The ministry of Health or Health Canada has issued warning about the dangerous and hazards of window blinds. It has been long known that there was strangulation problem with the cords on Roman Shade and Roll Up Blinds, but somehow it was not corrected earlier. And now the US is recalling about 50 million of these products and labeled as hazardous to children.

On Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009, Health Canada issued a warning to consumers to move small children away from the window blinds and the cord that pulls the shade or blinds up and down. It say’s it is really a hazard to small children and strangulation can occur. These recalled window blinds are sold in the US at WalMart, JCPenny and Pottery Barn who have make the necessary corrective actions and support.

In the US, there are 5 deaths and 16 serious accidents associated with the blinds since 2006. And there have been 200 infant and child deaths associated with this blinds in the US since 1994.

According to “The Vancouver Sun”: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Health/2342844/story.html

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Safety Council issued the recall on more than 50 million Roman-style and pull-up blinds sold in the United States at major retailers including Wal-Mart, JC Penney and Pottery Barn.

The commission said there have been five deaths and 16 serious injuries associated with the blinds since 2006 in the U.S. Since 1990, there have been a total of 200 infant and child deaths in the United States.

Health Canada urged consumers to contact the American groups online for retrofit kits, shying away from announcing a similar recall despite the fact that some of the blinds were sold in Canada.

Safety advocates have been raising concerns for years, because the long cords that pull the blinds open and close can easily loop around a child’s neck and strangle them.

According to Safe Kids Canada, there have been 27 deaths and 23 injuries reported resulting from Roman-blinds.

Everyone should hid to the stern Warning from Health Canada and make sure that these steps are being followed and take precautions to prevent any accident from these types of blinds. It is not to discourage people from using the said blinds or Roman shades but to help consumers know the hazards and danger for small children and infants.