Childproofing Blind Cords
The home can harbour many dangers for children but not many people realise that window blind and curtain cords can be dangerous or even fatal for babies and young children – particularly for those under the age of 3.
Mini blind cords often get overlooked when childproofing your home. Like cabinets and electrical outlets, they are another inconspicuous item that in the past you may have considered harmless; as a parent, however, they must be treated as a potential hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that one child a month suffers an accidental strangulation because of mini blind cords, so be sure to know the dangers and take care to prevent any possible harm.
Children can injure, or even strangle themselves on window blind and curtain cords.
When exploring or playing a child can become entangled in hanging cords. If the child then tries to sit or falls down, they can hang themselves in the loop. The cord or chain loop used to open and close vertical blinds can also strangle children. There have been a number of such incidents publicised worldwide. So how do you avoid such dangers? There are several simple steps you can take to minimise this risk – and help keep your child safe.
Rearrange Your Perspective, And Your Furniture!!
As with other childproofing projects, look at the world from your child’s point of view: close to the ground. You’ll see that the outer pull cord of your blinds might be lowered down to the range of a toddler’s reach once the blinds are raised. Use our Cord up device to keep the cord out of the child`s reach.
Rearrange the furniture so that a chair, sofa, bench, or bookcase is never near a window with a dangling cord that children can climb and reach. The inner cords that thread through the blinds may also present a hazard, as your children can pull out these looped lines and get entangled in them as well. So it’s a good rule of thumb to keep all furniture, especially cribs and beds, clear of the windows and the blinds covering them.
The safest option would be to install cordless blinds that work on a spring-action release in children’s bedrooms. This eliminates all possibility of a mini blind cord hazard.
Inner Cords
Inner cords on horizontal blinds can form a loop that can hang infants and toddlers. Most modern blinds have attachments or inter-looping stitched cords so that inner cords can’t form a loop if pulled by a young child. You can check your blinds by gently pulling on the inner cords of the blind to see how much slack is created or what sized loop is formed. If you are concerned you should contact your manufacturer or supplier.
Mini blind cords often get overlooked when childproofing your home. Like cabinets and electrical outlets, they are another inconspicuous item that in the past you may have considered harmless; as a parent, however, they must be treated as a potential hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that one child a month suffers an accidental strangulation because of mini blind cords, so be sure to know the dangers and take care to prevent any possible harm.
Children can injure, or even strangle themselves on window blind and curtain cords.
When exploring or playing a child can become entangled in hanging cords. If the child then tries to sit or falls down, they can hang themselves in the loop. The cord or chain loop used to open and close vertical blinds can also strangle children. There have been a number of such incidents publicised worldwide. So how do you avoid such dangers? There are several simple steps you can take to minimise this risk – and help keep your child safe.
Rearrange Your Perspective, And Your Furniture!!
As with other childproofing projects, look at the world from your child’s point of view: close to the ground. You’ll see that the outer pull cord of your blinds might be lowered down to the range of a toddler’s reach once the blinds are raised. Use our Cord up device to keep the cord out of the child`s reach.
Rearrange the furniture so that a chair, sofa, bench, or bookcase is never near a window with a dangling cord that children can climb and reach. The inner cords that thread through the blinds may also present a hazard, as your children can pull out these looped lines and get entangled in them as well. So it’s a good rule of thumb to keep all furniture, especially cribs and beds, clear of the windows and the blinds covering them.
The safest option would be to install cordless blinds that work on a spring-action release in children’s bedrooms. This eliminates all possibility of a mini blind cord hazard.
Inner Cords
Inner cords on horizontal blinds can form a loop that can hang infants and toddlers. Most modern blinds have attachments or inter-looping stitched cords so that inner cords can’t form a loop if pulled by a young child. You can check your blinds by gently pulling on the inner cords of the blind to see how much slack is created or what sized loop is formed. If you are concerned you should contact your manufacturer or supplier.