More than 50 million Roman blinds and roll-up shades have been recalled in the U.S. because of several deaths. More than 50 million Roman blinds and roll-up shades have been recalled in the U.S. because of several deaths. (CPSC)

More than 50 million Roman-style shades and roll-up blinds have been recalled in the United States after several recent deaths and near strangulations.

The massive recall affects the whole window covering industry and is being overseen by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Safety Council.

Since 2006, five deaths and 16 near-strangulations from Roman shades have been reported, while three deaths connected to roll-up blinds have been reported since 2001.

However, the death rate was much higher before 2000. That year, industry modified its products and provided free repair kits for existing horizontal blinds and other window coverings. A total of 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords in the U.S. since 1990.

Health Canada has listed several ways blinds can be made safe in the meantime:

  • Keep blind and curtain cords high and out of reach of children. Whether the blind is up or down, make sure children cannot reach the cords. Tie them out of reach.
  • Never put a crib, bed, high chair or playpen near a window or a patio door where a child can reach a blind or curtain cord and strangle.
  • Do not put sofas, chairs, tables, shelves or bookcases near windows. This will prevent children from climbing up to reach the blind or curtain cord.
  • Cut the cords short when blinds are fully down or when curtains are fully closed.
  • Remove the loop in the cord by cutting the cord in half. Then put plastic tassels or a breakaway device at the end of the cords.
  • For vertical blinds, install tie-downs. You can buy these devices at hardware or department stores. When installing tie-downs, follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with the product. Make sure the tie-down device is securely attached to the wall beside the window.
  • Wrap the cord around a cleat or two nails or screws that you have attached to the wall near the top of the blinds or curtains, high and out of the reach of children.
  • Use a clip, clothespin or big twist tie to keep the cord high and out of the reach of children.

The current recall follows at least nine others in recent years and involves all brands of shades manufactured in countries around the world, including China, Taiwan, Thailand and the U.S.

Health Canada has not yet issued a recall, but is following the recall closely and working with Canadian companies to determine if actions are needed in this country.

In the meantime, Health Canada has released an advisory to "remind consumers of the possible strangulation hazard presented by these products."

In Canada, at least 28 infants and toddlers have died and there have been 22 near-fatal incidents since 1986.

The Window Covering Safety Council is offering several types of repair kits to consumers in both the U.S. and Canada. They include free cord stops, tassels and tie-down devices. A safety brochure with retrofit instructions is included with each order.

The U.S. commission and the industry urged parents to examine all shades and blinds in the home and make sure they have no accessible cords. Cordless window coverings are recommended for all homes where children live or visit.

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

The risk with roll-up blinds can occur if the lifting loop slides off the side of the blind and a child's neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his or her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it has been investigating window coverings over the past 15 years and working with the Window Covering Safety Council to make the coverings safe.

"We commend the (council) for providing consumers with repair kits that make window coverings safer and look forward to future steps to eliminate these hazards," commission chair Inez Tenenbaum said Monday in a news release.

About five million Roman shades and about three million roll-up blinds are sold in the U.S. each year.

With files from The Associated Press