of the household. By contacting Draper at (877) 315-7037 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, consumers can order a free kit that will remove the exposed external and internal cords from the shades. For additional information, visit the manufacturer’s web site at draperinc.com.
The CPSC strongly urges all consumers to examine all styles and brands of shades before installing them in a house or anywhere that small children may be present. Do not purchase any shades or blinds that use exposed cords.