Cord Peril Leads to Window Blind Recall

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said it issued a recall to repair 800 million window blinds that have inner cords that can be pulled loose and pose a strangulation hazard to small children. Sixteen children have died since 1991 when they became entangled in loosened inner cords woven through the blinds to keep the slats together, according to the commission. An industry official said, however, that the recall will affect 500 million blinds, not 800 million. About 60% of the blinds sold each year in the U.S. are imported. Consumers can get free kits to prevent small children from pulling the inner cords loose by calling (800) 506-4636.