Child Safety Information
Curtains and Blinds may not be the first thing that comes to mind with home safety, but recent media reports in Australia have made us aware, they could well be...
Low hanging blinds and curtain cords pose a serious risk of strangling infants and small children. They can become entangled in these cords while playing.
Even with raised window coverings, small children can climb onto furniture, beds, cots or window sills to access the cords. A child can put their head in the looped cords, which can be tangled around their neck and quickly cause choking, suffocaCon or strangulaCon.
Even infants sleeping in a cot or bed where cords are hanging are also at risk.
In a report by the Australian CompeCCon and Consumer Commission, at least 11 children have died in Australia between 2001 and 2008 aIer being caught in blind cords. Nine of these were children under three years of age.
In the US, a child aged between seven months and 10 years dies each month aIer being strangled on curtain or blind cords.
Each year many more have come close to strangulaCon but were luckily saved just in Cme.
In 2010, the Australian government iniCated a mandatory safety standards for blinds. Manufacturers are required to include a warning label about cords on the packaging and aOached to the cord itself.
ExisCng blinds made prior to new safety laws will need to be updated or replaced.
We can't stop “kids from being kids” but we can make sure that we eliminate any risk that cords from curtains and blinds potenCally have to them.
Parents and caregivers should pay close aOenCon to window and cord safety, and children and pets accidentally strangling in the looped cords.
This also goes for your beloved pets as they can just as easily be tangled up in the cords, when playing near the windows.
Photo credit: Ryan Melaugh via Flickr.com
Here are some steps to protect your children from blinds and curtain cords.
Because cord safety features are now mandatory on blinds, we believe you may feel more confident if you replace your old-‐style blinds and curtains and update to the new child-‐safe products, giving you peace of mind.
Ensure that blinds and curtain cords or chains in your home are out of reach of children, parCcularly children under six years of age.
Check your blind and curtain cords
Do this anywhere you are staying, including on holiday.
Immediately Ce cords up out of reach and move away any furniture children might climb on to reach them.
Secure loose cords out of reach. Buy cleats or tensioning devices from a hardware store or from Blindsonline.com.au. Use at least two screws to fix each cleat or tensioning device in a place that is out of reach of children. Never secure these devices with materials that fail when a load is placed on them, such as double sided tape or glue.
Looped Chain or Cord Control
Lets you easily operate the blind by rotaCng the chain or cord to raise & lower the blind. Adds child proof safety and gives an uncluOered look
Cordless liI system replaces the need for dangerous liI cords, with the easy operaCon of lightly pulling the handle to operate.
Safety wand control opCon eliminates dangling cords, making your blinds less hazardous.
Choose opCon of motorisaCon will make your blinds a safer window treatment.
It is esCmated that thousands of consumers have not replaced their exisCng old blinds or corded window furnishings with products now available, please don’t let your household be one of them.
For your own peace of mind and your family’s safety, eliminate the potenCal risk that cords from curtains and blinds may have.
A friendly reminder from Blindsonline.com.au Your family’s safety is our highest priority.
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