Recall for Moms

Product Recall Information for Moms

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207


August 26, 2009
Release # 09-329
Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 423-8653
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Strangulation Death of a Child Prompts Recall To Repair Window Blinds By Vertical Land

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 Products: Horizontal and Vertical Blinds and Cellular Shades

Units: About 15,400 (horizontal), 16,400 (vertical), 800 (Cellular Shades)

Manufacturer: Vertical Land Inc., of Panama City Beach, Fla.

Hazard: Horizontal Blinds: The blinds do not have inner cord stop devices to prevent the accessible inner cords from being pulled out. If an inner cord is pulled out, a child can become entangled in the loop and strangle.

Vertical Blinds: Strangulations can occur if a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop formed by the bead chain or by the cord with a weighted device.

Cellular Shades: Strangulations can occur if a child's neck becomes entangled on the shade's free-standing looped cord.

Incidents/Injuries: In May 2006, CPSC received a report of a 4-year-old girl from Pensacola, Fla., who strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord that was not attached to the wall or floor.

Description: This recall involves all Vertical Land custom-made vertical and cellular window coverings that do not have a cord tensioning device and horizontal blinds that do not have inner cord stop devices. A sticker identification label can be found on the head rail of some of the window coverings which lists the company's name, address and telephone number.

Sold at: Vertical Land stores in Panama City and Pensacola, Fla. from January 1992 through December 2006 for between $60 and $200 (depending on the size of the blind).

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the window coverings and contact Vertical Land to receive a free retrofit kit.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Vertical Land at (800) 423-8653 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

movie icon Consumers can also view a video clip (transcript) about this recall. This is in "streaming video" format.

Picture of Recalled Horizontal Window Blind


Picture of Recalled Horizontal Window Blind showing cord


Picture of Recalled Vertical Window Blind


Picture of Recalled Vertical Window Blind showing cord


Picture of Recalled Vertical Roller Shade showing label


Picture of Recalled Cellular Shade


Picture of Recalled Cellular Shade showing cord


Recalls by Date