SAFETY NOTICE: Blind cords

Advice regarding blinds and young children 

Please share with anyone interacting with families of young children… 

Blind cords – particularly looped cords – are dangerous to young children and babies. They can cause strangulation and MUST be kept short and out of reach. Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) research suggests that “most accidental deaths involving blind cords happen in the bedroom and occur in children aged between 16 months and 36 months, with more than half happening at around 23 months”. 

RoSPA’s top tips for preventing accidents involving looped cords are:

• Install blinds that do not have a looped cord, particularly in a child’s bedroom
• Cords on blinds (and also curtains) that are elsewhere in the home should be kept short and out of reach of children 
• Do not place a child’s cot, bed, playpen or highchair near a window
• Do not hang toys or objects that could be a hazard on a cot or bed
• Do not hang drawstring bags where a small child could get their head through the loop of the drawstring.

NOTE: It is recommended that cords are not cut, even as a short-term solution, because they could become more dangerous as a result.

For more information, go to RoSPA’s website.