PlainRecalls

Strangulation Deaths of Children Prompt Recall to Repair of Roll-Up Blinds and Roman Shades by Lewis Hyman Inc.

Reported: August 26, 2009 Initiated: August 26, 2009 #09324 About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades units

CPSC recall on August 26, 2009. Classified as Moderate severity. Approximately About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades units are affected. The recall was issued because: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on t…. This recall notice is sourced from official CPSC enforcement records. Below you will find the complete product description, hazard information, remedy instructions, and related recalls from the same manufacturer or product category.

Recall Insight

This CPSC action (record #09324) was formally reported on August 26, 2009. It is classified under Moderate severity, with a current status of Active. The recalling firm is not specified in the federal record. Federal records indicate About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades units are affected, placing this recall in the million-unit bracket that typically triggers nationwide consumer alerts and retailer sweeps.

The documented reason for this recall is: Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up bli… Distribution information was not included in the agency filing, so consumers should assume broad potential exposure until the firm publishes point-of-sale details. The remedy documented by the agency is: Consumers should immediately check the backside of the roll-up blinds to determine if they have release clips. If the roll-up blind does not have release clips, stop using it immediately and contact … — consumers holding this product should act on that instruction rather than relying on general guidance.

To put this record in context, PlainRecalls indexes 83,949 recalls across the FDA, CPSC, NHTSA and USDA FSIS going back to 1995. Within the same product category, the database holds 6 closely related recalls, of which 6 were also issued by CPSC. That clustering is a signal — repeated actions in a narrow category often indicate a systemic quality-control issue, a supplier-wide contamination, or a design defect that has propagated across product lines. This recall is roughly 17 years old; older recalls can remain relevant because many units enter resale, rental, and secondary-market channels where the original warning never reaches the end user. Always cross-check the recall number against the official agency page before relying on any summary.

Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity1Class I (Critical)Class II (Moderate)Class III (Low)
Recall Distribution by Severity Class

Severity

Moderate

Units Affected

About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades

Related Recalls

6

6 from same agency

Product Description

This recall involves roll-up blinds without release clips (see picture below) and all Woolrich Roman shades. The roll-up blinds have plastic oval-shaped slats that measure about 1/4 inch tall. The blinds measure either 72" or 96" long. The bottom rail has a WARNING label advising that "Young children can become entangled and strangle in cord or bead loops" and a label that reads "Lewis Hyman, Inc." and the year of manufacture. Roll-up blinds that have release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall. The Woolrich Roman shades come in twill fabric and micro-suede fabric and measure 72" long. The head rail has two labels that read "Lewis Hyman, Inc., www.lewishymaninc.com" and "LHI, 005301, Made in China" respectively.

Reason for Recall

Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material. Roman Shades: 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.

Remedy

Consumers should immediately check the backside of the roll-up blinds to determine if they have release clips. If the roll-up blind does not have release clips, stop using it immediately and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit. Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit. The repair kits for the Roman shades will be available by the end of September.

Details

Units Affected
About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades

Recall Profile

Structured summary of the CPSC recall record
Attribute Value
Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Severity class Moderate
Status Active
Recall number 09324
Date reported August 26, 2009
Date initiated August 26, 2009
Recalling firm Not disclosed
Units affected About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades
Distribution Not disclosed

Profile values are sourced directly from the official CPSC enforcement record. Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Scale of Impact

About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades units affected — million-unit bracket.

Regional (<10K units)
Multi-state (10K – 100K units)
Large-scale (100K – 1M units)
Massive (≥1M units) ✓ This recall

Bracket cutoffs follow federal recall-disclosure conventions; bar widths scale linearly within each bracket. Source: PlainRecalls analysis of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission filings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What product was recalled?
This recall involves roll-up blinds without release clips (see picture below) and all Woolrich Roman shades. The roll-up blinds have plastic oval-shaped slats that measure about 1/4 inch tall. The blinds measure either 72" or 96" long. The bottom rail has a WARNING label advising that "Young children can become entangled and strangle in cord or bead loops" and a label that reads "Lewis Hyman, Inc." and the year of manufacture. Roll-up blinds that have release clips right below the head rail on the backside of the blind are not included in this recall. The Woolrich Roman shades come in twill fabric and micro-suede fabric and measure 72" long. The head rail has two labels that read "Lewis Hyman, Inc., www.lewishymaninc.com" and "LHI, 005301, Made in China" respectively.. Units affected: About 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades.
Why was this product recalled?
Strangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material. Roman Shades: 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.
What should consumers do?
Consumers should immediately check the backside of the roll-up blinds to determine if they have release clips. If the roll-up blind does not have release clips, stop using it immediately and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit. Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and contact Lewis Hyman for a free repair kit. The repair kits for the Roman shades will be available by the end of September.
Which agency issued this recall?
This recall was issued by the CPSC on August 26, 2009. Severity: Moderate. Recall number: 09324.
How do I check if my product is affected by a recall?
Check the product description and recall number (09324) against your product. Visit the official CPSC website for the most current information. You can also use our Recall Checker tool to search by product name or brand.
How do I report an injury from a recalled product?
Report injuries to the issuing agency: CPSC at SaferProducts.gov, NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem, or FDA via MedWatch. Document the product (photos, model/serial numbers, purchase receipts) and seek medical attention. Injury reports help agencies track hazard patterns and may strengthen enforcement actions.

Recall Context

Product recalls are issued when a manufacturer, distributor, or federal agency determines that a product poses a safety risk to consumers. This recall is classified as moderate severity, indicating the product may cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Across PlainRecalls, we track 83,000+ recalls from FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA to help consumers stay informed and act quickly when safety issues arise.

Nearby Recalls in This Category

Other recalls in the same product category — useful for spotting patterns across the same defect class or manufacturer.

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Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS federal recall databases.

  • Source: FDA — Food and Drug Administration, openFDA Enforcement API (food, drug, and medical device recalls)
  • Source: CPSC — Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls API (consumer product recalls and hazards)
  • Source: NHTSA — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recalls API (vehicle safety recalls)
  • Source: USDA FSIS — Food Safety and Inspection Service (meat, poultry, and egg product recalls)

Recall information is sourced from official federal agency databases. Always verify recall details with the issuing agency for the most current status. This information is for research and awareness purposes only.

All federal data sources used on this page

Source: Federal recall agencies (FDA, CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS) Aggregated multi-agency recall feeds · 2024 Recall data normalized across federal agency feeds; severity classifications follow each agency's own taxonomy (FDA Class I/II/III; CPSC, NHTSA, USDA FSIS).