WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall to repair 800 million window blinds with inner cords that can be pulled loose and pose a strangulation hazard to small children, the agency said.

Sixteen children have died since 1991 when they became entangled in loose inner cords that are woven through the blinds to keep the slats together, according to the agency. About 85 million window blinds are sold each year, according to the CPSC. The recall ``cuts across the entire industry,'' said CPSC spokesman Ken Giles.

The problem affects all blinds with cords that were manufactured before Sept. 15, 2000, according to the Window Covering Safety Council, a coalition of companies that make, import or sell blinds.

The council is offering free repair kits to consumers to make their blinds safe. The kits include plastic attachments to prevent small children from pulling the inner blind cords loose.

The kits may be obtained by calling (800) 506-4636.

Parents should keep cribs away from the blinds, the safety commission recommends. ``Although the window covering industry has developed safer products, nothing is fail-safe,'' said Peter Rush, executive director of the Window Covering Safety Council.

``The ultimate key to reducing cord hazards is eliminating access to the window area, locking cords into position whether the window covering is raised or lowered, and securing cords up and out of reach.''