Blind Cords

Over the last 18 years over 17,000 children have been hurt by window blinds and although many of these injuries were minor, around 300 children died because of their injuries.

Most of these deaths were from strangulation due to the blind cord.

Children’s heads are proportionally bigger than their bodies with undeveloped muscles so it’s hard for them to free themselves from a blind cord.  Their wind pipe is also under developed and less rigid so they suffocate very quickly if their necks are constricted.  Strangulation can be quick and silent with children not making a sound.

Children most at risk are aged between 18 to 36 months when they become mobile and inquisitive.  The most common place for accidental death is the bedroom.

It’s important to make your blinds safe by;

• Keep blind cords out of reach of children
• Move children’s beds or cots away from windows with blinds
• Move furniture away from blinds, children love to climb
• Use a cleat to wrap the cord out of the way
• Use a cord or chain tidy
• Use a chain connector that breaks the chain if a child becomes entangled
• Think when you buy new blinds – buy those with no or concealed cords